[Ham-Computers] Wireless Terminology

[Jim Hill]

As mentioned in a recent post, I was looking for something to allow 
an external antenna to be used with my laptop computer to allow 
wireless signals to be received from outside my travel trailer to 
avoid the signal loss caused by the aluminum siding.  I'll use it in 
RV parks to connect the park system, usually a wireless router on a 
shelf in the main office.  Usually, no security measures are taken by 
the RV park, and I keep no sensitive info on the computer.

I purchased an Alpha AWUS036GH "Long Range USB Adapter".  It consists 
of a small box with a typical wireless antenna (short black rod). It 
connects to the computer through a USB port.

I'm setting it up, and have the following three choices:

	Station (infrastructure): Connect to the wireless network through the AP.

	Station (ah hoc):  Connect to computer network.

	AP  Set access point wireless network.

Which choice is best?  Infrastructure sounds the best to me, but the 
internal wireless system provided with the computer info gives me the 
impression I have an ad hoc setup.  I think the Alpha software 
doesn't use the existing software, however.

Thanks, Jim