The following table compares the characteristics and requirements of the two types of wireless networks.Infrastructure Ad hocCharacteristicsCommunication Through wireless access point Directly between devicesSecurity More security options WEP or no securityRange Determined by range and number ofwireless access pointsRestricted to range of individualdevices on networkSpeed Usually faster Usually slowerRequirements for all devicesUnique IP address for each device Yes YesMode set to Infrastructure mode Ad hoc modeSame SSID Yes, including the wireless accesspointYesSame channel Yes, including the wireless accesspointYesWe recommend setting up a network in infrastructure mode using the installation CD that came with the printer.Infrastructure mode is the recommended setup method because it provides:• Increased network security• Increased reliability• Faster performance• Easier setupFinding the signal strengthWireless devices have built-in antennas that transmit and receive radio signals. The signal strength listed on theprinter network setup page indicates how strongly a transmitted signal is being received. Many factors can affectthe signal strength. One factor is interference from other wireless devices or other devices such as microwave ovens.Another factor is distance. The farther two wireless devices are from each other, the more likely it is that thecommunication signal will be weaker.The strength of the signal received by your computer can also affect the connectivity of the printer with the networkduring configuration. When you installed the wireless adapter in your computer, the adapter software probablyplaced an icon in your system tray. Try double-clicking this icon, and it will tell you how strongly the computer isreceiving the wireless signal from the network.To improve signal quality, remove sources of interference and/or move wireless devices closer to the wireless accesspoint (wireless router).Networking98
