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What are wireless LANs?
Wireless LANs (WLANs) are wireless computer networks that use high-frequency radio waves instead of cables for connecting the devices within a limited area forming LAN (Local Area Network). Users connected by wireless LANs can move around within this limited area such as home, school, campus, office building, railway platform, etc.
Most WLANs are based upon the standard IEEE 802.11 standard or WiFi.
Components of WLANs
The components of WLAN architecture as laid down in IEEE 802.11 are −
Stations (STA) − Stations comprises of all devices and equipment that are connected to the wireless LAN. Each station has a wireless network interface controller. A station can be of two types −
- Wireless Access Point (WAP or AP)
- Client
Basic Service Set (BSS) − A basic service set is a group of stations communicating at the physical layer level. BSS can be of two categories −
- Infrastructure BSS
- Independent BSS
Extended Service Set (ESS) − It is a set of all connected BSS.
Distribution System (DS) − It connects access points in ESS.
Types of WLANS
WLANs, as standardized by IEEE 802.11, operates in two basic modes, infrastructure, and ad hoc mode.
Infrastructure Mode − Mobile devices or clients connect to an access point (AP) that in turn connects via a bridge to the LAN or Internet. The client transmits frames to other clients via the AP.
Ad Hoc Mode − Clients transmit frames directly to each other in a peer-to-peer fashion.
Advantages of WLANs
They provide clutter-free homes, offices and other networked places.
The LANs are scalable in nature, i.e. devices may be added or removed from the network at greater ease than wired LANs.
The system is portable within the network coverage. Access to the network is not bounded by the length of the cables.
Installation and setup are much easier than wired counterparts.
The equipment and setup costs are reduced.
Disadvantages of WLANs
Since radio waves are used for communications, the signals are noisier with more interference from nearby systems.
Greater care is needed for encrypting information. Also, they are more prone to errors. So, they require greater bandwidth than the wired LANs.
WLANs are slower than wired LANs.
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