CNET 304

Wireless Technology

Lecture 1

Introduction to Wireless Networks

Dr. Sattar Hussain, @ Centennial College, 2023
shussain@[Link]
 Wireless Technologies
• Wireless: describes all types of devices and technologies not
connected by a wire
• Various forms of wireless data communications:
• Bluetooth
• ZigBee
• Z-Wave
• Wi-Fi
• RFID
• NFC
• Thread
• WiGig
• Satellite
• Cellular
• WiMax
• Fixed broadband wireless communications 2
Wireless Technologies
Wireless Technologies
 Wireless Applications
• Several sectors use wireless more extensively than others:
• Education PERSONAL CONSUMER

• Business
TABLET
CORPORATE ISSUED
LAPTOP

• Industry CORPORATE ISSUED

• Travel TABLET

• Public safety
• Health care
• IoT

CORPORATE ISSUED
SMARTPHONE
PERSONAL
SMARTPHONE

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 Wireless Applications-Health Care
• Wireless LAN point-of-care computer systems allow medical
staff to access and update patient records immediately
– Document patient’s medication administration
immediately
– Extensive use of RFID tags to
identify healthcare professionals,
patients, medications
– System verifies that medication
being administered to correct
patient in correct dosage to
eliminates potential errors and
documentation inefficiencies

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 Wearables

• A wearable computing device is worn on

a person’s body and/or clothing.
• Wearables have the potential for
numerous applications in enterprise
verticals, such as healthcare and retail.
• Silicon Valley-based research firm, 650
Group, projects that the number of
wearable devices shipped will rise from 1
billion in 2017 to over 5 billion in 2025.

Examples: smart watches, wristbands, and exercise sensors.

IoT Devices
• Over the years, most of the data generated on the
Internet has been created by human beings.
• The theory of Internet of Things is that in the
future, the bulk of the data generated on the
Internet might be created by sensors, monitors,
and machines.
• Technology research firm, 650 Group, estimates
that by 2025, the number of wirelessly connected
IoT devices will be 53 billion units worldwide, far
exceeding the expected 28 billion number of PCs,
tablets, smartphones and other connected
personal devices.
What Does Wi-Fi Mean?

• Wi-Fi is simply a brand name used

to market 802.11 WLAN technology.

• Information about the origin of the

name can be found at:

Wi-Fi Planet
 RF Is Half-Duplex

• Simplex: One device is capable of only

transmitting, and the other device is
capable of only receiving - FM radio is
an example of simplex communications.

• Half Duplex: Both devices are capable of

transmitting and receiving; however,
Wi-Fi is half-duplex only one device can transmit at a time.

• Full Duplex: Both devices are capable of

transmitting and receiving at the same
time.
 Unlicensed Frequency Bands
• Unlicensed bands are free to anyone to transmit without
the need of a license or specific spectrum allocation from
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
FCC

• The Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) regulates
communications within the United
States as well as communications to and
from the United States.

• FCC is responsible for regulating

interstate and international
communications by radio, television,
wire, satellite, and cable.
FCC
Both licensed and unlicensed communications
are typically regulated in the following six areas:

• Frequency
• Bandwidth
• Maximum of the intentional radiator (IR)
• Maximum equivalent isotopically
radiated power (EIRP)
• Use (indoor and/or outdoor)
• Spectrum sharing rules
 ITU-R

• The United Nations has tasked the

International Telecommunication
Union Radiocommunication Sector
(ITU-R) with global spectrum
management.

• The ITU-R strives to ensure

interference-free communications on
land, sea, and in the skies.
Link to ITU-R
 IEEE

• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

is a global professional society with more than 400,000
members.

• The IEEE’s mission is creating the standards that we use to

communicate.
 IETF

• The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is an international

community of people in the networking industry whose goal is to
make the Internet work better.
• The IETF creates and maintains standards (RFCs) that specify the
implementation of a network-based technology.
• Examples:
– Generic EAP framework (RFC 3748)
– RADIUS (RFC 2865)
•
Wi-Fi Alliance
• The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, nonprofit
industry association of about 600
member companies devoted to
promoting the growth of WLANs.

• One of the primary tasks of the Wi-Fi

Alliance is to market the Wi-Fi brand and
raise consumer awareness of new
802.11 technologies as they become
available.
• The Wi-Fi Alliance’s ensures the
interoperability of WLAN products by
providing certification testing.
 ISO

• The International Organization for Standardization,

7 Application
or ISO, is a global, nongovernmental organization
6 Presentation that identifies business, government, and society
needs.
5 Session

4 Transport • The ISO is responsible for the creation of the Open

Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.
3 Network

2 Data Link

1 Physical
IEEE - 802.11 WLAN Standard
 The most recent published version of the
WLAN standard, 802.11-2020
 The 802.11-2020 standard can be
downloaded from: IEEE Standards
Association
 Standards help ensure different products
from different vendors function in same
capacity
 Standards ensure devices from one vendor
will function with those from other vendors
(Interoperability)
 Standards help create a migration path for
equipment upgrades. Newer standards are
generally backward compatible.
IEEE Standards Nomenclatures

• Big X, not little x

• UPPERCASE = standard

802.1X 802.1x • lowercase = amendment

 802.11 Timeline
1997 1999 2003 2010
802.11g 2007 802.11p 2012 2013 2016 2020
Original 802.11-
802.11h 802.11-2007 802.11z 802.11-2012 802.11ac 802.11-2016 802.11-2020
standard 1999
created 2004 2012
2011
2008 2009 802.11aa 2016
802.11i 802.11v
1999 802.11k 802.11n 802.11ad 2014 802.11ah
2003 802.11u
802.11a 2005 802.11r 802.11w 802.11af 802.11af 802.11ai
802.11- R2003 802.11s
802.11b 802.11e 802.11y

1997 1999 2003 2007 2012 2013 2016 2020

 Amendments and Data Rates
Data Rates 2.4 5 RF Radios
(Mbps) GHz GHz Technology
802.11 1, 2 Mbps ✔ FHSS, DSSS SISO
legacy
802.11a 6 – 54 Mbps ✔ OFDM SISO
802.11b 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 ✔ HR-DSSS SISO

802.11g 6 – 54 Mbps ✔ ERP-OFDM SISO

802.11n Up to 600 Mbps ✔ ✔ HT-OFDM MIMO
802.11ac Up to 6.93 Gbps ✔ VHT-OFDM MIMO
802.11ax ✔ ✔ OFDM, OFDMA MIMO
802.11 Amendments
802.11d • Operation in Additional Regulatory Domains
• Updates for compliance in some regions

• Ratified in 2005
802.11e • Quality of Service (QoS) enhancements
• Improves voice and video performance

• Ratified in 2003
802.11h • Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
• Transmit Power Control (TPC)

• Ratified in 2004
802.11i • Strong authentication with 802.1X/EAP and PSK
• Strong encryption with CCMP / AES
802.11 Amendments

• Radio Resource Management

802.11k • Ratified in 2008
• Radio and network measurements

• Ratified in 2008
802.11r • Fast secure roaming mechanisms, aka “Fast BSS
Transition”

• Ratified in 2011
802.11v • Wireless network management (WNM)
• Hotspot 2.0 enabler
802.11 Amendments

• Ratified in 2011
802.11u • Interworking with external networks
• Hotspot 2.0 enabler

• Ratified in 2009
802.11w • Protected Management Frames, prevents some
security vulnerabilities
802.11ax

802.11ax - High Efficiency

• OFDMA
• 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz

• Ratified in 2021
 Wireless Advantages

Wireless Disadvantages
 Types of Wireless Networks

Four broad categories:

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 Common WLAN Deployment Scenarios

Small office/home office (SOHO)

 Common WLAN Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise Deployments
• Allows for increased mobility in the enterprise environment
 Common WLAN Deployment Scenarios
Public Wireless Hotspots
• A wireless hotspot is a location that offers wireless network
connectivity for free or for-profit public or patron services
 OSI Model

7 Application • Always remember that Wi-Fi operates at Layer 1

6
and the MAC sublayer at Layer 2.
Presentation
5 Session

4 Transport

3 Network

2 Data Link 802.11 MAC operations

1 Physical Radio Frequency

 OSI Model

7 Application
6 RADIUS, Active Directory, DNS,
Presentation
DHCP, NTP, and user applications
5 Session

4 Transport
IP address, routing, ports firewalls
3 Network

2 Data Link Wi-Fi: RF and configuration,

drivers, WLAN security sessions,
1 Physical
WLAN design, VLANs, etc.
Core, Distribution, and Access
Core, Distribution, and Access

• Wi-Fi is typically an access layer

networking technology.

Root bridge Non-root bridge

• An 802.11 bridge link is an example of

wireless technology being used at the
distribution layer.
IEEE - 802.3 Ethernet Distribution System
 Wireless Point-to-Point Distribution System
Connects two WLANs together
• Can provide long-range coverage depending on terrain and other
local conditions.
• Requires semi- or highly directional antennas

Figure 2-14 Point-to-point remote wireless bridge

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 Wireless Point-to-Multipoint Distribution System
Typically connects more than two WLANs together
• Usually consists of one omnidirectional antenna and
multiple semi- or highly directional antennas

Figure 2-15 Point-to-multipoint remote wireless bridge

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 Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation Hazards
• All transmitters and their transmitting antennas must always be considered a
potential hazard of electromagnetic radiation.
• To be safe in the lab, the transmitter power should be set to max 10 mW (10
dBm) and the transmitting high-gain directional antennas (dish, yagi) always be
pointed to the less populated part of the room and/or above our heads.
• It is recommended to keep minimum 10 cm distance from any transmitting
antenna. These safety precautions apply only to the transmitting equipment, not
receiving.
• The following warning sign is used to indicate that high radio frequency
radiation may be used in the lab or area and radiation hazards exist.

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 Acknowledgments
These slides have been prepared by Dr. Sattar Hussain and may contain
material prepared and copyrighted by:

1. CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, by Mark Ciampa, Course Technology; 3

edition (June 19 2012), ISBN-10: 1133132170

2. Olenewa, J. 2013. Guide to Wireless Communications. Thompson Course

Technology. ISBN 10: 1418836990.

3. Principles of Electronic Communication Systems, 4th Ed., By Louis E.

Frenzel Jr., McGraw-Hill Education 2016.

4. Wireless communications and networks, 2nd ed, by William Stallings, ©

Pearson education inc., 2005

5. Robert J. Bartz, CWTS: Certified Wireless Technology Specialist Official Study

Guide: Exam PW0-070, Sybex; 1 edition.
© 2013 Cengage Learning