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wireless lan technology

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Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology enables wireless communication between devices within a limited geographical area, such as a home, office, or campus. The most common standard for WLAN is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), which is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Here's a technical overview of the key aspects of wireless LAN technology:

  1. Frequency Bands:
    • WLANs operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The 2.4 GHz band is more crowded due to its popularity, while the 5 GHz band offers more channels and less interference.
  2. Modulation and Data Rates:
    • WLANs use various modulation schemes to transmit data. Common modulations include Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). Higher-order modulations allow for higher data rates.
  3. 802.11 Standards:
    • The IEEE 802.11 family includes several standards, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). Each standard introduces improvements in terms of data rates, range, and efficiency.
  4. Access Points (APs):
    • Access points are devices that facilitate wireless communication within a WLAN. They act as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, transmitting data between devices and the central network infrastructure.
  5. Wireless Stations:
    • Wireless stations are the devices (such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets) that connect to the WLAN through access points. Each wireless station has a unique identifier called the Media Access Control (MAC) address.
  6. Basic Service Set (BSS):
    • A Basic Service Set is the basic building block of a WLAN. It consists of an access point and the connected wireless stations. In infrastructure mode, all communication goes through the access point, while in ad-hoc mode, devices communicate directly with each other.
  7. Service Set Identifier (SSID):
    • The SSID is a unique identifier for a wireless network. Devices use the SSID to differentiate between different networks. It's essential for security and to ensure that devices connect to the correct network.
  8. Wireless Security:
    • WLANs implement various security protocols to protect data during transmission. Common security protocols include Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and WPA2/WPA3. Encryption methods such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) are used to secure data.
  9. Channel Bonding:
    • Channel bonding allows devices to use multiple channels simultaneously, increasing the overall data transfer rate. This is a feature commonly found in 802.11n and later standards.
  10. Quality of Service (QoS):
  • QoS mechanisms prioritize different types of traffic to ensure that latency-sensitive applications, such as voice and video, receive preferential treatment over less time-sensitive data.
  1. Roaming:
    • Roaming enables devices to maintain a continuous connection while moving within the WLAN. This is crucial for seamless connectivity in environments where users move between different access points.
  2. Mesh Networking:
    • In mesh networking, multiple access points work together to provide coverage over a larger area. This is particularly useful in scenarios where a wired backbone is impractical.