Computer Software - Different Type of Wirless Networks

Table of Content

Types of wireless connections 4

Wide Area Networks Wireless WAN 4

Wireless Local Area Networks 6

Personal Area Networks Wireless PAN 9

Wireless MAN 10

W

ireless network refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes are implemented without the use of wires. Wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier and this implementation usually takes place at the physical level or "layer" of the network.

Although we use the term wireless network loosely, there are in fact three different types of network :

* Wide area networks that the cellular carriers create,

* Wireless local area networks, that you create, and

* Personal area networks, that users create themselves.

They all have a part to play in developing wireless solutions, separately or in various combinations.

Types of wireless connections

Wide Area Networks Wireless WAN

Wide Area Networks (WAN) are countrywide and worldwide networks. These networks provide access to regional services (MAN) providers and typically span distances greater than 100 miles . They use microwave relays and satellites to reach users over long distances. The widest of all WANs is the internet, which spans the entire globe. This Wide Area Networks include the networks provided by the cell phone carriers such as Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility and Rogers Wireless. Originally providing cellular voice services, the carriers added data services as well, at first by overlaying digital data services on top of the early analogue voice services, and later by building out brand new generation voice-plus-data networks. Suffice it to say, wireless data services are available just about everywhere you can use a voice cell phone.

The carriers determine where to provide coverage based on their business strategy, and they also control Quality of Service (QoS). If you are a very large, powerful organization, the carriers may add additional network resources in your corporate tower, especially if you buy a large number of cell phones from them.

Where would you use WANs? You would use WANs when reach is the most important aspect of your solution, and speed is less important. Reach is important if you are providing wireless solutions to the public at large, for example, or you want to give your employees wireless access to your corporate data, whether they are in the office, across town, out of town, or (in some cases) in other countries.

Mobile devices networks

With the development of smart phones, cellular telephone networks routinely carry data in addition to telephone conversations:

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM): The GSM network is divided into three major systems: the switching system, the base station system, and the operation and support system. The cell phone connects to the base system station which then connects to the operation and support station; it then connects to the switching station where the call is transferred to where it needs to go. GSM is the most common standard and is used for a majority of cell phones.

Personal Communications Service (PCS): PCS is a radio band that can be used by mobile phones in North America and South Asia. Sprint happened to be the first service to set up a PCS.

D-AMPS: Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service, an upgraded version of AMPS, is being phased out due to advancement in technology. The newer GSM networks are replacing the older system.

Wireless Local Area Networks

Wireless LANs are networks set up to provide wireless connectivity within a finite coverage area. Typical coverage areas might be a hospital (for patient care systems), a university, the airport, or a gas plant. They usually have a well-known audience in mind, for example health care providers, students, or field maintenance staff . You would use WLANS when high data-transfer rate is the most important aspect of your solution, and reach is restricted. For example, in a hospital setting, you would require a high data rate to send patient X-rays wirelessly to a doctor, provided he is on the hospital premises.

Wireless LANS work in an unregulated part of the spectrum, so anyone can create their own wireless LAN, say in their home or office. In principle, you have complete control over where coverage is provided. In practice, coverage spills over into the street outside exposing you to a particular range of vulnerabilities.

Wireless LANs have their own share of terminology, including:

* 802.11 - this is the network technology used in wireless LANs. In fact, it is a family of technologies such as 802.11a. 802.11b, etc., differing in speed and other attributes

* WiFi - a common name for the early 802.11b standard.

In addition to creating your own private WLAN, some organizations (Starbucks) and some carriers (Telus Mobility) are providing high speed WLAN internet access to the public at certain locations. These locations are called hotspots, and for a price you can browse the internet at speeds about 20 times greater than you could get over your cell phone.

Types of wireless LANs