Functionality of Wireless Networks

Functionality of Wireless Network

• How soon do you think it will take before all our device
connections all turn wireless? Slowly but steadily,
technological innovations are doing away with the need for
wires to connect two devices. Out of the context of
networking (but surely with the use of wire), let's take a
close look at smartphones that now have wireless charging.
It had always seemed to be impossible, but now it is.
• Your phone needs to be on a device, and energy is being
transmitted. That’s just surreal, but it’s technology at work.
Wireless technology started being a thing since the early
‘90s, and over the century, it has gotten better, faster, and
more reliable. As discussed earlier, the wired network still
has some advantages over the wireless network.
Functionality of Wireless Network

• But, these edges can be ignored (especially if you can get things done
relatively fast with the wireless technology).
What exactly is the wireless system?
• Technically, a wireless system can be defined as one
that makes use of radio waves in the transmission of
signals and data, as opposed to the use of wires and
cables. The wireless networks have undergone so much
innovation and development to function just like a
phone. To use your phone, you don't need to connect
to a phone line; this is precisely the same with the
wireless network.
• You don’t need to mechanically connect with a wireless
computer network before you can use the network.
Setting up a wireless network is simple, but
there are some fundamentals you need to
understand.
• The very common name for the wireless network is the
WLAN – Wireless Local Area Network. In some cases, people
prefer the use of LAWN – Local Area Wireless Network. The
wireless networks are sometimes wrongly referred to as Wi-
Fi. In actuality, the Wi-Fi is just one form of the wireless
network. The Wi-Fi is the 802.11b standard. one form of the
wireless network. The Wi-Fi is the 802.11b standard.
• The name of the wireless computer network is the SSID. The
SSID is the acronym for Service Set Identifier. Hence, for a
computer to have access to a particular network, it must
have the SSID as the other computers in the network. This
SSID is always unique to particular computer networks.
there are some fundamentals you need to
understand.

• It is possible for there to be transmission by a particular network,

across different channels. To ensure the seamless communication
between several computers on a specific network, they must be
configured to transmit data via the same channel.
• A wireless computer network can have as low as two computers
connected by wireless network adapters. This network type is referred
to as the ad-hoc made network.
• There is also a more sophisticated form of network referred to as the
infrastructure mode network. There is no big deal to the network
actually. It merely refers to a situation in which a group of wireless
computers is connected, and also be connected to an already existing
cabled network. The connection to the cabled network is enabled by
the use of a wireless access point (WAP).
four main types of
the wireless
network
• LAN: The wireless local area network; which
connects several devices across a given location,
but without the use of cable. The connection can
also be made to the internet
• MAN: The wireless Metropolitan area network;
which is the connection of several LANs
• WAN : The wireless Wide area network; which is
the connection of large areas such as cities and
towns
• PAN: The wireless personal area network; which
is an interconnection of devices over a short
span, just for a personal user.
 • IEEE 802.11: This was originally created in 1997. It is however now defunct, but as of the
The various period it was still in use, it provided a blazing fast maximum connection speed that hit
megabits per second. The various devices that support this Wi-Fi model are no longer

forms of the being made; hence, today's devices would not support it.
• IEEE 802.11a: This was created about 2 years after the original, and it worked on the 5GHz
Wireless band. It was created, with the creators hoping that it brings about lesser interference. This
was the school of thought when the version was created because most of the devices that
interfered with the previous version ran on th2.4GHz band. This is also as fast as the
standards original; there was a record of the speed hitting 54Mbps. One thing this version of the Wi-
Fi standard lacked was a range, as it was always having issues with devices on its path.
The various forms of the Wireless
standards

• IEEE 802.11b: This was also created in 1999, but it was

the version that made use of the 2.4GHz band, and it
could reach a maximum speed of 11Mbps. It was this
standard of the Wi-Fi that got the Wi-Fi technology
popular.
• IEEE 802.11g : This was designed in 2003, and it could
attain a speed of 54Mbps while working on the 2.4 GHz
band. After this, the standard was widely accepted, as
it solved the issue of compatibility with several devices
and offered high speed.
The various forms of the Wireless
standards

• IEEE 802.11n: This version of the Wi-Fi was created in

2009, but it was not so widely used as its predecessors.
It could operate on both the 2.4GHz and the 5 GHz
bands. It also supported usage across different
channels. One each channel, a speed of about
150Mbps can be achieved, hence, a cumulative of
600Mbps.
The various forms of
the Wireless
standards

• IEEE 802.11ac: This is the most current

version on new devices. It was released in
2014, and with its technology, all devices
connected to it can attain a speed of
1300mpbs. This is not the only feature on
this update; it also has the MU-MIMO
support, as well as additional Wi-Fi
broadcast channels for the 5 GHz band.
With a single router, this standard can
support more antennas than the previous
ones.
• IEEE 802.11ax : This is the most recent standard. With
this standard, the connection speed is possible up to
the tune of 10Gbps. That's how far it can go, and works
are on to make it go beyond. The capacity is also more
than that of the ac, as it designed to add more
broadcast sub-channels, and upgrade of the MU-
MIMO, as well as allowing for simultaneous streams of
data.
Wireless
Interference
• Wireless interference is defined as a
situation in which a Wi-Fi signal is
disrupted as it travels through space. This
is a crucial cause of inconsistent and
unstable wireless connection in today's
world. If all these can be eliminated,
wireless connections would technically
surpass wired connections. The problem
is, how can they (the causes) be removed?
They can't. The best way around this
problem is to create a system that works
well in spite of the obstructions
causes of the
wireless
interference
• Building constructions With the advent of tall
buildings, and other structures here are there,
there is an increase in the interference being
faced by wireless connections. The materials used
in these construction result in interference, as
they absorb or reflect the radio waves that the
signal is comprised of.
• For instance, if metals, concrete, and ceramics
are used in a building's construction, they can
degrade the waves that pass through them.
Hence, it is best to get these out of the way, if the
network is to remain optimal
causes of the
wireless
interference
• There are several cases in which
spotting the cause of the interference
is relatively hard to do. Do you know
that lead paints used on the wall of
some buildings can result in wireless
interference? Yes, it can. However, it
might be hard to identify or do
anything to this. Irrespective of how
thin or thick the layer of lead is, it can
result in this interference.
Electronic
devices
• Most of the electronic devices also have their
radio waves. These waves are most often than
not, in the same frequency as that of the wireless
network from the routers and other access
points. Being on the same frequency, there is
bound to be interference between the two
waves, and this is not good. For instance, if you
are in the kitchen, and your phone is connected
to the home's router. When the microwave which
also has its frequency is on, interference may
occur. It is best to keep these two wave-emitting
sources away from each other.
External
factors
• Other external factors can result in
interference. These include; construction or
utility industries. In many other cases, power
lines can also cause interference with Wi-Fi
signals. Broadcast television or cameras can
also cause interference. On construction
sites, overhead cranes or scaffolding are also
known to result in wireless network
interference. It might sound funny, but trees
that have broad leaves are also known to
cause signal interference. This is because the
water degrades the signal that the plant
contains.
Range
• This is another factor that is considered to be a major
cause of network interference. In this case, wireless
network signals are doused as they travel a longer
distance. The farther the signal travels, the weaker it
becomes. This is as a result of attenuation. Attenuation
is a process in which there is a reduction in signal
strength throughout a travel.
• Wi-Fi signals are known to travel better in the air than
they do in solid materials, but with longer distances,
they tend to lose their strength. By the time they get to
the destination, there is bound to be interference. The
only way to eliminate attenuation that results from a
distance is to make sure the connected devices are
always within just 30 meters of the signal source.
Range

• All these factors are confirmed to

result in interference, as well as do
many other factors. You can see that
the probability of eliminating all these
obstacles is very low. Hence, wireless
network interference will only persist.
Data Security
• This is another aspect of the wireless network that needs proper and
critical consideration. Security is a big issue when it comes to wireless
connections, and any enterprise ready to set up a wireless network
should be prepared to invest so much in the security of data.
• Data security as a concept refers to the various measure put in place
to ensure that digital privacy is guaranteed, in the bid to restraining
unauthorized access to computers, databases, and websites. These
measures also function in the prevention of data from being
corrupted. Irrespective of the organization's type or size, data
security is critical.
Data Security

• Brief examples of the measure that can be taken in this light are;
backup, data masking, and data erasure. One critical measure that is
held in very high esteem is encryption. In the case of encryption,
digital data, software/hardware, and other devices are encrypted.
This measure renders the content therein on these devices and
platforms unreadable to unauthorized users and hackers.
Data Security
• Another method of data security is authentication. This requires
authorized users to provide a password, code, biometric data, or
some other forms of data. These are needed in a bid to verify identity
before accessing a secured system containing data. These digital
security measures are not only needed for enterprises and big
companies. They are also of immense importance for health care
records. Given this, health institutions are beefing up security and
making their systems less vulnerable to intruders.
Data Security
• The importance of data security cannot be overemphasized. To an
extent, every business needs it to stay ahead of the competition and
keep profit margins high. Right from the banking sector that deals
with volumes of personal and financial information, too small
businesses that have contact details of customers at hand. You need
security on your phone.