Introduction wireless networking
The computer network is a collection of connected computers that can communicate and share their resources to each other. On the basis of transmission/connecting media, a network can be wired or wireless. In a wired network, computers are connected through cables for establishing communication. As the installation of cables in your home and office becomes a tedious task to accomplish, the wireless network gets its popularity. In a wireless network, there is no need of cabling for connecting computers. The wireless communication is established within the frequency range of 104 Hz to 1016 Hz in the electromagnetic wave spectrum. Also, the longest electromagnetic waves in the electromagnetic wave spectrum are the radio waves. Therefore, a wireless network uses radio waves to establish communication between connected computers. A wireless network is usually named as a wireless local area network (WEAN). Bluetooth, radio waves, and Infrared (IR) are some of the wireless technologies that allow a device to connect to a wireless network. Wireless networking has several advantages over wired networking. One of the advantages is that it provides mobility due to the lack of wires, allowing you to overcome geographical boundaries. In this chapter, primarily you learn about the basics of wireless networking. In addition, you get familiar with the hardware and software that are required to establish a wireless network. Further, the chapter discusses different types of wireless networking models. The chapter also discusses different wireless technologies. Next, you learn about various wireless networking standards. You also get familiar with various wireless network security technologies. After that, the chapter explores different types of wireless networks. Towards the end, you understand the procedure to troubleshoot the problems of wireless networking. Let’s start the chapter by understanding the basics of wireless networking.
