Wireless Networks

Lecture 2
Wireless Communication
• Transmitting voice and data using electromagnetic waves in open
space
• Electromagnetic waves
• Travel at speed of light (c = 3x108 m/s)
• Has a frequency (f) and wavelength (l)
•c=fxl
• Higher frequency means higher energy photons
• The higher the energy photon the more penetrating is the
radiation
Electromagnetic Spectrum
104 102 100 10-2 10-4 10-6 10-8 10-10 10-12 10-14 10-16

Radio Micro Cosmic

IR UV X-Rays
Spectrum wave Rays

104 106 108 1010 1012 1014 1016 1018 1020 1022 1024
1MHz ==100m
100MHz ==1m
10GHz ==1cm
Visible light < 30 KHz VLF
30-300KHz LF
300KHz – 3MHz MF
3 MHz – 30MHz HF
30MHz – 300MHz VHF
300 MHz – 3GHz UHF
3-30GHz SHF
> 30 GHz EHF
Wireless?
• A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network that uses
radio waves as its carrier.
• The last link with the users is wireless, to give a network connection
to all users in a building or campus.
• The backbone network usually uses cables
Common Topologies
The wireless LAN connects to a wired LAN

• There is a need of an access point that bridges wireless LAN traffic into the wired LAN.
• The access point (AP) can also act as a repeater for wireless nodes, effectively doubling
the maximum possible distance between nodes.
Common Topologies
Complete Wireless Networks

• The physical size of the network is determined by the maximum reliable propagation
range of the radio signals.
• Referred to as ad hoc networks
• Are self-organizing networks without any centralized control
• Suited for temporary situations such as meetings and conferences.
Types of WLAN
• There are several types of wireless networks:
• Wireless Personal Area Networks dynamically connect devices usually
within reach of a person and maintain random network configurations.
i.e. Bluetooth and ad-hoc networks.
• Wireless Local Area Networks, which connect devices in most of our
homes and libraries by means of Wi-Fi. A WLAN has the ability to
connect devices over a relatively broad area, known as a cell. Another
example is laser bridges which use fixed wireless technology to
transmit data between buildings.
• WLAN’s are standardized under the IEEE 802.11 series.
Types of WLAN
• Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks are often just the connection of
multiple WLAN’s. They may span an entire city and are prevalent on
college campuses. Eg WiMAX
• Mobile device networks, which are used by our cell phones. i.e.
Global System for Mobile Communication and the 3G cellular
networks.
How do wireless LANs work?
Wireless LANs operate in almost the same way as wired LANs, using the
same networking protocols and supporting the most of the same
applications.
How are WLANs Different?
• They use specialized physical and data link protocols
• They integrate into existing networks through access points which
provide a bridging function
• They let you stay connected as you roam from one coverage area to
another
• They have unique security considerations
• They have specific interoperability requirements
• They require different hardware
• They offer performance that differs from wired LANs.
Physical and Data Link Layers
Physical Layer:
• The wireless NIC takes frames of
data from the link layer,
scrambles the data in a
predetermined way, then uses
the modified data stream to
modulate a radio carrier signal.
Data Link Layer:
• Uses Carriers-Sense-Multiple-
Access with Collision Avoidance
(CSMA/CA).
Roaming

• Is the ability of users to maintain a continuous connection as

they roam from one physical area to another
• Mobile nodes automatically register with the new access
point.
Methods: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP) and
Mobile IP
Roaming
• A DHCP server defines a scope, or range, of IP addresses that it uses
to serve devices with an address.
• Mobile IP is a communication protocol that allows users to move from
one network to another with the same IP.
• Both protocols ensure that communication will continue without the
connection being interrupted.
Security
• In theory, spread spectrum radio signals are inherently difficult to
decipher without knowing the exact hopping sequences or direct
sequence codes used
• The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies optional security called "Wired
Equivalent Privacy" whose goal is that a wireless LAN offer privacy
equivalent to that offered by a wired LAN. The standard also specifies
optional authentication measures.

• WHAT ARE THE OPTIONAL AUTHENTICATION MEASURE IN IEEE

802.11 STANDARD?
Interoperability
• Before the IEEE 802.11 interoperability was based on cooperation
between vendors.
• IEEE 802.11 only standardizes the physical and medium access control
layers.
• Vendors must still work with each other to ensure their IEEE 802.11
implementations interoperate
• Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) introduces the Wi-Fi
Certification to ensure cross-vendor interoperability of 802.11b
solutions
Hardware

CISCO Aironet 350 series Wireless Handheld Terminal

Semi Parabolic Antenna BreezeCOM AP

What is 802.11?
• A family of wireless LAN (WLAN) specifications developed by a
working group at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE)
• Defines standard for WLANs using the following four technologies
• Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
• Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
• Infrared (IR)
• Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
• Versions: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11e, 802.11f, 802.11i
Performance
• 802.11a offers speeds with a theoretically maximum rate of 54Mbps
in the 5 GHz band
• 802.11b offers speeds with a theoretically maximum rate of 11Mbps
in the 2.4 GHz spectrum band
• 802.11g is a new standard for data rates of up to a theoretical
maximum of 54 Mbps at 2.4 GHz.
 IEEE 802.11

Wireless LANs support Wireless Communications among a variety of client devices

802.11 - Transmission
• Most wireless LAN products operate in unlicensed radio bands
• 2.4 GHz is most popular
• Available in most parts of the world
• No need for user licensing
• Most wireless LANs use spread-spectrum radio
• Resistant to interference, secure
802.11a
• Employs Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
• Offers higher bandwidth than that of 802.11b, DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread
Spectrum)
• Operates in the 5 GHz range
802.11a Advantages
• Ultra-high spectrum efficiency
• More data can travel over a smaller amount of bandwidth
• High speed
• Up to 54 Mbps
• Less interference
• Fewer products using the frequency
• cordless phones, microwave, Bluetooth, and WLANs
802.11a Disadvantages
• Standards and Interoperability
• Standard not accepted worldwide
• No interoperability certification available
for 802.11a products
• Not compatible or interoperable with 802.11b
• Legal issues
• License-free spectrum in 5 GHz band not
available worldwide
• Market
• Beyond LAN-LAN bridging, there is limited interest for
5 GHz adoption
802.11a Disadvantages
• Cost
• 2.4 GHz will still has >40% cost advantage
• Range
• At equivalent power, 5 GHz range will be ~50% of 2.4 GHz
• Power consumption
• Higher data rates and increased signal require more power
• OFDM is less power-efficient than DSSS
802.11a Applications
• Building-to-building connections
• Video, audio conferencing/streaming video,
and audio
• Large file transfers, such as engineering
CAD drawings
• Faster Web access and browsing
• High worker density or high throughput scenarios
• Numerous PCs running graphics-intensive applications
802.11a Vs. 802.11b
802.11a vs. 802.11a 802.11b
802.11b
Raw data rates Up to 54 Mbps Up to 11 Mbps
(54, 48, 36, 24,18, 12 (11, 5.5, 2, and
and 6 Mbps) 1 Mbps)

Range 50 Meters 100 Meters

Bandwidth UNII and ISM ISM (2.4000—

(5 GHz range) 2.4835 GHz range)

Modulation OFDM technology DSSS technology

802.11g
• 802.11g is a high-speed extension to 802.11b
• Compatible with 802.11b
• High speed up to 54 Mbps
• 2.4 GHz (vs. 802.11a, 5 GHz)
• Using OFDM for backward compatibility
• Adaptive Rate Shifting
802.11g Advantages
• Provides higher speeds and higher capacity requirements for
applications
• Wireless Public Access
• Compatible with existing 802.11b standard
• Leverages Worldwide spectrum availability
in 2.4 GHz
• Likely to be less costly than 5 GHz alternatives
• Provides easy migration for current users of 802.11b WLANs
• Delivers backward support for existing 802.11b products
• Provides path to even higher speeds in the future
802.11n
• 802.11n provides higher performance, availability and predictability
as compared to other legacy systems (802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g)
• It operate with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), channel
bonding and more efficient protocols such as packet aggregation
• MIMO technology of 802.11n overcomes interference issues thus
improves reliability and reduces time needed to troubleshoot related
problems
• 802.11n supports operation in both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands,
which provides flexibility for satisfying a multitude of wireless
requirements.
802.11 standards comparison
Other Wireless Network Technologies
• 802.11 is the basis for WLAN deployment.
• There is often a confusion on the role that other WLAN technologies
play, such as WiMAX and Bluetooth
IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)
• The 802.16 has been evolving for a number of years to provide
Wireless wide area networking solutions.
• WiMAX provides many different types of implementations for fixed
and mobile solutions in licenced and unlicensed spectrums.
• WiMAX standards were designed for deploying large outdoor wireless
networks.
 IEEE 802.16

A WiMAX base station delivers broadband wireless connections to home and business
Characteristics of WiMAX
• High performance: the data rates are up to megabits per second
range
• Medium to long range operation: the range is generally greater than
that of Wi-Fi because of higher transmission power especially in the
licenced band.
• Medium power; similar power requirements as Wi-Fi
• High to very high cost: unlicensed band deployment is relatively
cheap but price is higher compared to Wi-Fi as the hardware is
expensive. The licenced deployment is expensive as there costs in
acquiring and licencing the spectrum and much higher hardware cost.
IEEE 802.15 (Bluetooth)
• The standard was published by Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
• Bluetooth offers wireless personal area network(PAN) connectivity
which is secure, low power, short range transmissions of data and
voice at up to 3-Mb/s in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
• Bluetooth is designed to satisfy requirements for personal area
network and not LANs.
• Bluetooth is by far the leading wireless personal area solution.
Majority of mobile phones and mobile devices implement Bluetooth.
Wireless Networking Technologies

• Satellite (WAN)
• Microwave (MAN)
• WiMax - Broadband Wireless (MAN)
• 802.16 standard
• Cellular (WAN)
• Wireless LANs (WLAN) – Wi-Fi
• 802.11 standards
Wireless Networking Technologies
• Bluetooth (Wireless PAN)
• IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
• Wireless point-to-point PAN
• RFID
• Sensor Network
• 802.15.4 Standard
• ZigBee – a protocol for sensor network