Summary of Wireless Network Principles

This chapter covers fundamental aspects of wireless communication, including:

1. Wireless Basics

 Wireless communication systems consist of transmitters, receivers, and

antennas.
 Signals are the physical representation of data and can be analog or digital.

2. Key Terms

 Frequency: Number of cycles per second (Hz).

 Amplitude: Height of a wave.
 Phase: The position of a wave relative to time.

3. Wireless Transmission Media

 Guided (wired) vs. Unguided (wireless) transmission.

 Types of wireless transmission:

o Directional (e.g., microwave).

o Omnidirectional (e.g., radio waves).

4. Frequency Allocation

 Wireless communication operates in Radio Frequency (RF) bands.

 Frequency allocation considers cost, noise, and signal loss.

5. Antennas & Signal Propagation

 Types: Omnidirectional (low-frequency) & Directional (high-frequency).

 Propagation types: Ground wave, Sky wave, Line-of-sight.
 Factors affecting signal propagation: Reflection, Diffraction, Scattering,
Shadowing.

6. Wireless Communication Errors

 Error detection and correction methods (e.g., Hamming Code).

 Digital communication is preferred due to noise resistance.

7. Multiplexing & Spread Spectrum

 Multiplexing divides communication into Space, Time, Frequency, and Code.

 Spread Spectrum improves security (FHSS & DSSS).

8. Media Access Control (MAC)

 Contention-based MAC (e.g., ALOHA, CSMA/CD).

 Contention-free MAC (e.g., TDMA, FDMA, CDMA).
Multiple Choice Questions

1. What component in a wireless system is responsible for transmitting and

receiving signals?

 A) Router
 B) Antenna ✅
 C) Switch
 D) Modem

2. What is the primary advantage of digital communication over analog?

 A) Requires no power
 B) Higher signal distortion
 C) More secure and noise-resistant ✅
 D) More expensive

3. Which frequency band is commonly used for Wi-Fi communication?

 A) 900 MHz
 B) 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz ✅
 C) 30 MHz
 D) 40 GHz

4. Which signal propagation method follows the Earth's surface?

 A) Sky wave
 B) Line-of-sight
 C) Ground wave ✅
 D) Diffraction

5. The frequency range of microwave communication is:

 A) 300 GHz - 3000 GHz

 B) 30 MHz - 1 GHz
 C) 1 GHz - 40 GHz ✅
 D) 3 GHz - 30 GHz

6. What does FDMA stand for?

 A) Frequency Domain Multiplexing Access

 B) Frequency Division Multiple Access ✅
 C) Frequency Distributed Medium Allocation
 D) Frequency Determinant Media Access

7. What does an oscillator do in signal transmission?

 A) Amplifies signals
 B) Generates carrier waves ✅
 C) Filters unwanted noise
  D) Multiplies data rate

8. Why are lower frequencies more congested in wireless communication?

 A) They cover longer distances ✅

 B) They require high power
 C) They are expensive
 D) They cannot penetrate walls

9. Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting wireless signal propagation?

 A) Reflection
 B) Scattering
 C) Encryption ✅
 D) Diffraction

10. What is the main limitation of Pure ALOHA?

 A) Needs precise synchronization

 B) Low efficiency (10%) due to high collision rate ✅
 C) Uses high-frequency bands
 D) Cannot support multiple users

11. Which wireless technology operates using direct-sequence spread spectrum

(DSSS)?

 A) Bluetooth
 B) Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) ✅
 C) Infrared
 D) AM Radio

12. What is the main advantage of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)?

 A) Requires time synchronization

 B) Allocates specific frequencies
 C) Allows multiple users on the same frequency using unique codes ✅
 D) Uses frequency hopping

13. Which frequency range is typically used for satellite communication?

 A) 30 MHz - 1 GHz
 B) 3 GHz - 30 GHz ✅
 C) 900 MHz - 1.8 GHz
 D) 300 GHz - 3000 GHz

14. Which of the following is NOT a type of wireless transmission?

 A) Omnidirectional
 B) Directional
 C) Wired Ethernet ✅
  D) Infrared

15. Which MAC protocol is based on a four-way handshake?

 A) ALOHA
 B) CSMA/CD
 C) MACA ✅
 D) TDMA

16. What is the main disadvantage of TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)?

 A) High energy consumption

 B) Requires precise time synchronization ✅
 C) Cannot handle multiple users
 D) Uses too much bandwidth

17. Which of the following is a major benefit of spread spectrum

communication?

 A) Uses fewer antennas

 B) Provides better security and resistance to interference ✅
 C) Reduces signal attenuation
 D) Requires less power

18. What is the function of a mixer in a transmitter?

 A) Separates different signals

 B) Combines the original signal with the oscillator frequency to produce
the desired output ✅
 C) Filters noise from the signal
 D) Detects errors in transmission

19. In wireless networks, which multiplexing technique assigns unique codes to

different users?

 A) Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

 B) Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
 C) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) ✅
 D) Space Division Multiplexing (SDM)

20. Which type of wireless transmission does NOT require line-of-sight

communication?

 A) Microwave
 B) Infrared
 C) Sky wave propagation ✅
 D) Satellite

21. Which type of antenna radiates signals equally in all directions?

  A) Parabolic antenna
 B) Directional antenna
 C) Omnidirectional antenna ✅
 D) Dish antenna

22. What is the main challenge of using high-frequency signals for wireless
communication?

 A) High power consumption

 B) Shorter transmission range due to higher attenuation ✅
 C) Low bandwidth availability
 D) Poor signal quality

23. In frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), what determines the

sequence of frequency changes?

 A) The user’s IP address

 B) A predefined hopping sequence ✅
 C) The strength of the signal
 D) The modulation type

24. Which of the following is an example of contention-based Media Access

Control (MAC)?

 A) Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) ✅

 B) Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
 C) Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)
 D) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

25. What is the purpose of guard spaces in multiplexing?

 A) To prevent adjacent channel interference ✅

 B) To increase bandwidth
 C) To improve encryption security
 D) To synchronize signals

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the difference between analog and digital signals in wireless

communication.

Answer: Analog signals are continuous waveforms that vary over time, while digital
signals are discrete and represented by binary values (0s and 1s). Digital signals are
more noise-resistant and suitable for data communication.

2. What is multiplexing, and what are its four main types?

Answer: Multiplexing is the technique of sending multiple data streams over a single
communication channel. The four types are:

 Space Division Multiplexing (SDM)

 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
 Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
 Code Division Multiplexing (CDM)

3. Describe the relationship between frequency and distance in wireless

transmission.

Answer: The relationship follows d = k/f, meaning higher frequencies cover

shorter distances due to increased signal attenuation, while lower frequencies travel
farther with lower attenuation.

4. What are the main frequency bands used in wireless communication?

Answer:

 Microwave (1 GHz - 40 GHz): Used for satellites, point-to-point

communication.
 Broadcast (30 MHz - 1 GHz): Used for FM radio, TV.
 Infrared (300 GHz - 3000 GHz): Used in remote controls, short-range links.

5. Explain how CDMA separates multiple users in a wireless network.

Answer: CDMA assigns a unique code to each user and spreads their signal over the
same frequency band, allowing multiple users to transmit simultaneously without
interference.

6. What is the difference between FHSS and DSSS in Spread Spectrum?

Answer:

 FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum): Rapidly switches

frequencies to reduce interference.
 DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum): Spreads data across a wide
frequency band to improve security and resistance to interference.

7. Why is TDMA considered energy-efficient, and what is its main limitation?

Answer:
Energy-efficient: Because nodes can turn off when they are not transmitting.
Limitation: It requires strict time synchronization and is less scalable for dynamic
networks.

8. Describe three factors that cause signal propagation impairments in wireless

communication.

Answer:
 1. Reflection – Signal bounces off surfaces, causing interference.
2. Scattering – Small objects deflect signals, reducing clarity.
3. Diffraction – Signal bends around obstacles, affecting reception.

9. How does error correction work in wireless networks using Hamming codes?

Answer: Hamming codes detect and correct errors by using extra parity bits. When an
error is detected, the receiver identifies the incorrect bit and corrects it without
retransmission.

10. Explain the role of antennas in signal transmission and reception.

Answer: Antennas convert electrical signals into electromagnetic waves for

transmission and vice versa for reception. They can be omnidirectional (radiates in
all directions) or directional (focuses energy in one direction for longer-range
communication).