Ad-hoc and wireless access point comparison.

Ad-hoc and wireless access point comparison, definitions and which do you need?

Ad-hoc or Access Point? Network Structures Explained

Unfortunately, many people buy some wireless equipment, and only later realize that they have no clue about how their network layout will work with a wireless connection. Here is a list of tips you may want to follow when it comes to deciding how to connect your computers with wireless networks.

Ad-hoc Networks

Ad-hoc networks, also called peer-to-peer networks, are mostly created by wireless devices. In such networks, every computer connected to the network sends data to the others and acts as an equal 'peer'. This arrangement is frequently used instead of a real LAN, for instance to enable employees in a company to share files. Ad-hoc wireless networks can be easily generated among any computers having wireless equipment even if there is no Internet access.

These networks operate with an 'SSID' (Service Set Identifier). This is basically the network's name, determined on the computer first connected to the network. All other computers can connect to the network simply by looking for the network with the appropriate name (SSID).

By putting your wireless-enabled laptop next to your friend's laptop, the two computers are then able to create a little network for themselves on the spot.

Thanks to the underlying principle of wireless networking, they will maintain the connection even when you move them from one place to another.

Only the range can actually force the computers to disconnect from each other. In other words, these networks can put an end to the use of CDs and floppy disks and enable you to use your laptop for carrying around anything you want.

Being automatically included in the wireless network when you go to some place also offers you access to resources that have been shared. For example, ad-hoc networking makes it possible for you to use your computer somewhere where there's a shared printer, and easily print your documents.

Access Points

An access point is a means for joining an ad-hoc wireless network to the real (wired) network. It could be a LAN, or even the whole Internet.

We can distinguish between hardware and software access points, both enabling you to make the connection between your wireless device and a wired network possible. For instance, Internet Connecting Sharing is an example of a software access point to the Internet, while a wired one would be your wireless router.

If your office is equipped with a wireless access, it is most likely a wireless access point to the wired network to allow people having wireless devices get connected to the office LAN.

If a network has an access point, we usually call it an 'infrastructure' network. Keep in mind that, in spite of its name, part of the infrastructure network is also made up with an ad-hoc network.

Basically, the access point structure enables you to generate a series of interconnected networks. Try to think about the Internet from this perspective and you will see that it is simply another wired network. In fact, you can either connect your wired network to the Internet, or connect your wireless network to an access point to your wired network, if you wish.

Since wired networks are able to break out into wireless ones as frequently as they have to, the series of networks you can create is theoretically never ending. This is what we often call lilypad networking, as it gives your computer the possibility of hopping from lilypad to lilypad just like a frog. In fact, a frog can get through the water if this isn't entirely covered with lilypads. Well, wireless networks can work the same way.

Check out the top sellers, latest equipment and customer reviews on wireless networking now!




Return to the top of Ad-hoc and wireless access point comparison.

Return to Intro to Wireless Networking -- What is an Infrared Wireless LAN?