Network technicians and designers need to understand basic wireless LAN concepts in order to be prepared for possible network upgrades, even if the network is not initially designed to integrate wireless technologies.
Wireless networks can include a wide variety of technologies, such as the following:
- Mobile wireless that allows data to be sent via mobile phones:
- GSM – low data rates, 9600bps
- GPRS – up to 128Kbps
- 3G/UMTS – several Mbps
- Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies
- Bridge wireless (point-to-point)
Bridge wireless involves a simple design of setting up two antennas on two different buildings that are pointing at each other in order to bridge two LANs together. This technology can usually scale up to 50Mbps.