What does a basic service set (BSS) consist of?

• A. A single wireless client with no access point.
• B. One access point and one or more wireless clients.
• C. Multiple APs connected to a central controller only.
• D. Several APs and multiple wired devices.

Answer: (B)

A basic service set is the infrastructure unit of a WLAN: one access point and the wireless clients that associate with it. The AP coordinates access to the wireless medium and provides connectivity to the wired network, while the connected devices communicate through that AP. All devices in this BSS share the same SSID and operate on the same channel, forming a single local network segment. When there are multiple APs, each AP with its own set of clients forms its own BSS; together, these BSSs can be part of a larger Extended Service Set. The other options describe scenarios without an AP or with several APs forming a larger network, which are not a single BSS.