Wireless Computer Network

According to Wikipedia, wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes is implemented without the use of wires. Wikipedia also states that wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier. Hence, in simple terms, a wireless computer network utilizes radio waves and/or other electromagnetic waves to maintain communication channels between computers.

There are three types of wireless computer network, these are wireless personal area network (WPAN), wireless local area network (WLAN) and wireless metropolitan area network (WiMAX).

A wireless personal area network is a wireless network that interconnects devices within a relatively small area, usually around an individual person's workspace. A WPAN typically uses some technology that permits communication within a distance of about 10 meters.

A wireless local area network uses radio waves instead of wires to transmit data back and forth between computers on the same network. There are two types of WLANs: infrastructure WLANs (where the wireless network is linked to a wired network) and independent WLANs.

A wireless metropolitan area network is a wireless network that connects several wireless local area networks. WLANs are standardized under the IEEE 802.11 series, while WiMAX is covered in IEEE802.16d/802.16e.