Wireless LAN Topologies
David D Coleman, David A Westcott · 2018
This chapter covers the topologies used by a cross section of radio frequency (RF) technologies and covers 802.11-specific wireless local area network (WLAN) topologies. A wide area network (WAN) provides RF coverage over a vast geographical area. A WAN might traverse an entire state, region, or country or even span worldwide. A wireless wide area network (WWAN) also covers broad geographical boundaries but uses a wireless medium instead of a wired medium. WWANs typically use cellular telephone technologies or proprietary licensed wireless bridging technologies. Cellular providers, such as AT&T Mobility, Verizon, and Vodafone, use a variety of competing technologies to carry data. A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a wireless computer network used for communication between computer devices within close proximity of a user. Devices such as laptops, gaming devices, tablet PCs, and smart phones can communicate with each other by using a variety of wireless technologies.