PRESENTED BY:

Agenda• Introduction• Wi-Fi Technologies• Wi-Fi Architecture• Wi-Fi Network Elements• How a Wi-Fi Network Works• Wi-Fi Network Topologies• Applications of Wi-Fi• Advantages/ Disadvantages of Wi-Fi

Introduction• Wireless Technology is an alternative to Wired

Technology, which is commonly used, for connecting devices in wireless mode.

• Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a generic term that refers to the IEEE 802.11 communications standard for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs).

• Wi-Fi Network connect computers to each other, to the Internet and to the wired network.

The Wi-Fi TechnologyWi-Fi Networks use Radio Technologies to transmit & receive data at high speed:

• IEEE 802.11b• IEEE 802.11a• IEEE 802.11g

IEEE 802.11b

• Appear in late 1999• Operates at 2.4GHz radio spectrum• 11 Mbps (theoretical speed) - within 30 m

Range• 4-6 Mbps (actual speed)• 100 -150 feet range• Most popular, Least Expensive• Interference from mobile phones and

Bluetooth devices which can reduce the transmission speed.

IEEE 802.11a• Introduced in 2001• Operates at 5 GHz (less popular) • 54 Mbps (theoretical speed)• 15-20 Mbps (Actual speed)• 50-75 feet range• More expensive• Not compatible with 802.11b

IEEE 802.11g

• Introduced in 2003• Combine the feature of both standards (a,b)• 100-150 feet range• 54 Mbps Speed• 2.4 GHz radio frequencies• Compatible with ‘b’

802.11 Physical LayerThere are three sublayers in physical layer:

• Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)• Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum

(FHSS)• Diffused Infrared (DFIR) - Wide angle

DSSS• Direct sequence signaling technique divides the 2.4 GHz

band into 11 22-MHz channels. Adjacent channels overlap one another partially, with three of the 11 being completely non-overlapping. Data is sent across one of these 22 MHz channels without hopping to other channels.

IEEE 802.11 Data Link LayerThe data link layer consists of two sublayers :

• Logical Link Control (LLC) • Media Access Control (MAC).

802.11 uses the same 802.2 LLC and 48-bit addressing as other 802 LANs, allowing for very simple bridging from wireless to IEEE wired networks, but the MAC is unique to WLANs.

802.11 Media Access Control• Carrier Sense Medium Access with collision

avoidance protocol (CSMA/CA)• Listen before talking• Avoid collision by explicit Acknowledgement (ACK)• Problem: additional overhead of ACK packets, so

slow performance • Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) protocol

• Solution for “hidden node” problem• Problem: Adds additional overhead by temporarily

reserving the medium, so used for large size packets only retransmission would be expensive

802.11 Media Access Control(cont.)• Fragmentation• CRC checksum

• Each pkt has a CRC checksum calculated and attached to ensure that the data was not corrupted in transit

• Association & Roaming

Elements of a WI-FI Network• Access Point (AP) - The AP is a wireless LAN

transceiver or “base station” that can connect one or many wireless devices simultaneously to the Internet.

• Wi-Fi cards - They accept the wireless signal and relay information.They can be internal and external.(e.g PCMCIA Card for Laptop and PCI Card for Desktop PC)

• Safeguards - Firewalls and anti-virus software protect networks from uninvited users and keep information secure.

How a Wi-Fi Network Works• Basic concept is same as Walkie talkies.• A Wi-Fi hotspot is created by installing an access

point to an internet connection.• An access point acts as a base station. • When Wi-Fi enabled device encounters a hotspot the

device can then connect to that network wirelessly.• A single access point can support up to 30 users and

can function within a range of 100 – 150 feet indoors and up to 300 feet outdoors.

• Many access points can be connected to each other via Ethernet cables to create a single large network.

Wi-Fi Network Topologies• AP-based topology (Infrastructure Mode)

• Peer-to-peer topology (Ad-hoc Mode)

• Point-to-multipoint bridge topology

AP-based topology• The client communicate through Access

Point. • BSA-RF coverage provided by an AP.• ESA-It consists of 2 or more BSA.• ESA cell includes 10-15% overlap to allow

roaming.

Peer-to-peer topology• AP is not required.• Client devices within a

cell can communicate directly with each other.

• It is useful for setting up of a wireless network quickly and easily.

Point-to-multipoint bridge topologyThis is used to connect a LAN in one building to a LANs in other buildings even if the buildings are miles apart.These conditions receive a clear line of sight between buildings. The line-of-sight range varies based on the type of wireless bridge and antenna used as well as the environmental conditions.

Wi-Fi Applications• Home• Small Businesses or SOHO• Large Corporations & Campuses• Health Care• Wireless ISP (WISP)• Travellers

COMPARISIONS: 3G VS WIFI

Advantages• Mobility• Ease of Installation• Flexibility• Cost• Reliability• Security• Use unlicensed part of the radio spectrum• Roaming• Speed

Limitations• Interference• Degradation in performance• High power consumption• Limited range

THANK U

QUERIES???