Helping Make Sense of the Wireless World.

What is a Wireless LAN?
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a data communication system implemented as an extension to, or an alternative for, a wired LAN within an office, home or school. These devices use electromagnetic waves to transmit and receive data through the air, virtually eliminating the need for wired connections.

At the current time there are three main types of WLAN:

1. Microwave: High spread spectrum frequency (18.9 to 19 GHz), used mostly to connect building to building. Its range is approximately 45,000 sq ft. There is no need for a direct line of sight, and it could be made to be bi-directional.

2. Spread Spectrum Technology (SST): spread spectrum frequency (900MHz to 2.4 GHz) is mostly used in today's generation of WLAN products. The range is approximately 5,000 sq ft and does not require a line of sight.

3. InFraRed: (longer than the visible light spectrum) This type of wireless requires a direct line of sight to work. Its range is very limited and is slow.

Each solution has distinctive advantages and disadvantages associated with the nature of its use and the environment in which it is placed. For help finding the right fit for your business, please email (link to sales/product email address) or call us (link to Contact Us).

How Does It Work?

In a typical Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) configuration, a transmitter/receiver (transceiver) device, called an access point, connects to the wired network from a fixed location using standard network cabling. At a minimum, the access point receives, buffers, and transmits data between the WLAN and the wired network infrastructure. A single access point can support a small group of users and can function within a range from one hundred to several hundred feet. The access point may be mounted essentially anywhere that is practical.

Your end users access the WLAN through WLAN adapters, which are implemented as PC Cards in notebook or palmtop computers, as cards in desktop computers, or integrated within hand-held computers. WLAN adapters provide an interface between the business's network operating system (NOS) and the airwaves via an antenna.

Why Wireless?

The widespread reliance on networking in business and the meteoric growth of the internet and online services are strong testimonies to the benefits of shared data and shared resources. With WLANs, users can access shared information without looking for a place to plug in, and network managers can set up or augment networks without installing or moving wires. Some of the benefits a WLAN can offer include increased productivity, convenience, better response to your customers, and cost advantages over a traditional wired network.

This is the very basics about wireless, If you want more technical information click here.