Seminar on Wi-Fi Communication

Department of Electronics Engineering

Guided by: Prepared by:
Dr. J. M. Rathod Group:-1
(080070110001 to
080070110010)
The name Wi-Fi and its History:
The term Wi-Fi suggests Wireless Fidelity, resembling the long-
established audio-equipment classification term Hi-Fi (used since
1950) or high fidelity (in use since the 1930s).



The yin-yang Wi-Fi logo indicates the certification of a product for
interoperability.
In 1992 and 1996, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation (CSIRO) obtained patents for a method
later used in Wi-Fi to "unsmear" the signal.
The standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs). Its like a
common language that all the devices use to communicate to each
other.

Wi-Fi certification:
The Wi-Fi Alliance enforces the use of the Wi-Fi brand to
technologies based on the IEEE 802.11 standards from the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This includes wireless
local area network (WLAN) connections, device to device
connectivity [such as Wi-Fi Peer to Peer AKA Wi-Fi Direct,
Personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN) and even
some limited wide area network (WAN) connections.

Range:
Wi-Fi networks have limited range. A typical wireless router using
802.11b or 802.11g with a stock antenna might have a range of
32 m (120 ft) indoors and 95 m (300 ft) outdoors. IEEE 802.11n,
however, can exceed that range by more than two times.

Range also varies with frequency band. Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz
frequency block has slightly better range than Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz
frequency block. Outdoor ranges, through use of directional
antennas, can be improved with antennas located several
kilometers or more from their base.

Due to reach requirements for wireless LAN applications, Wi-Fi
has fairly high power consumption compared to some other
standards. Technologies such as Bluetooth (designed to support
wireless PAN applications) provide a much shorter propagation
range of <10m and so in general have lower power consumption.
Other low-power technologies such as ZigBee have fairly long
range, but much lower data rate. The high power consumption of
Wi-Fi makes battery life in mobile devices a concern.

Due to the complex nature of radio propagation at typical Wi-Fi
frequencies, particularly the effects of signal reflection off trees
and buildings, algorithms can only approximately predict Wi-Fi
signal strength for any given area in relation to a transmitter. This
effect does not apply equally to long-range Wi-Fi, since longer
links typically operate from towers that transmit above the
surrounding foliage.


Wi-Fi Standards:

Standard Speed Frequency
band

802.11 2 Mbps 2.4 GHz
802.11a 54 Mbps 5 GHz
802.11b 11 Mbps 2.4 GHz
802.11g 54 Mbps 2.4 GHz
Wireless LAN Networks:


WLAN ArchitectureAd Hoc Mode:
Ad-Hoc mode:
Peer-to-peer setup where clients can connect to each other
directly. Generally not used for business networks.
Ad Hoc Structure:
Mobile stations communicate to each other directly. Its set
up for a special purpose and for a short period of time. For
example, the participants of a meeting in a conference room
may create an ad hoc network at the beginning of the meeting
and dissolve it when the meeting ends.
WLAN ArchitectureInfrastructure Mode:

There is an Access Point (AP), which becomes the hub of a
star topology.
Any communication has to go through AP. If a Mobile Station
(MS), like a computer, a PDA, or a phone, wants to
communicate with another MS, it needs to send the information
to AP first, then AP sends it to the destination MS Multiple APs
can be connected together and handle a large number of clients.
Used by the majority of WLANs in homes and businesses.

Comparison of Two Structures:

Infrastructure Ad hoc
Expansion
X
Flexibility
X
Control
X
Routing
X
Coverage
X
Reliability
X

Antennas:
All WLAN equipment comes with a built-in omni-directional
antenna, but some select products will let you attach secondary
antennas that will significantly boost range.

Antennas come in all shapes and styles:
o Omni-directional:
Vertical Whip
Ceiling mount
o Directional:
Yagi (Pringles can)
Wall mounted panel
Parabolic dish


Share one channel in data communication:
In data communication, data are grouped into packets/frames.
Each packet/frame contains a number of bits of information.
Devices (phones, computers, etc.) dont communicate
simultaneously. Its like they are sharing one single cable (the air
in this case), only one person can use it at one time.
Before an MS (mobile station) sends its packets, it checks to see if
someone else is sending information. Only when the medium is
free can an MS sends packets.
If some station is sending or receiving signal, the MS that intends
to send will generate a random waiting time and wait for its turn.
If several MSs are all waiting for their turns, since their waiting
times are randomly generated and thus not equal, they will not start
sending simultaneously. Thus collision (two or more MSs sending
signals simultaneously) is avoided.
Its called Carrier Sensing Multiple Access with Collision
Avoidance (CSMA/CA).
Spread spectrum in 802.11:
It is a requirement imposed by the regulatory authorities for
devices in ISM band in order to reduce interference.
There is also limitations on transmitted power.
We discuss two methods specified in 802.11, FHSS and DSSS.
DSSS in 802.11:
Used by 802.11b
Symbol transmission rate = 1Mbps
Multipath spread of up to 1/1 Mbps = 1 s does not cause ISI. For
indoor applications this ensures that the system does not suffer
from ISI.
Chip rate = 11 Mcps
Resolution is on the order of 1/11 Mcps = 90 ns.
Frequency Hopping in 802.11:
The frequency can hop over 78 hopping channels each separated
by 1 MHz. The first channel, Channel 0, starts at 2.402 GHz.
Channel 1 is at 2.403 GHz, Channel 2, 2.404 GHz, and so on up to
Channel 77 at 2.479 GHz (US, Canada, and Europe standards).
These frequencies are divided into three patterns of 26 hops each
corresponding channel numbers (0, 3, 6, 9, , 75), (1, 4, 7, 10, ,
76), (2, 5, 8, 11, , 77).
Three APs can coexist without any hop collision, that results in a
threefold increase in the capacity of the cell.
Hop rate = 2.5 hops per second.
Frequency bands for DSSS:
FHSS uses 1 MHz bandwidth (narrowband), but the center
frequency hops over 76 MHz. DSSS uses a chip rate of 11 Mcps
which occupies around 26 MHz of bandwidth (wideband).
The ISM band at 2.4 GHz is divided into 11 overlapping channels
spaced by 5 MHz.
APs located close to each other can choose different channels to
mitigate interference.
The coverage areas of two access points (Basic Service Sets, BSS)
may overlap to increase capacity. For example, up to 8 users can
use VoIP simultaneously through one access point. With two
overlapping APs, 16 users can talk simultaneously. But the two
APs have to use non-overlapping channels.
Wi-Fi network services:
1. Distribution and integration
2. Association
3. Re-association
4. Disassociation
5. Authentication/Deauthentication

1. Distribution:

This service is used by mobile stations in an infrastructure network
every time they send data. Once a frame has been accepted by an
access point, it uses the distribution service to deliver the frame to
its destination.
Any communication that uses an access point travels through the
distribution service, including communications between two
mobile stations associated with the same access point.

2. Integration:

Integration is a service provided by the distribution system; it
allows the connection of the distribution system to a non-IEEE
802.11 network.

The integration function is specific to the distribution system used
and therefore is not specified by 802.11, except in terms of the
services it must offer.

3. Association:
Delivery of frames to mobile stations is made possible because
mobile stations register, or associate, with access points. The
distribution system can then use the registration information to
determine which access point to use for any mobile station.
4. Reassociation:
When a mobile station moves between basic service areas within a
single extended service area, it must evaluate signal strength and
perhaps switch the access point with which it is associated.
Reassociations are initiated by mobile stations when signal
conditions indicate that a different association would be beneficial;
they are never initiated by the access point. After the reassociation
is complete, the distribution system updates its location records to
reflect the reachability of the mobile station through a different
access point.
5.Disassociation:
To terminate an existing association, stations may use the
disassociation service. When stations invoke the disassociation
service, any mobility data stored in the distribution system is
removed.
Once disassociation is complete, it is as if the station is no longer
attached to the network. Disassociation is a polite task to do during
the station shutdown process. The MAC is, however, designed to
accommodate stations that leave the network without formally
disassociating.
6.Authetication / Deauthentication:
Physical security is a major component of a wired LAN security
solution. Wired networks equipment can be locked inside offices.
Wireless networks cannot offer the same level of physical security,
however, and therefore must depend on additional authentication
routines to ensure that users accessing the network are authorized
to do so.
Authentication is a necessary prerequisite to association because
only authenticated users are authorized to use the network. (In
practice, though, many access points are configured for "open-
system" mode and will authenticate any station.)
Deauthentication terminates an authenticated relationship. Because
authentication is needed before network use is authorized, a side
effect of deauthentication is termination of any current association.

Uses:

To connect to a Wi-Fi LAN, a computer has to be equipped with a
wireless network interface controller. The combination of
computer and interface controller is called a station. A carrier wave
is used to transmit the data in packets, referred to as "Ethernet
frames". Each station is constantly tuned in on the radio frequency
communication channel to pick up available transmissions.
A Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a personal computer, video game
console, smart phone or digital audio player, can connect to the
Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the
Internet.
Wi-Fi provides service in private homes and offices as well as in
public spaces at Wi-Fi hotspots set up either free-of-charge or
commercially. Organizations and businesses, such as airports,
hotels, and restaurants, often provide free-use hotspots to attract or
assist clients. Enthusiasts or authorities who wish to provide
services or even to promote business in selected areas sometimes
provide free Wi-Fi access.
With the emergence of MiFi and WiBro (a portable Wi-Fi router)
people can easily create their own Wi-Fi hotspots that connect to
Internet via cellular networks. Now iPhone, Android, Bada and
Symbian phones can create wireless connections.
One can also connect Wi-Fi devices in ad-hoc mode for client-to-
client connections without a router. Wi-Fi also connects places
normally without network access, such as kitchens and garden
sheds.



City-wide Wi-Fi:

An outdoor Wi-Fi access point
In the early 2000s, many cities around the world announced plans
to construct city-wide Wi-Fi networks. Doing so proved to be more
difficult than envisioned, and as a result most of these projects
were either cancelled or placed on indefinite hold.
Direct computer-to-computer communications:
Wi-Fi also allows communications directly from one computer to
another without an access point intermediary. This is called ad hoc
Wi-Fi transmission. This wireless ad hoc network mode has proven
popular with multiplayer handheld game consoles, such as the
Nintendo DS, digital cameras, and other consumer electronics
devices.
The disadvantage of this method is that vendors must not
implement speeds greater than 11 Mbit/s(802.11b) and only WEP
encryption is available, not WPA(2).
Similarly, the Wi-Fi Alliance promotes a specification called Wi-Fi
Direct for file transfers and media sharing through a new
discovery- and security-methodology. Wi-Fi Direct launched in
October 2010.



Advantages:
Wi-Fi allows cheaper deployment of local area networks (LANs).
Also spaces where cables cannot be run, such as outdoor areas and
historical buildings, can host wireless LANs.
Manufacturers are building wireless network adapters into most
laptops. The price of chipsets for Wi-Fi continues to drop, making
it an economical networking option included in even more devices.
Different competitive brands of access points and client network-
interfaces can inter-operate at a basic level of service. Products
designated as "Wi-Fi Certified" by the Wi-Fi Alliance are
backwards compatible. Unlike mobile phones, any standard Wi-Fi
device will work anywhere in the world.
Wi-Fi operates in more than 220,000 public hotspots and in tens of
millions of homes and corporate and university campuses
worldwide. The current version of Wi-Fi Protected Access
encryption (WPA2) as of 2010 is widely considered secure,
provided users employ a strong passphrase. New protocols for
quality-of-service (WMM) make Wi-Fi more suitable for latency-
sensitive applications (such as voice and video); and power saving
mechanisms (WMM Power Save) improve battery operation.
Interference:
Wi-Fi connections can be disrupted or the internet speed lowered
by having other devices in the same area. Many 2.4 GHz 802.11b
and 802.11g access-points default to the same channel on initial
startup, contributing to congestion on certain channels. Wi-Fi
pollution, or an excessive number of access points in the area,
especially on the neighboring channel, can prevent access and
interfere with other devices' use of other access points, caused by
overlapping channels in the 802.11g/b spectrum, as well as with
decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between access points.
This can become a problem in high-density areas, such as large
apartment complexes or office buildings with many Wi-Fi access
points.
Additionally, other devices use the 2.4 GHz band: microwave
ovens, ISM band devices, security cameras, ZigBee devices,
Bluetooth devices and (in some countries) Amateur radio, video
senders, cordless phones and baby monitors, all of which can cause
significant additional interference. It is also an issue when
municipalities, or other large entities (such as universities) seek to
provide large area coverage.

Limitations:
Spectrum assignments and operational limitations are not
consistent worldwide: most of Europe allows for an additional two
channels beyond those permitted in the U.S. for the 2.4 GHz band
(113 vs. 111), while Japan has one more on top of that (114).
Europe, as of 2007, was essentially homogeneous in this respect.
A Wi-Fi signal occupies five channels in the 2.4 GHz band; any
two channels whose channel numbers differ by five or more, such
as 2 and 7, do not overlap. The oft-repeated adage that channels 1,
6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels is, therefore, not
accurate; channels 1, 6, and 11 do, however, comprise the only
group of three non-overlapping channels in the U.S.
Equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) in the EU is limited
to 20 dBm (100 mW).
The current 'fastest' norm, 802.11n, uses double the radio spectrum
compared to 802.11a or 802.11g. This means there can only be one
802.11n network on 2.4 GHz band without interference to other
WLAN traffic.
The Internet protocol was designed for a wired network in which
packet loss due to noise is very rare and packets are lost almost
exclusively due to congestion.