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WLAN Full Form

Read this article to know about the full form of WLAN, its components, advantages and disadvantages.

WLAN stands for wireless local area network; this is a networking technology that is most widely used among this generation at the present time. Basically, a wireless local area network is used to connect multiple computers through a single pair of fibre Internet; however, considering wired networking technologies included wired cables, optic fibres, coaxial cables, etc. On the other hand, wireless networking technology is considered to use technology like bluetooth radio waves, infrared satellite signals, etc. Basically, the use of Wi-Fi is considered as a wireless local area network where the router signal is used to connect several devices like tablets, laptops, smartphones, etc., to the Internet.

Table of Contents

  1. Advantages of WLAN
  2. Disadvantages of WLAN
  3. Components of a WLAN

Advantages of WLAN

The introduction of WLAN brought up several advantages to the industry. Some of the widely known advantages are as follows:

  • It is quite easy and convenient to initiate a connection using routers and several other devices without requiring any cables.
  • Most importantly, the WLAN is useful for businesses and company usage where different levels of the buildings can use the same wireless connection.
  • The WLAN is beneficial in the case where an individual requires to connect a number of devices. WLAN can support thousands of device connections altogether.
  • There are certain devices that are known as repeaters that can be used to increase the wireless connection and range of the WLAN.
  • WLAN is associated with the upgradation of new versions where there is no need to change the cables or any other physical devices. Therefore, upgrading the newer version of WLAN is quite simple and inexpensive.

Disadvantages of WLAN

There are several disadvantages related to being a wireless local area network. Some of them are as follows:

  • Considering the wireless local area network as it is free over the medium, they are not safe and add vulnerable to several threats
  • In several conditions, including WPA or WEP, the sharing of the data is limited to a certain condition by encoding the transmission.
  • Moreover, the wireless connections are also affected by any physical obstacle, including the concrete wall.
  • Whereas the wireless local area network is not considered to be safe and secure; therefore, considering governmental works, as well as high multinational company organisation, they use LAN instead of WLAN.

Components of a WLAN

The wireless local area network depends upon three basic components. In simple terms, wireless networking requires the transmission of frequency waves from one device to another. Therefore the basic competency quired by the wireless local area network are as follows:

  • Converters: The converters are those devices that are used for converting the digitalised information into radio waves and can be tethered into the medium. The converters are also known as modems or routers.
  • Receiver: The receiver is those devices that are meant to receive these converted radio waves from the converters. The basic work of the receiver here is to receive the radio waves from the converters and convert them into electrical signals.
  • Transmitters: The transmitters are known for limiting the transmission of radio waves. These transmitters are already implemented and installed within the devices.