Wireless LAN

Wireless Local Area Network (Wireless LAN) is one in which the mobile user can connect to a Local Area Network through a wireless network. 

Users connected to wireless LAN can move within a restricted area such as their home or office. In many situations, wireless LANs are used to save costs and avoid laying cables. 

The components of WLANs are as follows:

1. Stations (STA): It comprises all the devices and equipment connected to the WLAN. It can be of two types:

1. Wireless Access Point (WAP or AP)
2. Client

2. Basic Service Set (BSS): It is a group of physical layer levels, and

        can be categorized into two types:

1. Independent BSS
2. Infrastructure BSS

3. Extended Service Set (ESS): ESS is the set of all connected BSS.
4. Distribution System (DS): DS connects the access points in ESS.

Different types of WLANs:

WLANs operates in two basic modes:

1. Infrastructure mode: In this mode, the client transmits frames to other clients via the AP.
2. Ad Hoc mode: In this mode, the client transmits frames directly through peer-to-peer fashion. 

Advantages of WLAN:

The advantages of WLANs are as follows:

1. They are more cost-effective.
2. Installation is easier.
3. The LANs are scalable.
4. It is portable. 

Disadvantages of WLAN:

The disadvantages of WLAN are as follows:

1. They are slower than wired LANs.
2. More prone to errors.
3. The signals are noisier. 

Reference

Wireless LAN