ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

Wireless communication is bringing fundamental

changes to data networking and The term wireless refers to telecommunication
telecommunication. Broadband Wireless technology, in which radio waves, infrared
Networks, Wireless LAN's, mobile radio waves and microwaves, instead of cables or
networks and cellular systems, combine to wires, are used to carry a signal to connect
produce mobile computing and communications communication devices. These devices include
anytime, anywhere. With current wireless pagers, cell phones, portable PCs, computer
technologies we have the capability of reaching networks, location devices, satellite systems and
virtually every location on the earth. Wireless handheld digital assistants. Wireless technology
telephony and messaging services have led the is rapidly evolving, and is playing an ever-
way into the domains of personal and business increasing role in the lives of people throughout
computing. WLANs are based on the IEEE the world. Wireless technologies represent a
802.11 standard rapidly emerging area of growth and importance
for providing ubiquitous access to the network
The first wireless transmitters went on the air in
the early 20th century using radiotelegraphy Wireless technologies, systems, and services
(Morse code). Soon after, information was then have dramatically changed over the past 5 years.
added to the signal carriers, a process known as New technology capabilities and limited
modulation. This made it possible to transmit restrictions (deregulation) are allowing existing
voices and music via wireless, the medium systems to offer new services. Many of these
which came to be called "radio." With the advent new services compete with other types of
of television, fax, data communication, and the wireless systems that have not experienced
effective use of a larger portion of the spectrum, significant competition.
the term "wireless" has been revived

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more

popular and coming down in price. Since they
don’t require cables, you can use the devices
anywhere in the office or home. Flexibility and
mobility both make wireless LANs both
effective extensions and attractive alternatives to
wired networks. Wireless LANs provide all the
functionality of Wired LANs, without the
physical constrains of the wire itself. The ability
to access and send information from virtually
anywhere is invaluable. Wireless LANs and the
technology are being developed and
implemented everyday i.e. educational
institutions, medical institutions and businesses While new competition has provided lower cost
in general are all adapting to this new trend and services for consumers, it means a rapidly
adopting this new technology. Wireless LAN changing marketplace for the wireless industry.
and its technology will continue to grow, Some of these changes include the increase in
expanding the internet, and pave the way for our mobile telephone customers from 300 million to
future. 1.2 billion customers within 5 years and the
decrease of paging uses from a peak of 1.4
In this paper we mainly discuss about the billion devices to under 270 million in 3
different types of wireless technologies that are
being used in the present trend
years.

Computer technology is showing up everywhere

in our daily lives in the form of wireless
network-based products for consumer use.
Activities such as using a mobile phone to
remotely access your home security or in greater productivity for everyone whether it’s
audio/visual systems, getting information about for recreation or business.
the status of your car directly from the
manufacturer while driving, using the smart card
in your phone for storing personal information or
to make secure transactions, or networking
wireless home appliances will soon be as normal
as driving a car or making a telephone call.

WiFi – acronym for “Wireless Fidelity,” which

is a set of standards for wireless local Area
networks (WLAN).

LAN –A local area network (LAN) is a group

Recently, industry has made significant progress of computers and associated devices that share a
in resolving some constraints to the widespread common communications line or wireless link
adoption of wireless technologies. Some of the and typically share the resources of a single
constraints have included disparate standards, processor or server within a small geographic
low bandwidth, and high infrastructure and area.
service cost. Wireless technologies can both
support the institution mission and provide cost-
effective solutions. Wireless is being adopted for
many new applications: to connect computers, to
TYPES OF DEVICES:
allow remote monitoring and data acquisition, to
provide access control and security, and to
provide a solution for environments where wires
may not be the best solution.

WHAT IS WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY?
A wireless LAN is one in which a mobile user
can connect to a local area network (LAN) Wireless technology is composed of several
through a wireless radio connection. Wireless different products and devices. Depending on
technology encompasses notebook computers, what type of wireless connection you are trying
laptops, cellular phones, PDA’s (personal digital to achieve, it is essential to find what product
assistant), and wireless networking. Wireless best suits your needs. Wireless LAN technology
networking includes several devices such as: can be used for several purposes, but most
routers, PC air cards, bridges, Bluetooth, commonly for enabling a personal computer to
infrared, and gaming adaptors. Wireless access the internet relatively anywhere. Routers,
technology is paving the way people conduct PC air cards, and bridges are three of the most
business, their everyday lives, and education. common devices used in order to attain wireless
The implication of this technology has resulted connectivity.
Routers - A device that forwards data packets • Data Networking.
along networks. A router is connected to at least
two networks, commonly two LANs or a LAN Although a traditional classification, this way of
and its ISP’s (internet service provider) network. categorizing wireless technologies also includes
Routers are located at gateways, the places their differences in cost models, bandwidth,
where two or more networks connect. Routers in coverage areas, etc. Finally, a section is included
households are commonly connected to a modem on issues related to wireless technologies.
and transmit data packets to other
computers/laptops which can receive the data
with PC air cards, bridges, or another type of Voice and Messaging:
device.
Cell phones, pagers, and commercial two-way
business radios can provide voice and messaging
services. These devices may be based on analog
or digital standards that differ primarily in the
way in which they process signals and encode
information. The analog standard is the
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS).
Digital standards are Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM), Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA), or Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) Normally, devices
operate within networks that provide
metropolitan, statewide, or nationwide coverage.
These operate in different frequency bands
which are allocated by the FCC. Throughput
depends on the standard being used, but
presently in the U.S., these networks operate
PC air cards – PC air cards are adaptors
throughput rates up to 16 kilobits per second
used to pull in data which is transmitted from a
(Kbps)
router or other wireless source. You slide the
device into your notebook's PC Card slot and
then you are able to access a wireless network
with your notebook computer, while
retaining true mobility. Once you're
connected, you can keep in touch with your e-
mail, access the Internet, and share files and
other resources such as printers and network
storage with other computers on the network.
Another similar device is a USB network
adaptor. The device performs the same functions
but is installed into a USB slot instead.

APPLICATIONS FIGURE: VOICE MESSAGING

There are numerous applications for all the New digital standards, also referred to as
different wireless technologies. For the purposes "Third-Generation Services" or 3G, are expected
of this paper, applications of wireless by 2004, and will provide 30 times faster transfer
technologies are divided into the following: rates and enhanced capabilities. Because of the
many standards, there are interoperability issues
between networks, carriers, and devices.
• Voice and messaging,
Generally, charges are based on per minute
• Hand-held and other Internet-enabled
utilization or per number of messages.
devices, and
 Mbps

Hand-held and Internet-

enabled devices:
Internet-enabled cell phones and Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs) have emerged as the newest
products that can connect to the Internet across a
digital wireless network. New protocols, such as
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and new
languages, such as WML (Wireless Markup
Language) have been developed specifically for
these devices to connect to the Internet

However, the majority of current Internet content

is not optimized for these devices; presently,
WLAN configurations vary from simple,
only email, stock quotes, news, messages, and
independent, peer-to-peer connections between a
simple transaction-oriented services are
set of PCs, to more complex, intra-building
available. Other limitations include low
infrastructure networks. There are also point-to-
bandwidth (less than 14 Kbps), low quality of
point and point-to-multipoint wireless solutions.
service, high cost, the need for additional
A point-to-point solution is used to bridge
equipment, and high utilization of devices'
between two local area networks, and to provide
battery power. Nevertheless, this type of wireless
an alternative to cable between two
technology is growing rapidly with better and
geographically distant locations Point-to-multi-
more interoperable products.
point solutions connect several, separate
locations to one single location or building. In a
Data Networking: typical WLAN infrastructure configuration, there
are two basic components:
We differentiate between pure data applications
in wireless local area networks (WLANs) and
data, voice, and video converged in broadband
Broadband Wireless
wireless. We also briefly discuss Bluetooth, an
emerging wireless technology. Broadband wireless (BW) is an emerging
wireless technology that allows simultaneous
wireless delivery of voice, data, and video. BW
Wireless Local Area Networks: is considered a competing technology with
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). It is generally
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) are implemented in metropolitan areas and requires
implemented as an extension to wired LANs clear line of sight between the transmitter and the
within a building and can provide the final few receiving end. BW comes in two flavors: Local
meters of connectivity between a wired network multi-point distribution service (LMDS) and
and the mobile user Multi-channel multi-point distribution service
(MMDS). Both operate in FCC-licensed
WLANs are based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. frequency bands.
There are three physical layers for WLANs: two
radio frequency specifications (RF - direct LMDS is a high bandwidth wireless networking
sequence and frequency hopping spread service in the 28-31 GHz range of the frequency
spectrum) and one infrared (IR). Most WLANs spectrum and has sufficient bandwidth to
operate in the 2.4 GHz license-free frequency broadcast all the channels of direct broadcast
band and have throughput rates up to 2 Mbps. satellite TV, all of the local over-the-air
The new 802.11b standard is direct sequence channels, and high speed full duplex data
only, and provides throughput rates up to 11
service. Average distance between LMDS
transmitters is approximately one mile apart.

MMDS operates at lower frequencies, in the 2

GHz licensed frequency bands. MMDS has
wider coverage than LMDS, up to 35 miles, but
has lower throughput rates. Companies such as
Sprint and WorldCom own MMDS licenses in
the majority of U.S. metropolitan areas.
Broadband wireless still involves costly
equipment and infrastructures. However, as it is
more widely adopted, it is expected that the
service cost will decrease.

Types of wireless
networks:
There are three types of wireless connectivity
currently available -- personal area networks
(PANs), local area networks (LANs), and wide
area networks (WANs). Each is uniquely suited
for different application and communication
requirements.

Personal Area Networks (PANs)

Personal area networks are based on a global
specification, called Bluetooth. Bluetooth is
being developed by the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group established in 1998, and includes
Bluetooth more than 1,500 member [Link] is
ideal for mobile professionals who need to link
notebook computers, mobile phones, PDAs,
Bluetooth is a technology specification for small PIMs, and other handheld devices to do business
form factor, low-cost, short-range wireless links at home, on the road, and in the office. Its
between mobile PCs, mobile phones, and other benefits include:
portable handheld devices, and connectivity to
the Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest
Group (SIG) is driving development of the • Convenience of automatic
technology and bringing it to market and it synchronization from device to device
includes promoter companies. Bluetooth covers a • Consistent data across devices,
range of up to ten meters in the unlicensed regardless of the point-of-data capture
2.4GHz band. Because 802.11 WLANs also • Low cost of ownership with fewer
operate in the same band, there are interference cabling and networking appliance needs
issues to consider. Bluetooth technology and • Ease-of-use, once devices have been
products started being available in 2001, but assigned and authorized for the PAN
interoperability seems to be a big problem. By • Compatible data, devices, and multi-
the time and if Bluetooth becomes an adopted vendor technologies based on the
technology, current WLANs will already be Bluetooth standards.
migrating to the 5 GHz band.
 Lower cost of ownership through reduced
cabling, especially in rapidly changing
environments

• Interoperability in multi-vendor
environments based on the IEEE
802.11b standard
• Reliability based on decades of use,
starting in World War II

Wide Area Networks (WANs)

• Wide area networks utilize digital
Local Area Networks (LANs) mobile phone systems to access data
and information from any location in
A wireless local area network is a flexible data the range of a cell tower connected to a
communication system implemented as an data-enabled network. Using the mobile
extension to or an alternative for a wired LAN phone as a modem, a mobile computing
within a building or campus. A few of today's device such as a notebook computer,
wireless LANs, including Symbol's, combine PDA, or a device with a stand-alone
voice and data communications over the same radio card can receive and send
backbone for lower costs and more effective and information from a network, your
immediate information sharing; as well as high- corporate intranet, or the Internet. It
speed networks for large file transfers and video enables communications from a hotel, a
streaming. conference center, an airport, or even a
train. Truckers may use WAN solutions
to upload and download data to
centralized databases without leaving
their vehicles. Benefits include:
• Greatly improved communications
between associates over long distances
• Easy public access to e-mail, the
Internet, and corporate intranets
• Flexibility to respond to emergencies,
security, and public situations
• Rapid information sharing on critical
multi-national projects
• Lower cost over standard methods of
distance communication: phone, fax,
and express mail

Users can roam from cell to cell, capture and

send data; access the Internet and the corporate
WIRELESS SYSTEMS
There are a wide-range of wireless devices that
intranet. LANs are currently the most common
implement radio frequency (RF) to carry the
form of wireless networking for day-to-day
communication signal. Some wireless systems
business operations. Benefits include:
operate at infrared frequencies, whose
electromagnetic wavelengths are shorter than
• Increased productivity through ongoing those of RF fields. Wireless systems can be
data access for any site location divided into fixed, portable, and IR wireless
• Easier network reconfiguration and systems.
expansion through wireless installations
A Fixed wireless system uses radio frequencies
requiring a line of sight for connection. Unlike
cellular and other mobile wireless systems, they
use fixed antennas with narrowly focused beams.
HOW TECHNOLOGY
Fixed wireless systems can be used for almost
anything that a cable is used for, such as high-
IS IMPLEMENTED?
speed internet connection, and satellite television
connection. Technology has brought higher radio Wireless LANs have gained strong popularity in
frequencies with broader bandwidth that can a number of vertical markets, including the
carry more information, and require Smaller health-care, retail, manufacturing, warehousing,
antennas, resulting in lower costs and easier to and in academics. These industries have profited
deploy systems. from the productivity gains of using hand-held
terminals and notebook computers to transmit
real-time information to centralized hosts for
A Portable wireless system is a device or system, processing. This method enables fast results for
usually battery-powered that is used outside the any purpose in which it is used. Today wireless
office, home, or vehicle. Examples include LANs are becoming more widely recognized as a
handheld cellular phones, portable computers, general-purpose connectivity alternative for a
paging devices, and personal digital assistants broad range of business customers. Because it is
(PDAs), which operate through microwaves and convenient and becoming more widespread, not
radio waves. having the ability of mobility is becoming costly.
Recent studies show that the market of wireless
An IR wireless system uses infrared radiation to LAN’s was $1.2 billion in 2000 and is projected
send signals within a limited-range of to grow to more than $5.6 billion in 2005.
communication. These systems are commonly Applied wireless technology scenarios
used in television remote-control boxes, motion
detectors, and cordless computer keyboards and
mice. With progressing new technologies, IR
wireless systems can now connect notebook
computers and desktop computers used within
the same local area network (LAN) workstation,
which will heavily impact the way we conduct
meetings, presentations, and daily business, at
the office.

Handheld WLAN devices help Doctors to get the

status of their patients instantly, even while
being away from hospital.

2. Companies in the business market are able to

obtain “real-time” information directly from the
Infrared Microphone with Power Amplifier source fast and efficiently, making the decision
process fast and affective.
System
3. In educational institutions, having a wireless
LAN system enables access for research and
other pertinent information available from
anywhere.
 utilization of wireless networks. There are both
4. Network managers implement wireless LANs common and specific issues depending on the
to provide backup for mission-critical type of wireless network. Some of the common
applications running on wired networks. factors include electromagnetic interference and
physical obstacles that limit coverage of wireless
5. Warehouse workers use wireless LANs to networks, while others are more specific, such as
exchange information with central databases, standards, data security, throughput, ease of use,
thereby increasing productivity. etc.

These examples help illustrate how affective • Standards

wireless technology is becoming. • Coverage
• Security
WHAT IS IEEE 802.11?
802.11 refers to a family of specifications Standards
developed by the IEEE for wireless LAN
technology. 802.11 specifies an over-the-air A major obstacle for deployment of wireless
interface between a wireless client and a base networks is the existence of multiple standards.
station or between two wireless clients. The As it was mentioned previously, there are analog
IEEE accepted the specification in 1997. and digital standards in wireless telephony.
While GSM is the only widely supported
There are several specifications in the 802.11 standard in Europe and Asia, multiple standards
family: are in use in the U.S. As a result, the U.S. has
lagged in wireless networks deployment. Just
recently, organizations have been formed to
• 802.11 -- applies to wireless LANs and
ensure network and device interoperability. For
provides 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in
example, the adoption of the 802.11b standard
the 2.4 GHz band using either
has made wireless data networks one of the
frequency hopping spread spectrum
hottest newcomers in the current wireless
(FHSS) or direct sequence spread
market.
spectrum (DSSS).
• 802.11a -- an extension to 802.11 that
applies to wireless LANs and provides Coverage
up to 54 Mbps in the 5GHz band.
802.11a uses an orthogonal frequency Another issue is coverage. Coverage mainly
division multiplexing encoding scheme depends on the output power of the transmitter
rather than FHSS or DSSS. (FCC regulated), its location and frequency used
• 802.11b (also referred to as 802.11 to transmit data. For example, lower frequencies
High Rate or Wi-Fi) -- an extension to are more forgiving when it comes to physical
802.11 that applies to wireless LANS obstacles (walls, stairways, etc.), while high
and provides 11 Mbps transmission frequencies require clear line of sight. For each
(with a fallback to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps) in particular application, throughput decreases as
the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11b uses only distance from the transmitter or access point
DSSS. 802.11b was 1999 ratification to increases.
the original 802.11 standard, allowing
wireless functionality comparable to
Ethernet. Security
• 802.11g -- applies to wireless LANs and
provides 20+ Mbps in the 2.4 GHz Data security is a major issue for wireless due to
band. the nature of the transmission mechanism
(electromagnetic signals passing through the air).
It is commonly believed that voice applications
DISADVANTAGES are less secure than data applications. This is due
to limited capabilities of existing technologies to
As with any relatively new technology, there are protect information that is being transmitted. For
many issues that affect implementation and example, in metropolitan areas, users are at risk
that simple scanning devices can highjack cell systems, and wireless wide area networks
phone numbers and be maliciously used. (WANS). Short-range wireless networks provide
cheap connectivity among intelligent devices
within the short-range (probably 30 feet or less).
ADVANTAGES Wireless LANS "provide in building, high-speed
access over distances of 100 feet or more". Fixed
access wireless systems include licensed
Wireless technology has many benefits including microwave, unlicensed spread-spectrum point-
portability, wireless connectivity featuring to-point systems, wireless DSL, and satellite to
remote access real-time information, selection of provide wireless connectivity to wireless
network capability, and individually targeted technology. Wireless WANS "represent next-
advertising. Because of the benefits of wireless generation cell-based data systems that
technology it is expected to grow in popularity potentially will provide global data mobility"
and become an important business-enabling
medium. The benefits of wireless technology are
discussed in detail. POTENTIAL
Portability PROBLEMS
One of the greatest benefits of wireless Security Issues – Security has always been a
technology is its' portability. Wireless products concern for wireless technology. With the right
such as cell phones and wireless handsets are equipment, the radio signals that are generated
easier to carry around. Wireless within data can be easily picked up enabling people to find
networks allows customers, families, and information from that specific computer.
businesses to access information through some Security provisions are typically built into
of these devices. "In Japan, more than 2 million wireless LANs, making them more secure than
people already use their wireless handsets to most wired LANs. It is extremely difficult for
send e-mail and access the Internet, and in unintended receivers (eavesdroppers) to listen in
Finland, 90% of teenagers have wireless phones on wireless LAN traffic. Complex encryption
that enable them to buy a coke or pay for a techniques make it impossible for all but the
carwash" most sophisticated to gain unauthorized access to
network traffic. Other devices are being
developed to ensure security within a wireless
WirelessConnectivity environment. Linksys has developed a USB
Firewall Adapter in order to protect your PC and
The most obvious benefit of wireless technology your communications wherever you go. Once
is that it connects to a network without the use of you're connected, you can establish a Virtual
a phone line or any other cable. This capability Private Network tunnel from your PC to a
combined with the benefit of portability provides corporate network and your transmitted data will
the user of wireless technology with remote be protected by government-spec DES.
access real-time information. This is a key
benefit to someone who travels often. "It's not
surprising, in an environment where business
meetings are regularly interrupted by the ringing
of participants' cell phones, that most media hype
surrounding wireless networking focuses on
providing data services to the roaming user"

Selection of Network
Capability
Wireless technology falls into four categories:
short-range wireless networks, wireless local
area networks (LANS), fixed access wireless Companies that manufacture wireless technology
devices are now including computer protection
programs such as Norton. Linksys is
incorporating Norton software such as Norton
Anti-virus, Spyware, and Firewall software into
all new devices. Although there are security
issues involved while using a wireless LAN, the
majority of your internet activity is safe and
secure.

FUTURE SCOPE
Wireless technologies are rapidly becoming
ubiquitous in the hardware world. Radio
frequency Wi-Fi™ adapters conforming to the
802.11b standard are being used by more and
more homes and offices for creating wireless
networks

The price of the tiny Bluetooth™ wireless

communication cards will soon drop to under
$10 facilitating their inclusion in a multitude of
small hardware devices from laptop PC's to
PDA's to cellular phones to home appliances.

The scope of much increase in the markets for

wireless technologies in the future trend will be
more according to IEEE 802.11.

CONCLUSION
Wireless Technology is just in the formation
stage. However, as we know technology is still
premature and therefore we can expect a serious
amount of growth in the wireless industry within
the next few years. This growth will be seen in
products, services, and within the business
industry.

Hence the success of any technology depends not

on what it promises to achieve but on what it is
actually able to deliver.

AUTHORS:
[Link] KUMAR and
PAVANI, 3/4 B-Tech, CIVIL

JNTUCE, HYDERABAD