Chapter 5-802.

11 standards
Alphabet Soup!

Exam Essentials

Know the defined spread spectrum technologies of the original 802.11

standard and the subsequent 802.11-2007 standard.
Although the original 802.11 standard defend infrared, FHSS, and DSSS, later
amendments that are now incorporated in the 802.11-2007 standard also define
HR-DSSS, OFDM, and ERP.

Remember both the required data rates and supported data rates of
each PHY.
DSSS and FHSS require and support data rates of 1 and 2 Mbps. Other PHYs
offer a wider support for data rates. For example, OFDM and ERP-OFDM
support data rates of 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps, but only the rates of
6, 12 and 24 Mbps are mandatory. Please understand that data rates are speeds
and not aggregate throughput.

Know the frequency bands used by each PHY as defined by the

802.11-2007 standard.
OFDM equipment operates in the 5 GHz UNII bands. DSSS, FHSS, HR-DSSS,
and ERP devices transmit and receive in the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Explain the three vendor operational modes of ERP (802.11g) and the
consequences of each mode.
An 802.11g access point may be configured as B-only mode, G-only mode, or
B/G mixed mode. The three modes support different spread spectrum
technologies and have different aggregate throughput results.

Exam Essentials
Know the mandatory and optional technologies used in an ERP
WLAN.
ERP (802.11g) defines two mandatory PHYs, ERP-OFDM and ERPDSSS/CCK. The two optional PHYs are ERP-PBCC and DSSS-OFDM.

Define transmit power control and dynamic frequency

selection.
TPC and DFS are often mandated for use in the 5 GHz band. Both
technologies are used as a means to avoid interference with radar
transmissions.

Explain the defined wireless security standards both pre802.11i and post-802.11i.
Before the passage of 802.11i, WEP encryption and either Open
System or Shared Key authentication were defend. The 802.11i
amendment calls for the use of CCMP/AES for encryption. For
authentication, 802.11i defines either an 802.1X/EAP solution or the use
of preshared keys.

Exam Essentials
Define the Inter-Access Point Protocol and why it was
originally proposed.
IAPP is a vendor interoperability roaming protocol that is
outlined in the 802.11F recommended practice.

Explain the purpose of the 802.11e amendment and the

medium access methods it requires.
The 802.11e amendment addresses quality of service (QoS)
issues by mandating the use of Enhanced Distributed Channel
Access (EDCA) and Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF).

Understand the purpose of each 802.11 draft proposal.

Each draft has a specific intended goal. The 802.11s draft, for
example, outlines mesh networking. 802.11n proposes
throughput enhancements using MIMO technology.

Overview of IEEE 802.11

802.11 task group and subcommittees
Revising and amending the MAC and PHY
standards
Media Access
Physical

Draft standards are not official yet

Sometimes they are adopted by vendors as
pre 802.11x
Pg 155

Overview of IEEE 802.11

Two sets of definitions
The original alphabet soup
The 802.11-2007 and clauses

Need to know the technologies, clauses,

and letters
802.11 original in 1997
Also known as 802.11 Prime

Pg 155

Overview of IEEE 802.11

802.11-2007 rolled up ratified amendments

IEEE Std 802.11-1999 (R2003)

IEEE Std 802.11a-1999
IEEE Std 802.11b-1999
IEEE Std 802.11d-2001
IEEE Std 802.11g-2003
IEEE Std 802.11h-2003
IEEE Std 802.11i-2004
IEEE Std 802.11j-2004
IEEE Std 802.11e-2005
Pg 155

Overview of IEEE 802.11

Original Physical layer options
Infrared (IR)
Infrared (IR) technology uses a light-based medium. Although an
infrared medium was indeed defined in the original 802.11 standard,
the implementation is obsolete. More information about modern
implementations of infrared technology can be found at the Infrared
Data Associations website, at www. irda. org. The scope of this
book focuses on the 802.11 RF mediums. Infrared devices are
known as clause 16 devices.

Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)

Radio frequency signals can be defined as narrowband signals or
as spread spectrum signals. An RF signal is considered spread
spectrum when the bandwidth is wider than what is required to carry
the data. Clause 14

Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS)

Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) is another spread
spectrum technology that is frequently used and easiest to
implement. DSSS 802.11 radio cards are often known as clause 15
devices.
Pg 155

802.11Prime
FHSS and DSS were originally specified for 2.4 Ghz ISM
band
2.4 Ghz to 2.4835 Ghz

Older equipment is much less common now

DSS cannot work with FHSS
Most early implementations were FHSS

Original speeds were 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps

This is bandwidth, not throughput

Used Barker Keying

Pg 156

802.11 Ratified Amendments

802.11 b
802.11 a
802.11 g
802.11d
802.11 F
802.11 h
802.11 I
802.11 j
802.11 e
802.11 k
802.11 r

Pg 157

802.11 b
HR-DSSS
Backward compatible with any DSSS
implementations of 802.11 prime
Not common

Clause 18
2.4 Ghz
CCK modulation
1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
5.5 and 11 are HR-DSSS
Pg 157

802.11 a
For the new 5 Ghz UNII band
Less crowded than 2.4 Ghz

Clause 17
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
Required rates
6, 12, 24

Also supports
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54
Different vendors can choose different implementations

Not compatible with earlier standards

But can coexist because no overlap
Pg 159

802.11 g

Clause 19
2.4 Ghz
Extended Rate Physical-ERP
Enhance the 802.11b speeds
Two PHY
ERP-OFDM
ERP-DSSS/CCK
Backward compatible with 802.11b OFDM
Pg 160

802.11 g
Required Speeds
6, 12, 24
For backward compatibility, ERP-DSSS/CCK
supports 1, 2, 5.5, 11

Optional
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54

Also had ERP-PBCC and DSS-OFDM

Not used much
Pg 160

802.11 g
Due to backward compatibility, multiple
implementations
B-only mode
G-Only Mode
b/g mode
Supports both, but when a 802.11b signal is
detected, all stations are forced to protection
Causes degradation of throughput to support older
rates
Pg 160

802.11 Amendments

Pg 162

Other Amendments
802.11 d
To support other countries
Beacon and probes to support country
specific power levels

802.11 F
Recommended practice
Roaming standard
Like cell phones

IAPP is now a recommendation

Intervendor roaming isnt great
Pg 163

Roaming

Roaming

Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP)

Recommended practice
Never specified how to implement in 802.11
802.11F never ratified

If vendors support IAPP, you should be

able to roam between vendors

Pg 164

802.11 h
The dynamic frequency selection (DFS) service provides
for the following:
An AP will allow client stations to associate based on the
supported channel of the access point. The term associate
means that a station has become a member of the APs wireless
network.
An AP can quiet a channel to test for the presence of radar.
An AP may test a channel for the presence of radar before using
the channel.
An AP can detect radar on the current channel and other
channels.
An AP can cease operations after radar detection to avoid
interference.
When interference is detected, the AP may choose a different
channel to transmit on and inform all the associated stations.
Pg 166

802.11 h
TPC provides
Designation of the maximum transmit power
levels permitted on a channel, as permitted by
regulations.
An AP can specify the transmit power of any
or all stations that are associated with the
access point.
An AP can change transmission power on
stations based on factors of the physical RF
environment such as path loss.
Pg 167

802.11 i
Data privacy
Authentication
Replaced WEP
WEP was a poorly implemented solution

Pg 167

Wireless Security
Open System Authentication
Verified identity regardless
No authentication

Shared Key Authentication

If you had the key, you were authenticated

Pg 168

802.11 i
Defined the Robust Security Network
(RSN)
Better hide data broadcast on an unbounded
medium
Bigger guard at the door to the network

Data Privacy
Authentication
Pg 168

802.11 i-Data Privacy

Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining
Message Authentication Code Protocol
(CCMP)
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
algorithm
AES/CCMP or CCMP

Also supports Temporal Key Integrity

Protocol with RC-4 stream cipher
More like WEP, but much better
Pg 168

802.11 i-Authentication
802.1X
Implements Extensible Authentication
Protocol (EAP)
Method of authentication not specified
Commonly used with existing authentication
systems
RADIUS
KERBEROS

Pre-Shared Key
Uses a passphrase/Key as the starting point
Pg 168

802.11 i-Robust Security Network

Defines the methods for establishing
authentication, negitiating security and
generating keys
WiFi Alliance-WPA2 matches the 802.11i

Pg 168

802.11 j
Japanese Market approval
Different frequencies and bands

Pg 168

802.11 e
Layer 2 MAC methods for providing QOS
for time sensitive applications
Voice Over technologies

802.11 prime had some methods for

controlling network
Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)
Random

Point Coordination Function

Access point takes control and polls clients
Pg 169

802.11 e
802.11e defines Hybrid Coordination Function
(HCF)
Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)
Extends DCF-allows for prioritization of frames
Create an EZ-PASS lane for higher need traffic

Hybrid Coordination Function Controlled Channel

Access (HCCA) extends PCF
Allows AP to allow certain stations to transmit first

Matches to the WiFi Alliance Wi-Fi Multimedia

(WMM)
Pg 169

802.11 k
Radio Resource Measurements
Ability to gather information about the network for better control
Layer 1 and Layer 2

Data gathered by stations and processed by AP or

WLAN controller
Transmit power control (TPC)
The 802.11h amendment defined the use of TPC for the 5 GHz
band to reduce interference. Under 802.11k, TPC will also be
used in other frequency bands and in areas governed by other
regulatory agencies.

Client statistics
Physical layer information such as signal-to-noise ratio, signal
strength, and data rates can all be reported back to the access
point or WLAN controller. MAC information such as frame
transmissions, retries, and errors may all be reported back to
the access point or WLAN controller as well.
Pg 170

802.11 k
Channel statistics
Clients may gather noise-floor information based on any RF
energy in the background of the channel and report this
information back to the access point. Channel load information
may also be collected and sent to the AP. The access point or
WLAN controller may use this information for channel
management decisions.

Neighbor reports
Mobile Assisted Handover (MAHO) is a technique used by digital
phones and cellular systems working together to provide better
handover between cells. 802.11k gives access points or WLAN
controllers the ability to direct stations to perform the sort of
tasks that a cellular network requires its handhelds to do when
using MAHO.

Clients will keep table of access points and make

decisions on when to roam
Pg 170

802.11 r
Fast basic service set transition
Fast secure roaming

Proposed for VoIP and other real time

applications
Needed because security takes extra time

Since Authentication takes time, 802.11 r

manages authentication before doing the switch
between access points to limit delay.
Not part of the 802.11 2007
Pg 171

802.11 Draft Amendments

Test is focused on 802.11n, which is now
a standard

Pg 171

802.11 n
2.4 Ghz AND 5 Ghz
High Throughput-HT
Both PHY and MAC enhanced for 100 Mbps

MIMO technology with OFDM

Increased throughput and greater range

Pg 172

802.11 Draft Amendments

802.11 m
housekeeping

802.11 n
New HT standard

802.11 p
Wireless Access in Vehicles

802.11 s
Wireless Distribution System-Mesh Networks

802.11 T
metrics
Pg 172

802.11 Draft Amendments

802.11 u
Internetworking to other standards

802.11 v
Wireless centralized control

802.11 w
Secure management frames

802.11 y
New frequencies

802.11 z
Direct Link Setup

802.11 aa
Robust audio and video streaming
Pg 175

Exam Essentials

Know the defined spread spectrum technologies of the original 802.11

standard and the subsequent 802.11-2007 standard.
Although the original 802.11 standard defend infrared, FHSS, and DSSS, later
amendments that are now incorporated in the 802.11-2007 standard also define
HR-DSSS, OFDM, and ERP.

Remember both the required data rates and supported data rates of
each PHY.
DSSS and FHSS require and support data rates of 1 and 2 Mbps. Other PHYs
offer a wider support for data rates. For example, OFDM and ERP-OFDM
support data rates of 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps, but only the rates of
6, 12 and 24 Mbps are mandatory. Please understand that data rates are speeds
and not aggregate throughput.

Know the frequency bands used by each PHY as defined by the

802.11-2007 standard.
OFDM equipment operates in the 5 GHz UNII bands. DSSS, FHSS, HR-DSSS,
and ERP devices transmit and receive in the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Explain the three vendor operational modes of ERP (802.11g) and the
consequences of each mode.
An 802.11g access point may be configured as B-only mode, G-only mode, or
B/G mixed mode. The three modes support different spread spectrum
technologies and have different aggregate throughput results.

Exam Essentials
Know the mandatory and optional technologies used in an ERP
WLAN.
ERP (802.11g) defines two mandatory PHYs, ERP-OFDM and ERPDSSS/CCK. The two optional PHYs are ERP-PBCC and DSSS-OFDM.

Define transmit power control and dynamic frequency

selection.
TPC and DFS are often mandated for use in the 5 GHz band. Both
technologies are used as a means to avoid interference with radar
transmissions.

Explain the defined wireless security standards both pre802.11i and post-802.11i.
Before the passage of 802.11i, WEP encryption and either Open
System or Shared Key authentication were defend. The 802.11i
amendment calls for the use of CCMP/AES for encryption. For
authentication, 802.11i defines either an 802.1X/EAP solution or the use
of preshared keys.

Exam Essentials
Define the Inter-Access Point Protocol and why it was
originally proposed.
IAPP is a vendor interoperability roaming protocol that is
outlined in the 802.11F recommended practice.

Explain the purpose of the 802.11e amendment and the

medium access methods it requires.
The 802.11e amendment addresses quality of service (QoS)
issues by mandating the use of Enhanced Distributed Channel
Access (EDCA) and Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF).

Understand the purpose of each 802.11 draft proposal.

Each draft has a specific intended goal. The 802.11s draft, for
example, outlines mesh networking. 802.11n proposes
throughput enhancements using MIMO technology.