What is a wireless LAN?

In the last few years, a new type of local area network has appeared. This new type of LAN,
which is the wireless LAN, provides an alternative to the traditional LANs based on twisted pair,
coaxial cable, and optical fiber. The wireless LAN serves the same purpose as that of a wired or
optical LAN: to convey information among the devices attached to the LAN. But with the lack of
physical cabling to tie down the location of a node on a network, the network can be much
more flexible -- moving a wireless node is easy. As opposed to the large amount of labor
required to add or move the cabling in any other type of network. Also going wireless may be a
better choice where the physical makeup of the building makes it difficult or impossible to run
wire in the building.

Wireless networks are ideal for portable computers. Using wireless connections allows portable
computers to still be portable without sacrificing the advantages of being connected to a
network. These machines can be setup virtually anywhere within the building.

Wireless networks can be used in combination with cabled LANs. In that all the machines that
will require relative mobility will be connected wirelessly, while the stations that are for the
most part permanant can be connected through cable.

Advantages of wireless LANs:

 Mobility: An increasing number of LAN users are becoming mobile. These mobile users require
that they are connected to the network regardless of where they are because they want
simultaneous access to the network.

 Installation speed and simplicity: Wireless LANs are very easy to install. There is no requirement
for wiring every workstation and every room.

 Installation flexibility: If a company moves to a new location, the wireless system is much easier
to move than ripping up all of the cables that a wired system would have snaked throughout the
building. This also provides portability.

 Reduced cost of ownership: While the initial cost of wireless LAN can be higher than the cost of
wired LAN hardware, but long-term cost benefits are greater in dynamic environment requiring
frequent moves and changes.

 Scalability: Wireless LAN can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the users need and
can be easily scaled to cover a large area with thousands of users roaming within it.
Disadvantages of wireless LANs:
 Lower reliability due to susceptibility of radio transmission to noise and interference.

 Fluctuation of the strength of the received signal through multiple paths causing fading.

 Vulnerable to eavesdropping leading to security problem.

 Limited data rate because of the use of spread spectrum transmission techniques enforced to
ISM band users.

The IEEE 802.11 (WLAN) standard defines different transmission techniques with different PHY
implementations as follows:

• Spread spectrum (DSSS)

 Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS)
 Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)
 Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
• Infrared (IR)
• Narrow band microwave LANs

Spread Spectrum
Spread spectrum is a type of modulation that spreads the data transmission across the
available frequency band, in excess of the minimum bandwidth required to send the
information.

Spreading the data cross the frequency spectrum makes the signal resistant to noise,
interference, and eavesdropping.

Spread spectrum modulation schemes are commonly used with personal communication
devices such as digital cellular phones as well as with WLANs.

Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) PHY

In the DSSS PHY, data transmission over the media is controlled by the PMD sublayer as
directed by the PLCP sublayer.
The DSSS PMD takes the binary bits of information from the PLCP protocol data unit (PPDU) and
transforms them into RF signals for the wireless media by using carrier modulation and DSSS
techniques.

PLCP
Physical Layer
PMD

• Physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP)

• Physical medium dependent (PMD)

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing

• It is thought that OFDM will be able to fulfil the three most important requirements of
4G mobile networks: higher coverage and capacity, with desired QOS at minimum cost.
• OFDM is a bandwidth-efficient signaling scheme for wideband digital communications.
• Currently, OFDM is used in wireless data networks such as Wi-Max (IEEE802.16) and Wi-
Fi (IEEE802.11a/g).

Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)

• Frequency-hopping utilizes a set of narrow channels and “hops” through all of them in a
predetermined sequence.
• For example, the 2.4 GHz frequency band is divided into 70 channels of 1 MHz each.
• Every 20 to 400 ms the system “hops” to a new channel following a pre-determined
cyclic pattern.

Infrared LAN
• Infrared LANs use infrared signals to transmit data.
• This is the same technology used in products like remote controls for televisions and
VCRs.
• These LANs can be setup using either a point-to-point configuration or a sun-and-moon
configuration where the signals are diffused by reflecting them off of some type of
surface.
• The major advantage of infrared is its ability to carry a high bandwidth, but its major
disadvantage is that they can easily be obstructed, since light cannot pass through solid
objects.
Narrowband Microwave
Microwave technology is not really a LAN technology. It's main use is to interconnect LANs
between buildings. This requires microwave dishes on both ends of the link. The dishes must be
in line-of-sight to transmit and collect the microwave signals. Microwave is used to bypass the
telephone company when connecting Lans between buildings.

One major drawback to the use of microwave technology is that the frequency band used
requires licensing by the FCC. Once a license is granted for a particular location, that frequency
band cannot be licensed to anyone else, for any purpose, within a 17.5 mile radius.

Infrared LANs use infrared signals to transmit data. This is the same technology used in
products like remote controls for televisions and VCRs. These LANs can be setup using either a
point-to-point configuration or a sun-and-moon configuration where the signals are diffused by
reflecting them off of some type of surface.

The major advantage of infrared is its ability to carry a high bandwidth, but its major
disadvantage is that they can easily be obstructed, since light cannot pass through solid objects.

Wireless LAN Transmission Techniques

Narrowband
Spread Spectrum Infrared
Microwave
902MHz to 928 MHz ; 2.4
18.825 GHz to
Frequency GHz to 2.4385 GHz ; 3 x 10^14 Hz
19.205 GHz
5.725 GHz to 5.825 GHz
105 to 800 feet, or up to 40 to 130 feet, or up
Maximum coverage 30 to 80 feet
50,000 square feet to 5000 square feet
Line of sight required No No Yes
Transmit power Less than 1 W 25 mW N/A
License required No Yes No
Interbuilding use Possible with antenna No Possible
Rated speed (% of 10
20% to 50% 33% 50% to 100%
Mbps wire)