Introduction to Wireless Networking
Héctor Chocobar Torrejón
Software Engineer | Professor | Senior Mentor | Fullstack Developer | Python | React | Data Science enthusiast
This post provides an introduction to wireless networking in general and the types of networks classified according to the coverage area.
Types of Wireless Networks
A?wireless communication network?includes a set of interconnected devices to support the transmission of information through wireless links, such as radio waves traveling in free space.
On the other hand, a?mobile communication network?is made up of devices that can exchange information and whose connection point can change dynamically. As the user moves, their connection is automatically updated. Wireless communication networks are necessary to support the mobility of users.
Wireless communication networks are classified according to different criteria, such as coverage area and network structure.
Bellow are the types of networks classified according to the coverage area and some examples of the technologies used in each one:
Vocabulary
Wireless Communication Network
A wireless communications network is a network of interconnected devices to support the transmission of information over wireless links, such as radio waves traveling in free space.
WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network)
A WPAN is a wireless network that allows communication between devices located very close to the access point. Bluetooth and RFID are examples of technologies in this category.
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WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
A WLAN is a wireless network that connects two or more devices in a limited space, such as a home, a school or an office building. WiFi is the most used type of WLAN.
WMAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Network)
A WMAN is a wireless network that connects a limited geographic area, such as a metropolis or city. An example of a WMAN which has been deployed in several cities around the world.
WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network)
A WWAN is a wireless network that communicates very large areas, such as a country. Cellular communication technologies from the first generation (1G) to the fifth generation (5G) are examples of this network.
Infrastructure Network
An infrastructure network is a wireless network that carries out the transmission and reception of data between the end equipment through an access point.
Ad-hoc Network
An ad-hoc network is a wireless network that connects a collection of nodes without a central infrastructure; links and network configurations are dynamic.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The internet of things is the interconnection of physical objects (such as smart light bulbs, smart speakers, etc) that can exchange data with each other and with people to provide services using wireless communication networks to support the communication.
Mobile Communication Network
A mobile communication network is a wireless network that interconnects devices whose connection point can change dynamically, that is, it interconnects users from wherever they are.