A Wireless Network is a computer network that links network nodes via wireless data channels. Homes, businesses, and telecommunications networks can forego the costly process of placing cables inside buildings or as a connection between various pieces of equipment by employing Wireless Networking.
This implementation operates at the physical level of the OSI model network structure. Cell phone networks, wireless local area networks, wireless sensor networks, satellite communication networks, and terrestrial microwave networks are a few examples of Wireless Networks.
Types of Wireless Networks
The four different forms of Wireless Networks wireless local area networks, wireless personal area networks, wireless metropolitan area networks, and wireless wide area networks each serve a specific function. This article covers the various types of Wireless Networks, as well as the various equipment and connections each one needs.
Wireless LAN
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology enables internet connections inside buildings or in small outdoor spaces. Initially used in homes and companies, WLAN technology is increasingly found in stores and restaurants. The COVID-19 pandemic forced office workers, teachers, students, and others to work and study from home, which dramatically increased the use of home networks.
Most home network layouts are straightforward. A modem connects to a local service provider’s cable or fiber. A wireless router attached to the modem receives the signal from the modem. The router, which also serves as the wireless access point (AP), then transmits a wireless protocol, such as the 802.11 standards.
The networks in offices are more intricate. Each AP broadcasts a wireless signal to the nearby region and is often located on the ceiling. Large offices need multiple APs, each of which connects to the office backbone network through a wired link to a switch. Together, APs support users moving about the office space to keep open, linked sessions active.
Wireless MAN
Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks have been established in cities all over the world to provide users with connectivity outside of a workplace or home network. The foundations are the same even though these networks have a wider coverage area than networks in workplaces or households. All around the covered region, APs can be seen on the exterior of buildings or atop telephone poles. APs connect via wire to the internet and broadcast a wireless signal throughout the area. To reach their destination, users connect to the nearest AP, which then forwards the connection over its internet connection.
Wireless WAN
Wireless Wide Area Networks use cellular technology to offer access outside the range of a wireless LAN or metropolitan network. Users can call other people on the phone using these networks. The same technology is used by WANs to handle both speech and data transfer. Additionally, users can connect to the internet and use server-based programs and websites. Cell towers are ubiquitous in the United States and the majority of other countries.
Wireless PAN
Using protocols like Bluetooth and Zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks typically only cover a very small area a maximum of 100 meters for the majority of applications. Bluetooth enables earpiece connections, hands-free phone calls, and signal transmission between smart devices. The Zigbee wireless technology links the stations in an IoT network. Applications of infrared technology that require a line of sight, such as connecting TV remote controls to TVs, are constrained.
Wireless engineers have consistently advanced technology by creating new signal transmission methods. Each of these wireless technologies can now provide faster data rates and a longer range thanks to these developments.
How Does WiFi Work?
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to send and receive data between devices. A wireless router or access point converts data received through a wired connection into radio waves and broadcasts it. These radio waves are once more converted into information that a receiver, such as your smartphone, may read, hear, or see. Both the access point and the receiver continuously exchange data as needed in this ongoing operation. In essence, this is how you get the website you are currently viewing, the music you are streaming, or the YouTube videos you are watching on your phone.
The 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio wave bands have typically been used by Wi-Fi, however, the Wi-Fi 6E version has also added the use of the 6GHz channel. There is less congestion in the 6GHz frequency than in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, which leads to faster connection speeds and improved Wi-Fi performance.
How Is Wi-Fi Distinct From Ethernet?
You can connect your device to the Internet or create a local area network using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is wireless and uses radio waves to carry data, whereas Ethernet is wired and uses actual physical connections to do it. Both forms of media have pros and drawbacks.
While Ethernet is more dependable, stable, and secure than Wi-Fi, the latter is mobile-friendly and convenient. Ethernet is also more effective at minimizing latency. The gear you are using, such as your wireless router, the Wi-Fi adapter in your device, Ethernet cables, network switches, etc., determines the speed of the connection in both mediums.
The Workings of Wireless Networks
Wireless Networking, in its broadest sense, refers to all methods of network communication that make use of electromagnetic waves of any wavelength or frequency, which includes the following ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum:
IR (Infrared)
Uses line-of-sight communication and operates mostly in limited spaces between frequencies of around 300 GHz and 200 THz. IR cannot pass through buildings or other structures, but it can reflect off of light-colored surfaces.
Microwave
Is utilized for both satellite communication and point-to-point terrestrial communication, and its frequency ranges from 2 GHz to 40 GHz. When the weather is bad (for instance, when it’s raining or foggy), microwave signals degrade.
Radio Broadcasts
Ranges from 30 MHz to 1 GHz, can pass through most buildings and structures, is less impacted by poor atmospheric conditions than microwaves, but suffers from multipath interference over long distances.
Connecting Wireless Stations to a Wired Networks: Essential Components
To establish a connection between wireless stations and a typical wired network, two key components are required: LAN access points and station adapters. Let’s delve into how these components facilitate wireless connectivity:
LAN Access Points
LAN access points serve as bridges between the wired LAN and wireless stations. They are equipped with transceivers that send and receive signals, enabling communication between the wired network and wireless devices. Access points define coverage areas called cells.
As wireless stations move between cells, access points hand off communication to ensure seamless connectivity. The effective range of an access point can extend up to 3,000 square meters, providing data transmission rates of 1 to 10 Mbps.
Station Adapters
A station adapter is an external device that connects to a computer’s RJ-45 port, a PCMCIA card, or an RS-232 serial port adaptor. This adapter transforms the host computer into a wireless station on the network.
It often features antennas for improved transmission and reception. A typical adapter in a small-scale WLAN has an output power of around 100 mW, covering an approximate range of 305 meters in open spaces.
Wireless Networking Standards
IEEE 802.11, part of Project 802, is the prevailing Wireless Networking standard. It defines the physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) protocols for wireless communication. The standard operates within the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band around 2.4 GHz.
This frequency range was designated by the FCC for unlicensed wireless communication. IEEE 802.11 provides data encryption through wired equivalent privacy (WEP) and offers maximum data transmission speeds of 1 or 2 Mbps.
By combining LAN access points and station adapters, wireless stations can seamlessly connect to wired networks, enabling efficient communication and data exchange.
Advantages of Wireless Networks
- Collaboration and mobility. safety precautions as you go around your job site. Access real-time communications, all network documents, and apps from any location at any time.
- visitor access. Provide secure network access to visitors, such as clients and business partners, while maintaining the security of your network resources.
- Cisco’s wireless for the small business program offers technology that meets your company’s requirements. This gives you more time to concentrate on what matters most your achievement.
- So that your entire team can keep in touch, and provide network access throughout your organization, even in places that have been difficult to access with the wired network.
- By quickly expanding your network, you may add more users and locations without having to run cables and wires.
