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The Wi-Fi Technology

Features covered:
• Basic Definition of Wi-Fi
• Wi-Fi’s Radio Technology
• Adding Wi-Fi to a computer
• Wi-Fi networks
• Hub and Spoke Model
• Mesh network Model
• Mobile Ad hoc through Wi-Fi Mesh networks
• Practical Applications

Authors: Divya Devarapalli e-mail:devarapallidivya@yahoo.com

Hareesha Kona e-mail:hareesha_harry@rediff.com

Discipline: CSE (2/4)

College: Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering,

Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam-530 041.
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Short for wireless fidelity Wi-Fi is the wireless way to handle networking. It is
also known as wireless networking. The big advantage of Wi-Fi is its simplicity. We can
connect computers anywhere in our home or office without the need for wires. The
computers connect to the network using radio signals, and computers can be up to 100
feet or so apart.

A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to the internet,
wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks operate in the
unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, with a 11 Mbps (802.11b) or 54 Mbps (802.11a)
data rate or with products that contain both bands (dual band), so they can perform real-
world performance similar to 10baseT wired Ethernet networks used in many offices.
The basic technology that makes Wi-Fi networking possible
Wi-Fi’s Radio Technology
Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called 802.11b or 802.11a to provide
secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. Hence it is also known as 802.11 networking.
802.11 is the nomenclature IEEE uses for wireless networks. The a, b and g notations
identify different flavours of the 802.11 standard.
The radios used in Wi-Fi have the ability to convert 1s and 0s into radio waves
and then back into 1s and 0s.They also have the ability to transmit and receive. The Wi-Fi
radios that work with the 802.11b and 802.11g standards transmit at 2.4 GHz, while those
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that comply with 802.11a standard transmit at 5 GHz. The higher frequency allows higher
data rates.
The special features of Wi-Fi radios are:
• They use efficient coding techniques that contribute to much higher data rates.
For 802.11a and 802.11g, the technique is known as Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiplexing (OFMD). For 802.11b, it is called Complementary
Code Keying (CCK).
• They have the ability to change frequencies. 802.11b cards can transmit
directly on any of the three bands, or they can split the available radio
bandwidth into dozens of channels and frequency hop rapidly between them.
The advantage of frequency hopping is that it is much more immune to
interference and can allow dozens of Wi-Fi cards to talk simultaneously
without interfering with each other.
Because of these special features Wi-Fi radios can handle a lot of data per second.
Adding Wi-Fi to a computer
One of the best things about Wi-Fi is how simple it is to install and use. Many
new laptops come with built in Wi-Fi cards and it is also easy to add a Wi-Fi card to an
older laptop or a desktop PC.
All that is needed to do is to
• Install an 802.11a or 802.11b or 802.11g card which is usually a PCMCIA card in
case of laptop and a PCI card in case of desktop machine.
• Install the card drivers.
• Find 802.11 hotspot and Access it - On newest machines an 802.11 card will
connect directly with an 802.11 hotspot, but, on older machines we need to search
for the available hotspots in the area using special software and connect to it.
A hotspot is a connection point for a Wi-Fi network. It is a small box that is hardwired
into the internet. The box contains an 802.11 radio that can simultaneously talk to up
to 100 or so 802.11 cards. There are many Wi-Fi hotspots that are available in public
places. We can also create our own hotspot at home.
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Wi-Fi Networks
Traditionally, wireless networks have been limited by what could be called the
hub-and-spoke model: a central access point is tied to a landline Internet connection
which clients communicate with, but other access points cannot "talk" to it wirelessly.
Essentially, this means the range of the central access point’s signal limited wireless
networks. These styles of networks can work for homes, offices, and other areas of
delimited size, but they are not very scalable, that is, they cannot easily grow to service
the needs of a wide area like a neighborhood, let alone change to accommodate growth in
demand.

WCNs implement a mesh network model that overcomes the limitations of the
Hub-and-spoke model and allows for theoretically unbounded networks. The key to a
mesh network is the ability of access points to associate wirelessly without a landline
connection between them. One access point is still needed to connect to the Internet, but
the rest need only have access to a power supply and be within range of another access
point’s signal. In effect, these access points act like repeaters in a cellular phone network,
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passing signal along from a user until it reaches the "root" node, or connection to the
Internet, in this case.

In general, the Wi-Fi Mesh network topology is a semi-mobile system because the
connectivity position among the nodes may vary with time due to node departures, new
node arrivals, and roaming nodes. A node can send and receive messages. So, wireless
data will find way to its destination by passing through intermediate nodes with reliable
communication links. Thus data most “hop” through neighbouring devices to reach its
final destination. This multi-hopping capability is designed to create a robust meshed
network that automatically routes congestion and line-of -sight obstacles, while
improving throughput as subscriber density increases. In mobile communications, this
method of multi-hopping is defined as a wireless ad hoc network.
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Wi-Fi Mesh Networks, the path to mobile Ad hoc

1a- Makings of a Wi-Fi Mesh Network: Wireless Roaming Cells
Combining at least two P-to-P or P-to-Mp wireless cells create a roaming effect
and thus is the start of a Wi-Fi Mesh Network. Roaming is the ability to maintain network
connectivity while moving from one access point (AP) to another. The basic service set
(BSS) is the area of radio frequency (RF) coverage provided by an access point, also
referred to as a wireless cell. The AP is the master for the wireless cell and controls
traffic flow to and from the network for its given RF circle. The RF coverage of a
wireless cell is limited and each county has its own set of rules of cell coverage. To
extend the BSS or to simply add wireless devices and increase the range of an existing
wired system, an Access Point can be added, hints this unit is the point at which wireless
end users can access the network. Because the wireless’s end users range from PDAs,
Laptops, tabletops, PCs, these wireless accessible devices are called Wireless Clients
(WC) by most manufacturers.

Normally, Wireless Local Area Networks (Wireless LANs) are configured using a
peer-to-multipoint network, which has one access point (AP) that controls
communications with other wireless devices accessing the network. Signals in peer-to-
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multipoint networks converge at a single access point. The reliability of these networks is
set by the quality of the RF linkage between the central AP and the end points. In a real-
world application, it can be problematical to find an ideal location for an access point that
provides dependable communication with each end point, especially if two or more floors
exist or due to a home’s physical structure. Moving an access point to improve
communications with one node will often degrade communications with other end points.
The status of a communication link between wireless devices, at any given time, is a
function of their positions, transmission power levels, antenna patterns, interference
levels, and many other minor phenomena.

1b - Typical WLAN Roaming

The topology of roaming cells may take on many forms but the essential building
block is a collection of wireless devices with overlapping BSS. The overlapping wireless

roaming cells mainly constitute an Access Point to Access Point (AP-to-AP) signal,
Access Point-to-Wireless Client (AP-to-WC) linkage, or Wireless Client-to-Wireless
Client (WC-to-WC) association. In a typical WLAN topology, the WC does not
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communicate directly with each other; they communicate with the access point. If a
single BSS does not provide enough coverage, a number of wireless cells can be added to
extend the range. This is known as an extended service set (ESS). The BSS cells should
overlap by 5-25% to allow remote users to roam without losing RF connection while
roaming a facility. Also, bordering cells should be set to different non-overlapping
channels for best performance. One form of Wi-Fi Mesh comprises of a collection of
Root-AP overlapping to create wireless roaming cells.
An AP attached directly to wired network provides a centralized point for wireless
end users to remain attached to a wired Internet. If more than one AP is connected to the
wired network, users can roam from one area (or wireless cell) of a facility to another cell
without losing their connection to the network in a large facility. As users move out of
range of one AP, they automatically connect to the network through another AP;
consequently, the roaming process is seamless and transparent to the user.

1c- WLAN Repeater Roaming

The WLAN repeater-roaming configuration is a chain of repeaters overlapping

between neighbouring wireless cells and maintains an indirection association to the wired
AP, similar to a teacher leading a group of children, by the hand, across a street
intersection. The AP wired to the backbone network is designated as a Root Access Point
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(Root-AP) and the wireless APs not attached to the wired network are called Repeater
Access Points (Repeater-APs). The BSS should overlap by 50% to allow proper RF
linkage between APs. When you configure an AP as a repeater, the Access Point’s wired
LAN port (i.e., USB, RJ45) does not forward traffic but data is sent through the wireless
route that provides the greatest performance for the client - path of least resistance. In the
WLAN repeater topology, the data rates will decrease tremendously due to the numerous
hand-shaking communication involved. A well-designed AP can accommodate up to five
repeaters being configured to provide adjacent BSS roaming coverage.

Practical Applications of Wi-Fi Mesh Networks:

A Wireless Mesh Network constructed from Wi-Fi Technology alleviates a number of
roaming challenges from laptops, IP phones, PDAs, and IP base devices:
No geographical limitations: A user can take a handheld or laptop computer anywhere
without losing the connection in their home.
No physical connection required: Mobile IP connect automatically and obtain local IP
router information.
Modifications to other routers and hosts are not required: Other than mobile
nodes/routers, the remaining routers and hosts will still use current IP.
No modifications to the current IP address and IP address format: The current IP
address and address format remains the same.
Supports security: Authentication is performed to ensure that rights are being protected.
Access Anytime - Anywhere: Network access is assured at all times and from all
locations. No missed E-mails and increase productivity due to constant connectivity.
Exchanging Data: When people attending a meeting or a conference want to establish a
network between themselves for exchanging files, presentations or to share applications.
Normal Emergencies: A rapidly deployable and robust communications between each
member when firemen are involved in difficult operations inside buildings, towers, or
surrounded in forest fires.
Catastrophe Emergencies: When emergency and medical services personnel establish a
wireless network to communicate with each other after a catastrophe has destroyed the
regular communication infrastructure.
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Military Usage: Soldiers in a battlefield are exchanging information about their position
and giving and receiving orders, or the instructions.
Thus the simple to use Wi-Fi technology is finding a wide range of applications in
various fields and is revolutionizing wireless communications.