What Are the Different Types of Wireless Networks?

Wireless networking. Wi-Fi. You can’t walk into a coffee shop anymore without seeing or hearing these words. A wireless network is a computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. Wireless networking allows devices to stay connected but roam untethered to any cables. Your smartphone can connect to Wi-Fi at Starbucks; you can connect a printer to your laptop that is in another room; you can run an entire business without snaking cables through your building.

Whether in your home or business, you can avoid the costly, time-consuming and often tedious process of running cables between various equipment locations. 

But there are so many different types of wireless networks — LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN — and so many different standards — B, G, N, AC — that it is hard to figure out which will work best for your needs.