What is a wireless LAN?
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is a local area network (LAN) that doesn’t rely on wired Ethernet connections. A WLAN can be either an extension to a current wired network or an alternative to it. Use of a WLAN adds flexibility to networking. A WLAN allows users to move around while keeping their computers connected. WLANs have data transfer speeds ranging from 1 to 54Mbps, with some manufacturers offering proprietary 108Mbps solutions. The 802.11n standard can reach 300 to 600Mbps. Because the wireless signal is broadcast so everybody nearby can share it, several security precautions are necessary to ensure only authorized users can access your WLAN. A WLAN signal can be broadcast to cover an area ranging in size from a small office to a large campus. Most commonly, a WLAN access point provides access within a radius of 65 to 300 feet.
A wireless local area network (WLAN or wireless LAN) consists of two or more computers that communicate wirelessly via radio waves. This is contrasted to a wired LAN, in which each computer in the network is physically tethered with an Ethernet cable to the server’s network switch or hub. The basic structure of all networks consists of a main computer or server, along with connected machines known as clients. The server typically has two Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) installed and software that can support the network. Microsoft Windows operating systems have featured built-in networking capability since Windows 98 Special Edition (SE), but third party networking software is also available. In the case of a simple home wireless LAN, a desktop might be the server while a laptop could be the client. Let’s assume that the desktop has a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection — high-speed Internet service.
A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a local-area network in which digital devices communicate through a wireless medium such as radio or infrared instead of copper or fiber-optic cable. Most WLAN equipment today is based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series of standards, popularly known as Wi-Fi technology. All information given below refers to devices conforming to one or more of these standards. • IEEE 802.11b specifies operation in the 2.4-GHz band (2001-2497 MHz) at speeds up to 11 megabits per second (Mbps). • IEEE 802.11a specifies operation in the 5-GHz band (5150-5825 MHz) at speeds up to 54 Mbps. The higher frequencies used by 802.11a limit its typical transmission range to about 60% that of IEEE 802.11b. • IEEE 802.11g specifies operation in the 2.4-GHz band at 802.11a speeds and 802.11b ranges.
