A WAN is a geographically dispersed telecommunications network, sometimes global in nature. The term distinguishes a broader telecommunication structure from a local area network (LAN) or a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). A wide area network may be privately owned or rented, but the term usually connotes the inclusion of public (shared user) networks.

A wand, aka Light Pen, is a type of Barcode scanner. Wands use a Light Emitting Diode (LED) for a light source and they must have contact with the barcode. The user manually swipes the wand from one end of the barcode to the other.

A Barcode scanner that supports Wand emulation first decodes a scanned barcode and then converts it back to a generic form of Undecoded data. This is provided so that a Decoded scanner may be connected to a reader or decoder that expects undecoded data as input.

WAP is a Protocol used to transfer web pages to internet mobile phones and other Wireless devices.

Some Access Point makers have used this acronym to mean Wireless Access Point.

Others have understood the correct meaning of WAP but mistaken the acronym to be Wireless Access Protocol.

In warehousing, wave Picking, a variation on Zone Picking where rather than orders moving from one zone to the next for picking, all zones are picked at the same time and the items are later sorted and consolidated into individual orders/shipments. Wave picking is the quickest method for picking multi item orders however the sorting and consolidation process can be tricky. Picking waves are often designed to isolate shipments to specific Carriers, routes, etc

Wavelength is the distance between identical points in the adjacent cycles of a waveform. In wireless systems, this length is usually specified in meters, centimeters, or millimeters. In the case of Infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and gamma radiation, the wavelength is more often specified in nanometers (units of 10^-9meter) or Angstrom units (units of 10^-10meter).

Wavelength is inversely related to Frequency. The higher the frequency of the signal, the shorter the wavelength.

Wavelength is important in wirelesscommunications, where the length of a wave is mathematically related to the frequency.
     

c = speed of light        ƒ= Frequency

λ= Wavelength λ= c / ƒ ƒ= c / λ

A company that designs and sells software for terminal emulation, Wireless network management, end device management and application development.

WECA is now the Wi-Fi Alliance.

A wedge reader receives raw Undecoded data from a scanner and converts it into keyboard data called Keycodes. A wedge reader is connected between a terminal or computer and its keyboard. Keyed data is simply passed through the wedge to the terminal. Scanned data is converted to keycodes and passed to the terminal as if it was typed. The terminal is not aware of the wedge. Scanners with a wedge Interface are also available, eliminating the need for a wedge reader.

They come with a cable set for specific terminals and interface between the keyboard and terminal.

WEP is a data encryption standard, specified in the 802.11 standards from the IEEE, that is designed to provide a Wireless local area network (WLAN) with a level of security and privacy comparable to what is usually expected of a wired LAN. A wired local area network (LAN) is generally protected by physical security mechanisms that are effective for a controlled physical environment, but may be ineffective for WLANs because radio waves are not necessarily bound by the walls containing the network. WEP sought to establish similar protection to that offered by the wired network's physical security measures by encrypting data transmitted over the WLAN. 40 Bit WEP encryption is specified in the 802.11 standards. Access Point Manufactures went beyond that and offered 128 bit WEP encryption, however this is not part of the 802.11 standards.

Although WEP is sufficient to protect data from most would be hackers, WEP encryption is vulnerable to those with the know how and the tools to break the encryption keys. Other methods such as password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private networks (VPNs), authentication and WPA and WPA-PSK can be put in place to ensure privacy.

In Barcodes, the ratio of the width of wide bars to the width of narrow bars is known as the wide to narrow ratio. This ratio is only applicable to Symbologies with two bar/space widths.

For example:

Generally, wideband describes telecommunication that carries information in a wide band of frequencies. More specifically, the term has been used to describe a specific Frequency range set aside by the U.S. FCC for mobile or radio services, typically in the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5GHz ranges.

See also Narrowband.

Wi-Fi is a certification issued to products claiming to 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11a compliant. This certification is issued by the Wi-Fi Alliance. If the product passes a test suite, the certification is issued. Products with the Wi-Fi sticker are certified to be interoperable with other Wi-Fi certified products.

Not all 802.11 products are Wi-Fi certified. You can check your product at www.wi-fi.org.

The Wi-Fi Alliance formerly, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), is a nonprofit international association formed in 1999 to certify Interoperability of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) products based on the 802.11b specification from the IEEE. Currently the Wi-Fi Alliance has 205 member companies from around the world, and 903 products have received Wi-Fi®certification since certification began in March of 2000. The goal of the Wi-Fi Alliance's members is to enhance the user experience through product interoperability.

The Wi-Fi Alliance issues the Wi-Fi certifications to products claiming to be 802.11b or 802.11a compliant.

See 802.16 - WiMAX    

WIP is a manufacturing process that validates and tracks materials and value-added labor in diverse stages of the completion though the manufacturing or service process, typically by work order or lot.

WIP improves production visibility and efficiency and customer order status.

WIP Staging is a manufacturing process that moves component parts and sub-assemblies into position along the manufacturing line in the correct sequence for use in the assembly of products.

WIP Staging improves parts tracking, reduces costs and mistakes of wrong parts in the wrong place, improves visibility, and decreases inventory levels.

Wireless generally refers to devices that communicate with other devices without wires. Examples of wireless media include RF, Infrared, microwave, and satellite.


It is important to note that RF is wireless but wireless is not necessarily RF.

A Wireless LAN is one in which a mobile user can connect to a local area network (LAN) through a wireless connection. There are many closed WLANs installed around the world. The 802.11 standards from the IEEE, specify technologies for wireless LANs in open systems. Open Air is another standard for open systems.

The WLIF was created in May 1996 to develop an open Interoperability specification for Wireless LAN devices which resulted in the Open Air standard which uses the 2.4GHz Frequency band and Frequency Hopping technology. It has nothing to do with the IEEE 802.11 committee and focuses on WLAN interoperability. Its key members include Casio, Data General, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Intermec, Mitsubishi, Motorola, and Proxim.

In warehousing, a WMS is a software application that manages the receiving of products in a warehouse, the movement of products within the warehouse and the shipment of products from a warehouse. These systems support a wide variety of features that include but by no means limited to Picking & Putaway, receiving, shipping , Cross Docking, inventory, RMA processing, Kitting, bin assignment, stock adjustments, Cycle Counts, tracking and reporting.

Intellitrack is an entry level WMS system. Radio Beacon is a feature rich WMS system for mid range companies.

WPA is a security technology for Wireless networks. WPA improves on the authentication and encryption features of WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). In fact, WPA was developed by the networking industry in response to the shortcomings of WEP. One of the key technologies behind WPA is the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP addresses the encryption weaknesses of WEP.

WPA is used with an Authentication Server such as a RADIUS Server.

One variation of WPA can be used without an authentication server and is called WPA Pre Shared Key or WPA-PSK for short.

WPA2 is the second generation WPA. It is a Wireless security standard from the Wi-Fi Alliance and is based on the final IEEE 802.11i standard.

WPA2 can also meet FIPS 140-2 requirements.

WPA is a security technology for Wireless networks. WPA improves on the authentication and encryption features of WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). WPA is used with an Authentication Server such as a RADIUS Server.

One variation of WPA, called WPA Pre Shared Key, or WPA-PSK can be used without an authentication server. WPA-PSK is a simplified but still powerful form of WPA.

To use WPA-PSK, a person sets a static key or "passphrase" as with WEP. But, using TKIP, WPA-PSK automatically changes the keys at a preset time interval, making it much more difficult for hackers to find and exploit them.

WWAN is a Wireless WAN which typically uses CDMA, GPRS and other cell phone technology radios.