wireless local area network

wireless local area network
    n 1: a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals
         to transmit and receive data over distances of a few
         hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol [syn: {wireless local
         area network}, {WLAN}, {wireless fidelity}, {WiFi}]
    

wireless local area network
LAWN
WiLAN
WLAN

   <networking> (WLAN /W-lan/, or "LAWN" /lorn/, sometimes
   "WiLAN" /wi-lan/) A communication system that transmits and
   receives data using modulated electromagnetic waves,
   implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a
   {wired} {LAN}.  WLANs are typically found within a small
   {client} {node}-dense locale (e.g. a campus or office
   building), or anywhere a traditional network cannot be
   deployed for logistical reasons.

   Benefits include user mobility in the coverage area, speed and
   simplicity of physical setup, and {scalability}.  Being a
   military spin-off, WLANs also provide security features such
   as {encryption}, {frequency hopping}, and {firewalls}.  Some
   of these are intrinsic to the {protocol}, making WLANs at
   least as secure as wired networks, and usually more so.  The
   drawbacks are high initial cost (mostly {hardware}), limited
   range, possibility of mutual interference, amd the need to
   security-enable clients.

   The established protocols are covered by IEEE 802.11
   (http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/).  Recent developments
   include the Bluetooth project and other WPAN, or Personal
   Area Network initiatives, accessible through IEEE 802.15
   working group (http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15/).

   Wireless Lan Association (http://wlana.org/).

   Usenet newsgroups: news:comp.dcom.lans.misc,
   news:comp.std.wireless.

   (2003-09-23)