Wireless technology is a subclass of information technology and is used to transmit information over a distance between two or more points without requiring them to be connected by wires. Infrared radiation, radio waves, optical or laser radiation can be used to transmit information.
Currently, there is a large variety of wireless technologies, which require the introduction of a classification.
Range
WWAN
(Wireless Wide Area Network) – used in cellular communications (GSM, CDMA, TDMA, IDEN, PDC, etc.) and are characterized by a long range (up to 40 km).
WMAN
(Wireless Metropolitan Area Network) – mainly used by telecom operators to create the infrastructure of end-user access, the so-called “last mile”, characterized by a medium range (several kilometers).
WLAN
(Wireless Local Area Network) – used to serve small territories have a medium range (about 100 m).
WPAN
(Wireless Personal Area Network) – used to transmit information from cellular phones, portable computers, household appliances, etc., has a small range (about 10 m). For example, Bluetooth technology can be attributed here.
As you have already guessed, only two types are used for private purposes – PAN and LAN. However, it is worth noting that a WAN can combine all of these types of connections, providing users with Internet access to connect to other countries and continents. For example, by organizing a home Wi-Fi network with the help of a router, a user can connect an Internet cable (made by his provider) to the latter. In this case, the group will have access to the global “web”.
Topology
- “Point-to-point”.
- “Point-to-multipoint”.
Application area
- Corporate (departmental) wireless networks – created by companies for their own needs.
- Operator wireless networks – created by telecom operators for the reimbursable provision of services.
A short way to classify can be a simultaneous display of the two most significant characteristics of wireless technologies on two axes: the maximum data transfer rate and the maximum distance.
Each type of network has its own specific implementation of the channel and physical layers, which allows them to perform their specific tasks efficiently. Much of the information in this book relates to wireless LANs based on the 802.11 family of standards.
Wireless technologies can be used for a variety of tasks, but the major ways that they can be used are:
- Organizing the access layer of the corporate network (access layer) and the last mile of network service providers.
- Extension of the network segment.
- Organization of guest access and interaction of mobile clients.
- Organization of point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication between buildings.
- Rapid deployment of temporary LANs.
- Data exchange between mobile devices.
Wireless communication technology is currently the most in-demand, making it a huge prospect. In the future, people will be able to completely abandon wired communication and switch to mobile communication. And it is not only convenient but also profitable, because the Internet cable has a rather high cost. Besides, wireless connection opens to users additional possibilities.