Wireless LAN

Abstract

The wireless LAN or WLAN has become an increasingly important data communication system that can be implemented as an extension or as an alternative to wired LAN for an enterprise network. The flexibility of this data communication system to provide high-speed and movable LAN capability has already reached the market and the technology is becoming more visible. It is estimated that the US market alone for WLAN products will grow to more than $1 billion by the year 2000. This technology is also more suitable for countries where geographical constraints are a bar for wired LAN. Although it is still limited to a distance of a few meters, eventually this distance limitation will be resolved. The WLAN is by no means intended to replace the wired LAN, but rather to augment it. The WLAN should not be confused with the WMAN (wireless metropolitan area network). The WMAN has a packet radio-based communication infrastructure generally used by law enforcement agencies. It requires users to pay for the bandwidth on a usage basis, whereas the WLAN is free of charge and certainly faster than the WMAN. A WLAN is more beneficial for doctors, nurses, consulting or accounting audit teams, network managers, training sites, trade shows, retail stores, and restaurants. One can even use such a network at home too. Therefore, the WLAN could become an essential commodity in the near future. Electromagnetic airwaves (radio and infrared) are the common medium for a WLAN.