Using the BayStack 660 Wireless LAN Access Point1-8 203939-BCTS reserves the area around the receiver. In the infrastructure mode (goto “Network Overview” on page 1-8” for more information), the sender andreceiver are the BayStack 660 Access Point and the BayStack 660 PC Card.These RTS and CTS packets offer protection against collisions duringtransmissions.• An acknowledgment (ACK)ACK confirms that the data packet was received correctly. If no ACK packetsare received, the sender retransmits the data packet. This positive ACK withretry protocol reduces the bit error rate on the cordless physical layer to a levelcomparable to that of wired LAN PC Cards.The BayStack implementation of the physical layer and MAC portion of the datalink layer makes it possible for multiple BayStack 660 Wireless LAN networks toshare the same environment. Each BayStack 660 Wireless LAN network has anetwork identifier called a service set identifier (SSID). BayStack 660 AccessPoints with the same SSID form an ESA. The MAC protocol enables severallaptops with BayStack 660 PC Cards to coexist without conflicts. The laptopcomputer always listens to the media before transmitting; if it senses anothertransmission, it waits. Simultaneous transmissions (collisions) do happen;however, the data packets are resent automatically using an algorithm designedto minimize retransmissions. Go to “Service Set Identification (SSID)” onpage 1-10” for more information on SSIDs.Software OverviewDrivers for Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT areincluded on the BayStack 660 Wireless LAN Software CD. Utilities for configuringthe BayStack 660 PC Card and for diagnosing and managing your BayStack 660Wireless LAN are included on the BayStack 660 Wireless LAN Software CD.Network OverviewThe BayStack 660 Access Point and BayStack 660 PC Card provide freedomfrom network cabling for users in an ad hoc or in an infrastructure network.book.fm Page 8 Wednesday, September 22, 1999 1:41 PM
