Wireless Technologies

Wireless Network

While the term wireless network may technically be used to refer to any type of
network that is wireless, the term is most commonly used to refer to a
telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes is
implemented without the use of wires, such as a computer network (which is a
type of communications network).

Wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented with some

type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves
, such as radio waves, for the carrier and this implementation usually takes place
at the physical level or "layer" of the network.

Wikipedia

History

1970 - University of Hawaii, under the leadership of Norman Abramson,

developed the world s first computer communication network using
low-cost ham-like radios, named ALOHAnet.

1979 - F.R. Gfeller and U. Bapst published a paper in the IEEE

Proceedings reporting an experimental wireless local area network
using diffused infrared communications.

1980 - P. Ferrert reported on an experimental application of a single

code spread spectrum radio for wireless terminal communications in the
IEEE National Telecommunications Conference.
1984 - a comparison between Infrared and CDMA spread spectrum
communications for wireless office information networks was published
1985 - wireless PBX system using code division multiple access. These
efforts prompted significant industrial activities in the development of a
new generation of wireless local area networks

History

1980 - The first generation of wireless data modems was developed by amateur
communication groups. They added a voice band data communication modem,
with data rates below 9600 bit/s, to an existing short distance radio system such
as a walkie talkie.

The second generation of wireless modems was developed immediately after

the FCC announcement in the experimental bands for non-military use of the
spread spectrum technology. These modems provided data rates on the order of
hundreds of kbit/s.

The third generation of wireless modem [then] aimed at compatibility with the
existing LANs with data rates on the order of Mbit/s. Several companies
[developed] the third generation products with data rates above 1 Mbit/s

History

1991- The first of the IEEE Workshops on Wireless LAN was held to develop a
standard for wireless LANs.

1996 - Chip sets aimed at wireless LAN implementations and applications, a key
enabling technology for rapid market growth, [were] emerging in the market.
Wireless LANs [were being] used in hospitals, stock exchanges, and other in
building and campus settings for nomadic access, point-to-point LAN bridges,
ad-hoc networking, and even larger applications through internetworking.

The IEEE 802.11 standard and variants and alternatives, such as the wireless
LAN interoperability forum and the European HIPERLAN specification [had]
made rapid progress, and the unlicensed PCS [
Unlicensed Personal Communications Services ] and the proposed SUPERNet
[,later on renamed as UNII, ] bands also presented new opportunities."

History

1999, AirPort debuted at the Macworld Expo in New York City with
Steve Jobs picking up an iBook supposedly to give the cameraman a
better shot as he surfed the Web.

This was the first time Wireless LAN became publicly available at
consumer pricing and easily available for home use.

End of 1990 - introduction of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi). An alternative ATMlike 5 GHz standardized technology, HIPERLAN, has so far not
succeeded in the market, and with the release of the faster 54 Mbit/s
802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11g (2.4 GHz) standards

History

2006 - the Australian

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) won a legal battle in the US federal court of Texas against
Buffalo Technology which found the US manufacturer had failed to pay
royalties on a US WLAN patent CSIRO had filed in 1996.

CSIRO are currently engaged in legal cases with computer companies

including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Netgear which
argue that the patent is invalid and should negate any royalties paid to
CSIRO for WLAN-based products.[6]

Types of WLAN

WLAN or Wireless Local Area Network - Similar to other wireless

devices, it uses radio instead of wires to transmit data back and forth
between computers on the same network.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)The GSM network

is divided into three major systems which are the switching system, the
base station system, and the operation and support system (Global
System for Mobile Communication (GSM)).

Types of WLAN

Personal Communications Service (PCS)PCS is a radio band that

can be used by mobile phones in North America. Sprint happened to be
the first service to set up a PCS.

D-AMPS - Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service, is an upgraded

version of AMPS but it is being phased out due to advancement in
technology.

Types of WLAN

Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi is a commonly used wireless network in computer

systems which enable connection to the internet or other machines that
have Wi-Fi functionalities. Wi-Fi networks broadcast radio waves that
can be picked up by Wi-Fi receivers that are attached to different
computers.

Fixed Wireless Data - Fixed wireless data is a type of wireless data

network that can be used to connect two or more buildings together in
order to extend or share the network bandwidth without physically wiring
the buildings together.

Uses of WLAN

wireless networks have continued to develop and its uses have significantly
grown.

Cellular phones are part of huge wireless network systems. People use these
phones daily to communicate with one another.

Uses of WLAN

Sending information over seas is only possible through wireless network

systems using satellites and other signals to communicate across the world
otherwise getting information

Emergency services such as the police department utilize wireless networks to

communicate important information quickly.

Uses of WLAN

People and businesses use wireless networks to send and share data quickly
whether it be in a small office building or across the world.

Another important use for wireless networks is as an inexpensive and rapid way
to be connected to the Internet in countries and regions where the telecom
infrastructure is poor or there is a lack of resources, like most Developing
Countries.

Uses of WLAN

Wireless networks allow you to eliminate messy cables. Wireless connections

offer more mobility, the downside is there can sometimes be interference that
might block the radio signals from passing through.

it is now easier to get networks up and running cheaper and faster than ever
before.

Security Issues

A wireless network is more vulnerable because anyone can try to break into a
network broadcasting a signal.

Many networks offer WEP - Wired Equivalent Privacy - security systems which
have been found to be vulnerable to intrusion. Though WEP does block some
intruders, the security problems have caused some businesses to stick with
wired networks until security can be improved.

Security Issues

Another type of security for wireless networks is WPA - Wi-Fi Protected Access.
WPA provides more security to wireless networks than a WEP security set up.

The use of firewalls will help with security breaches which can help to fix security
problems in some wireless networks that are more vulnerable.

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 OFDM (802.11a) modulation technology based on
radio waves to enable communication between devices in a limited
area, also known as the basic service set.

Benefits

Convenience: The wireless nature of such networks allows users to

access network resources from nearly any convenient location within their
primary networking environment (home or office).

Mobility: With the emergence of public wireless networks, users can

access the internet even outside their normal work environment. Most
chain coffee shops, for example, offer their customers a wireless
connection to the internet at little or no cost.

Productivity: Users connected to a wireless network can maintain a nearly

constant affiliation with their desired network as they move from place to
place. For a business, this implies that an employee can potentially be
more productive as his or her work can be accomplished from any
convenient location.

Benefits

Deployment: Initial setup of an infrastructure-based wireless network

requires little more than a single access point. Wired networks, on the
other hand, have the additional cost and complexity of actual physical
cables being run to numerous locations

Expandability: Wireless networks can serve a suddenly-increased

number of clients with the existing equipment. In a wired network,
additional clients would require additional wiring.

Cost: Wireless networking hardware is at worst a modest increase from

wired counterparts.

Disadvantages

Security: Wireless LAN transceivers are designed to serve computers throughout a

structure with uninterrupted service using radio frequencies. Because of space and cost,
the antennas typically present on wireless networking cards in the end computers are
generally relatively poor.

In order to properly receive signals using such limited antennas throughout even a modest
area, the wireless LAN transceiver utilizes a fairly considerable amount of power.

Range: The typical range of a common 802.11g network with standard equipment is on
the order of tens of meters. While sufficient for a typical home, it will be insufficient in a
larger structure.

Reliability: Like any radio frequency transmission, wireless networking signals are subject
to a wide variety of interference, as well as complex propagation effects (such as
multipath, or especially in this case Rician fading) that are beyond the control of the
network administrator.

Speed: The speed on most wireless networks (typically 1-108 Mbit/s) is reasonably slow
compared to the slowest common wired networks (100 Mbit/s up to several Gbit/s).

Benefits