An Introduction To Wireless Network

&
Wireless Fidelity
WHAT A WIRELESS NETWORK

IS ?
 Wireless Network refers to any type of
NETWORK that is WIRELESS.

 It refers to a COMMUNICATION
NETWORK which is interconnected
between nodes that are implemented
without the use of wires.
Need For a Wireless Network
Today most of us
have devices such
as a desktop, a
laptop, PDA or a
cell phone. The
data are often
Scattered between
these devices & we
require these data’s
most of the time.
HISTORY
Wireless networks have significantly
impacted the world as far back as
World War II. With the use of
wireless networks, information
could be sent overseas or behind
enemy lines easily and quickly and
was more reliable.
USES
 Cellular phones are part of huge wireless network
systems.
 Sending information over seas is only possible
through wireless network systems using satellites.
 Emergency services such as the police
department utilize wireless networks to
communicate important information quickly.
 People and businesses use wireless networks to
send and share data quickly whether it be in a
small office building or across the world.
TYPES OF WIRELESS NETWORKS
 Wireless LAN
 Global system for Mobile Communication
(GSM)
 Personal Communications Service (PCS)
 Fixed Wireless Data
 Wi-Fi
Wireless LAN:

A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local

area network, which is the linking of two or
more computers without using wires. WLAN
utilizes spread-spectrum or orthogonal
frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)
modulation technology based on radio waves
to enable communication between devices in a
limited area, also known as the basic service
set. This gives users the mobility to move
around within a broad coverage area and still be
connected to the network.
Global system for Mobile
Communication (GSM):
GSM is a cellular network, which means that
mobile phones connect to it by searching for
cells in the immediate vicinity. GSM networks
operate in four different frequency ranges.
Most GSM networks operate in the 900 MHz or
1800 MHz bands. Some countries in the
Americas (including Canada and the United
States) use the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands
because the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency
bands were already allocated.
Personal Communications Service
(PCS):

Personal Communications Service or PCS is

the name for the 1900-MHz radio band used for
digital mobile phone services in Canada,
Mexico and the United States.
Fixed Wireless:
Fixed Wireless is the operation of wireless
devices or systems used to connect two fixed
locations (e.g., buildings) with a radio or other
wireless link, such as Laser bridge.
Wi-Fi:
 Wi-Fi i.e. Wireless Fidelity is a wireless
technology that uses radio frequency to
transmit data through the air.

 Wi-Fi refers to a type of Ethernet

specified under the IEEE 802.11a and
IEEE 802.11b Standards for LANs
operating in the 5-GHZ and 2.4-GHz
unlicensed frequency bands respectively.
STANDARDS
 IEEE 802.11a –5GHz – 54Mbps
802.11a transmits at 5GHz and can move up to
54 megabits of data per second. It also uses
orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing
(OFDM), a more efficient coding technique that
splits the radio signal into several sub-signals
before they reach a receiver. This greatly
reduces interference.
 IEEE 802.11b –2.4GHz – 11Mbps

802.11b is the slowest and least

expensive standard. For a while, its cost
made it popular, but now it's becoming less
common as faster standards become less
expensive. 802.11b transmits in the 2.4 GHz
frequency band of the radio spectrum. It can
handle up to 11 megabits of data per second,
and it uses complimentary code keying (CCK)
coding.
IEEE 802.11g- 2.4 GHz – 54 Mbps

802.11g transmits at 2.4 GHz like

802.11b, but it's a lot faster -- it
can handle up to 54 megabits of
data per second. 802.11g is faster
because it uses the same OFDM
coding as 802.11a.
Wireless Network Components
 Access Points
 NICs – Network Interface Cards
 PCMCIA
 USB
 PCI
 Compact Flash
 Other Wireless Devices
 Bridges and Routers
 Print Servers
Access Point-one of the most important
building block for Wi-Fi
WIRELESS ROUTER

A wireless router uses an antenna to send signals to

wireless devices and a wire to send signals to the
Internet.
 USB wireless adapter and PC wireless card
Wireless adapters can plug into a computer's PC
card slot or USB port.
Connecting To a Legacy Network

Access Points
connect the
wireless
network to
the legacy
network.
 A computer's wireless adapter
translates data into a radio signal and
transmits it using an antenna.
 A wireless ROUTER receives the signal
and decodes it. It sends the information
to the Internet using a physical, wired
ETHERNET connection.
RANGE
Most routers provide
coverage for about
100 feet (30.5
meters) in all
directions, although
walls and doors can
block the signal.
SECURITY
Security is an important part of a home wireless
network, as well as public Wi-Fi hotspots. If we
set our own router to create an open hotspot,
anyone who has a wireless card will be able to
use your signal. Most people would rather keep
strangers out of their network, though. Doing so
requires to take a few security precautions.
Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP)

Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) uses 64-bit

or 128-bit encryption. 128-bit encryption is the
more secure option. Anyone who wants to use a
WEP-enabled network has to know the WEP
key, which is usually a numerical password.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a step up

from WEP and is now part of the 802.11i
wireless network security protocol. It uses
temporal key integrity protocol encryption. As
with WEP, WPA security involves signing on
with a password. Most public hotspots are either
open or use WPA or 128-bit WEP technology.
Media Access Control (MAC)
Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering
is a little different from WEP or WPA. It doesn't
use a password to authenticate users -- it uses
a computer's physical hardware. Each computer
has its own unique MAC address. MAC address
filtering allows only machines with specific MAC
addresses to access the network. You must
specify which addresses are allowed when you
set up your router. This method is very secure,
but if you buy a new computer or if visitors to
your home want to use your network, you'll
need to add the new machines' MAC addresses
to the list of approved addresses.
Other Comparable Technologies
HPNA
HPNA is Phone Line Networking. HPNA
allows you to transmit data over normal
phone lines at the same time you use that
phone for voice calls and DSL.

HPNA v2.0 runs at 10Mbps over a

standard phone line. V3.0 is coming soon
and delivers 100Mbps. If you currently
have a lot of phone lines running through
your facility this may be an option to
consider.
Bluetooth – 802.15

Bluetooth is the standard for wireless

personal area networks or WPAN. It
allows high speed transmission of data
over very short distances. Bluetooth is
normally used for transferring data
between laptops, or in Internet Kiosk type
applications where roaming is not
needed.
Conclusion

Wi-Fi is a certification of
interoperability for IEEE 802.11b
systems awarded by the Wi-Fi
Alliance. A Wi-Fi seal indicates that a
device has passed through
independent tests and can be safely
interoperated with all other certified
devices.
REFERENCES
Internet Source:
www.wikipedia.org
www.howstuffworks.com
www.esnips.com

Book source:
Digit’s FAST TRACK TO WIRELESS
NETWORKS
May 2005
By Sachin Kalbag & Aliasgar Pardawala
THANK YOU