Chapter 1. The Wireless World: An Introduction to Concepts

What You Will Learn

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Compare and contrast wireless PANs, LANs, MANs, and WANs

• Recognize general examples of wireless network applications

• Understand the benefits of wireless networks

Wireless networks play a crucial role in the lives of people at work, home, and public places. Even though a wireless network has a simple purpose, which is to provide connections between users and information sources without the use of wires, critical concepts of wireless networks must be mastered before understanding how they operate. This chapter presents a thorough definition of wireless networks and how they benefit users in different applications.