What is the typical coverage area of a Personal Area Network (PAN)?

The typical coverage area of a Personal Area Network (PAN) is indeed 10 feet or less. This type of network is designed for short-range communication, often used to connect personal devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops within close proximity to one another.

The limited coverage area of a PAN is beneficial because it allows for low-power usage and reduced interference with surrounding networks. This capability makes PANs ideal for connecting devices like wireless headsets, keyboards, and mice to a computer, as well as enabling file transfers between nearby devices.

Coverage areas of 10 miles or more or 1 mile or more do not fit the scope of PANs as they suggest much larger network types, such as Wide Area Networks (WANs) or even Local Area Networks (LANs). Similarly, a coverage area of 100 feet or less, while still compact, exceeds the typical range for a PAN, which is specifically optimized for very short distances to ensure efficient and secure connections between devices in close proximity.