Wireless network

Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is
commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections
between nodes is implemented without the use of wires.[1] 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.[2]

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Types
o 1.1 Wireless LAN
o 1.2 Wireless MAN
o 1.3 Mobile devices networks
• 2 Uses
• 3 Environmental concerns and health hazard
• 4 See also
• 5 References

• 6 External links

[edit] Types

[edit] Wireless LAN

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is similar to other wireless devices and
uses radio instead of wires to transmit data back and forth between computers on
the same network. Wireless LANs are standardized under the IEEE 802.11 series.

Screenshots of Wi-Fi Network connections in Microsoft Windows. Figure 1, left,

shows that not all networks are encrypted (locked unless you have the code, or
key), which means anyone in range can access them. Figures 2 and 3, middle and
right, however, show that many networks are encrypted.

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is a commonly used wireless network in computer systems

to 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 attached to different computers or mobile phones.
• Fixed Wireless Data: Fixed wireless data is a type of wireless data
network that can be used to connect two or more buildings together to
extend or share the network bandwidth without physically wiring the
buildings together.

[edit] Wireless MAN

Wireless Metropolitan area networks are a type of wireless network that connects
several Wireless LANs.

• WiMAX is the term used to refer to wireless MANs and is covered in

IEEE 802.16d/802.16e.

[edit] Mobile devices networks

• 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)). The cell phone connects to
the base system station which then connects to the operation and support
station; it then connects to the switching station where the call is
transferred to where it needs to go (Global System for Mobile
Communication (GSM)). This is used for cellular phones, is the most
common standard and is used for a majority of cellular providers.[3]
• 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: D-AMPS, which stands for Digital Advanced Mobile Phone
Service, is an upgraded version of AMPS but it is being phased out due to
advancement in technology. The newer GSM networks are replacing the
older system.

[edit] Uses

An embedded RouterBoard 112 with U.FL-RSMA pigtail and R52 mini PCI Wi-
Fi card widely used by wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) in the Czech
Republic.

Wireless networks have had a significant impact on the world as far back as
World War II. Through the use of wireless networks, information could be sent
overseas or behind enemy lines easily, efficiently and more reliably. Since then,
wireless networks have continued to develop and their uses have grown
significantly. Cellular phones are part of huge wireless network systems. People
use these phones daily to communicate with one another. Sending information
overseas is possible through wireless network systems using satellites and other
signals to communicate across the world. Emergency services such as the police
department utilize wireless networks to communicate important information
quickly. People and businesses use wireless networks to send and share data
quickly whether it be in a small office building or across the world.[4]

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, as in most developing
countries.

Compatibility issues also arise when dealing with wireless networks. Different
components not made by the same company may not work together, or might
require extra work to fix these issues. Wireless networks are typically slower than
those that are directly connected through an Ethernet cable.

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. 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.

[edit] Environmental concerns and health hazard

In recent times, there have been increased concerns and research linking usage of
wireless communications with poor concentration, memory loss, nausea,
premature senility and even cancer.[5] Questions of safety have been raised, citing
that long term exposure to electromagnetic radiation of the sort emitted by
wireless networks may someday prove to be dangerous.[6]

History of wireless mesh

networking
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.
Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)
This article or section may contain original research or
unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details.
(April 2008)
This article or section may contain material not appropriate
for an encyclopedia.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page.
Fig 1:Self-Healing Mesh

Fig 2:Three generations of Mesh

Fig 3: Single Radio Mesh Cycle

Fig 4:Third Generation Cycle

The core advantage of wireless mesh networks is their inherent ability to

form a network on power up. Watch what happens in Fig 1, when the
mesh nodes power up (green LED on box turns on). The nodes hear each
other's broadcast and a network is self-formed. Also watch what happens
when a node fails and how the nodes re-discover an alternate routing
path. Network connectivity is thus preserved automatically.

Over the years, wireless mesh networking has seen three unique
deployments based on radio technology, each incorporating iterative
improvements allowing for greater scalability and higher network
performance - both throughput and latency. This early stage of
technological development or innovation in wireless mesh is pre IEEE
standard and is known a first Generation of Wireless Mesh. The
following deployments are briefly described of various configuration of
first generation Wireless Mesh Networking:

1.First Configuration: 1-Radio Mesh. As shown in Fig 2, this

configuration uses one radio channel both to service clients and to
provide the mesh backhaul. The single mesh radio, provides both
services - client access and backhaul. Comparative performance analysis
indicates this architecture provides the worst services of all the options ,
as expected- both backhaul and service compete for bandwidth. Also all
single radio mesh architectures suffer from the send-receive-wait cycle
shown in Fig 3. Since there is only radio, the mesh node has to listen,
then send, then listen again. This intermittent stop-and-go behavior
adversely affects network performance especially if the destination is far
away and the traffic has to be re-transmitted ("hop") across many
intermediate nodes first.

2. Second Configuration: Dual-Radio with a 1-Radio backhaul mesh.

This configuration can also be referred to as a "1+1" network, since each
node contains two radios, one to provide service to the clients, and one
to create the mesh network for backhaul. The "1+1" appellation indicates
that these radios are separate from each other - the radio providing
service does not participate in the backhaul, and the radio participating
in the backhaul does not provide service to the clients. These two radios
can operate in different bands. For example, a 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g radio
can be used for service and an 802.11a (5 GHz) radio can be used
exclusively for backhaul.

Most mesh products available today fall into this category. Separating
the service from the backhaul improves performance when compared
with conventional ad hoc mesh networks. But since a single radio mesh
is still servicing the backhaul, packets traveling toward the Internet share
bandwidth at each hop along the backhaul path with other interfering
mesh backhaul nodes - all-operating on the same channel. This leads to
throughput degradations as shown in Fig 3, which are not as severe as
for the single radio mesh, but which are sizeable nevertheless. Second
generation mesh products are best employed in 1 or 2 hop
configurations.

3. Third Configuration: 2 radio backhauls. The last architecture shown

(far right in Fig 2) is one that provides separate backhaul and service
functionality and dynamically manages channels of all of the radios so
that all radios are on non-interfering channels. Performance analysis
indicates that this provides the best performance of any of the methods
considered here. Note that the two backhaul radios for the 3-radio
configuration shown in Fig 2 right are of the same type - not to be
confused with 1+1 so-called dual radio meshes where one radio is
typically of type 802.11 A (backhaul) and the other of type 802.11 B/G
(service). In the 3-radio configuration, 2 radios provide up link and
down link backhaul functionality, and the other radio provides service to
clients. Fig 4 shows how the two radios of the backhaul transmit traffic,
with both radios operating independently and on separate channels