What is the difference between ad hoc and infrastructure

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In this case, it would be ideal if you know what kind of network connection you can use. Moreover, a lot of devices that are Wi-Fi-enabled are only capable of connecting to infrastructure-mode networks—not to ad-hoc ones. So, what is the difference between infrastructure and ad-hoc wireless networks? In this article, we will discuss that. Here is a quick run-down of the topics we will discuss:.

Most people are familiar with Wi-Fi networks functioning in infrastructure mode. Basically, when devices are connected on this network, they communicate through a single access point, which, in general, is the wireless router.

They can be connected to the same wireless network, but they are not directly communicating with each other. What happens is, one device sends packets to the access point and the packets are sent to the other laptop. In this type of wireless network, the devices can connect directly to each other.

For instance, you are inside a hotel room without Wi-Fi and you want to directly connect two laptops to each other. You can do so by forming a temporary Wi-Fi network through ad-hoc mode. On the other hand, when you want to create a more permanent network, it is best to set it up in infrastructure mode.

It is worth noting that wireless routers generally possess higher-powered antennas and radios. So, they are the best access points for covering a wider area. When you compare infrastructure and adhoc networks, the latter only relies on the limited power of the wireless radio of the laptop. Another benefit of an ad hoc network is that the connection speeds can be significantly faster than when using a wireless accent point with infrastructure mode.

Infrastructure networks consist of the networked devices and the wireless access point or wireless router. Each device must connect to the access point before having access to other computers on the network. While both ad hoc and infrastructure networks can provide a secure connection, infrastructure mode supports various encryption methods. Additional security features allow the use of passwords and allow computers to connect by checking a device's media access control MAC address.

Another difference between ad hoc and infrastructure networks is in the area of expandability. The access point used with infrastructure mode can support multiple clients on both wireless and wired networks. The direct connection method used with ad hoc mode is prone to interference and is not useful for a large corporate network.