- 2075 Bhadra · 3 marks
Short note: Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Short answer
A WLAN connects devices over short range using radio, mostly IEEE 802.11 in 2.4/5 GHz. It has stations and access points, with infrastructure or ad hoc modes. MAC uses CSMA/CA with ACKs and optional RTS/CTS; rates range from 11 Mbps to several Gbps with WPA2/WPA3 security.
Write a short note on Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) links devices within a limited area (home, office, campus) using radio waves instead of cables. Most WLANs follow IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) and operate in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- Components: stations (STA) and access points (AP); an AP connects wireless users to the wired LAN.
- Modes: infrastructure (via AP, BSS/ESS) and ad hoc (IBSS, device to device).
- MAC: CSMA/CA with ACKs and optional RTS/CTS.
- PHY: DSSS (802.11b), OFDM (802.11a/g), OFDM + MIMO (802.11n/ac), OFDMA (802.11ax); rates from 11 Mbps to several Gbps.
- Security: WPA2/WPA3 with AES encryption.
[Laptop]~~\
[Phone]~~~[AP]---LAN/Internet
Advantages: mobility, easy installation, low cost. Drawbacks: limited range (~100 m), interference and shared bandwidth.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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