MAN

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN).
It is also used to mean the interconnection of several local area networks by bridging them with backbone lines. The latter usage is also sometimes referred to as a campus network.

WAN

Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network that covers a broad area.
WANs are used to connect LANs and other types of networks together, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with users and computers in other locations. Many WANs are built for one particular organization and are private. Others, built by Internet service providers, provide connections from an organization's LAN to the Internet. WANs are often built using leased lines. At each end of the leased line, a router connects to the LAN on one side and a hub within the WAN on the other. Leased lines can be very expensive. Instead of using leased lines, WANs can also be built using less costly circuit switching or packet switching methods. Network protocols including TCP/IP deliver transport and addressing functions.

LAN

A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link. Typically, connected devices share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are shared in common by multiple computer users. A local area network may serve as few as two or three users.

["DIR-655 Xtreme N router"]

The DIR-655 Xtreme N router being one of our most popular router reviews to date, it only made sense to get our hands on the DGL-4500 and see how much, if at all, it bested the widely popular single band 655.

Offering dual band (both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless), and sporting an attractive OLED screen on the top, the DGL-4500 certainly looks like a winner on paper but how does it stack up against the other wireless N routers we have looked at in the past?

D-Link, in all their marketing genius, has given the DGL-4500 their GamerLounge logo and dressed the router in the same plastic housing as the DIR-655... only this time around they have included a top mounted OLED screen and an all black exterior. While many consider the inclusion of the screen a bit gimmicky, typical gamers aren't your average user and have proven time and time again that anything that lights up is square in their wheelhouse.

While the LCD screen and black color are noticeable step away from the DIR-655's styling, the most important difference between the current best seller and D-Link's latest gaming router is the addition of the Atheros XSPAN dual band chipset, giving the DGL-4500 the ability to connect wirelessly over the existing 2.4 GHz wireless band as well as in the less crowded 5 GHz band... providing you actually own a dual band wireless adapter. D-Link themselves just recently released their DWA-160 dual band USB wireless adapter giving those owner , or their potential owners, the ability to actually use the 5 GHz wireless band.