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Question
What are the four types of wireless networks, and how do they differ in range and standards?
Answer
The four types are: WPAN (personal, Bluetooth, ~10m), WLAN (local, Wi-Fi 802.11, ~100m), WMAN (metro, WiMAX 802.16, ~50km), and WWAN (wide, cellular 4G/5G, nationwide).
| Type | Standard | Range | Frequency | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPAN | IEEE 802.15 | 6-9 meters (20-30 ft) | 2.4 GHz | Bluetooth, Zigbee |
| WLAN | IEEE 802.11 | Up to ~100m indoor | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | Wi-Fi (home, office, campus) |
| WMAN | IEEE 802.16 | Up to 50 km | Licensed bands | WiMAX (metro broadband) |
| WWAN | Cellular | National/global | Licensed bands | 4G LTE, 5G (mobile data) |
Bluetooth variants:
- Bluetooth BR/EDR (Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate): Point-to-point, optimized for audio streaming
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Supports mesh topology, designed for IoT sensors with minimal power
Other wireless technologies:
- Cellular broadband: GSM (international standard) and CDMA (primarily US)
- Satellite broadband: Requires directional dish, geostationary orbit, used in rural areas where cable/DSL unavailable
Go deeper:
Wireless network (Wikipedia) — the WPAN/WLAN/WMAN/WWAN categories with ranges and IEEE 802.11/802.15/802.16 standards.
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