Wireless network interface controller

Wireless Network Interface Card (WNIC) as opposed to a Network Card which primarily work only on token ring or ethernet standard, interfaces only with a 802.11 network. However a WNIC just like an NIC works on the Layer 1 and Layer 2 of the OSI Model.

A WNIC is an essential component for wireless Desktop computer. This card uses a antenna to communicate through microwaves.

A WNIC can operate in two modes known as Infrastructure Mode and Ad Hoc Mode.

In a Infrastructure Mode the WNIC needs a Access Point, the WNIC passes data to other wireless nodes using the access point as the central hub. All wireless nodes in a infrastructure mode connect to a access point. While connecting to a Access Point under the infrastructure mode you must ensure that you have the same SSID, and if the Access Point is enabled with WEP you must have the same WEP key or other authentication parameters.

In a Ad-Hoc Mode the WNIC dosen't requires a access point, but rather can directly interface with all other wireless nodes directly. When configuring your Node as a Ad-Hoc mode you must ensure that all your peer nodes have the same channel as yours and also the SSID must match. --203.101.44.201 16:56, 3 Mar 2005 (UTC)Yaseen Ahmed