3.1.14 Describe the characteristics of wireless networks

WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)
• Also called Wireless LAN (WLAN)
• Used in laptops/mobile devices to connect wirelessly to home network
• Most preferred network type to implement a home network
• Allows relatively slow to fast data transmissions (depending on the version)
• Backwards compatible with most older WiFi standards (a/b/g/n)
• Small transmitting radius makes it suited for homes, usually <20m

WiMAX
• WiMAX = Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
• Designed for large distance high speed internet access
• Relatively cheap method of providing internet over a large area - suited for poorer countries
• Rivalled by Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard
• Can be used as a form of wireless variant of DSL phone transmission lines

3G (Third Generation)
• The primary way mobile phones access the internet today
• Allows the tunnelling of phone lines (mobiles don't have to switch back to phone network when receiving a call
• Relatively fast