Introduction to wireless

technology
Wireless Comes of Age
Guglielmo Marconi invented the wireless telegraph in 1896
 Communication by encoding alphanumeric characters in analog signal
 Sent telegraphic signals across the Atlantic Ocean
Communications satellites launched in 1960s
Advances in wireless technology
 Radio, television, communication satellites
More recently
Satellite communications, wireless networking, cellular technology
Introduction
Wireless: means transmitting signals using radio waves as the medium instead of
wires.
Wireless technologies are used for tasks as simple as switching off the television or
as complex as supplying the sales force with information from an automated
enterprise application while in the field.
Now cordless keyboards and mice, PDAs, pagers and digital and cellular phones
have become part of our daily life.
What is Wi-Fi ?
Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity.
Wi-Fi is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards and is primarily a local area
networking (LAN) technology designed to provide in-building broadband coverage.
Examples
 Wi-Fi (wireless Internet access, WLAN)
 Cell/cordless phones
 Remote control
 Bluetooth
 Radio/TV broadcast (incl. satellite)
 Navigation (GPS, radar)
Characteristics of wireless
communications systems
Mobility − A wireless communications system allows users to access information beyond
their desk and conduct business from anywhere without having a wire connectivity.
Reachability − Wireless communication systems enable people to stay connected and be
reachable, regardless of the location they are operating from.
Simplicity − Wireless communication system are easy and fast to deploy in comparison of
cabled network. Initial setup cost could be a bit high but other advantages overcome that
high cost.
Maintainability − In a wireless system, you do not have to spend too much cost and time to
maintain the network setup.
Roaming Services − Using a wireless network system, you can provide service any where any
time including train, buses, aeroplanes etc.
New Services − Wireless communication systems provide various smart services like SMS
and MMS.
Classification of wireless
Technologies
Wireless technologies can be classified in different ways depending
on their range.
Each wireless technology is designed to serve a specific usage
segment.
The requirements for each usage segment are based on a variety of
variables, including Bandwidth needs, Distance needs and Power.
a) Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
This network enables you to access the Internet via a wireless wide area
network (WWAN) access card and a PDA(personal digital assistant) or laptop.
It provide a very fast data speed compared with the data rates of mobile
telecommunications technology, and their range is also extensive.
Cellular and mobile networks based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple
Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are good examples of WWAN.
b) Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
These networks are very similar to WWAN except their range is very limited.
E.g Bluetooth
c) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
This network enables you to access the Internet in localized hotspots
via a wireless local area network (WLAN) access card and a PDA or
laptop.
It is a type of local area network that uses high-frequency radio waves
rather than wired to communicate between nodes.
These networks provide a very fast data speed compared with the
data rates of mobile telecommunications technology, and their range
is very limited. Wi-Fi is the most widespread and popular example of
WLAN technology.
d) Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN)
This network enables you to access the Internet and multimedia
streaming services via a wireless region area network (WRAN).
These networks provide a very fast data speed compared with the
data rates of mobile telecommunication technology as well as other
wireless network, and their range is also extensive. e.g WiMAX
Advantages of Wireless
Convenience and reduced cost
Service can be deployed faster than fixed
service
No cost of cable plant
Service is mobile, deployed almost anywhere
Issues with Wireless Networks
There are following three major issues with Wireless Networks.
Quality of Service (QoS) − One of the primary concerns about wireless data
delivery is that, unlike the Internet through wired services, QoS is inadequate.
Lost packets and atmospheric interference are recurring problems of the
wireless protocols.
Security Risk − This is another major issue with a data transfer over a wireless
network. Basic network security mechanisms like the service set identifier (SSID)
and Wireless Equivalency Privacy (WEP), these measures may be adequate for
residences and small businesses, but they are inadequate for the entities that
require stronger security.
Reachable Range − Normally, wireless network offers a range of about 100
meters or less. Range is a function of antenna design and power. Nowadays the
range of wireless is extended to tens of miles so this should not be an issue any
more.
Wireless Network Topologies
The topology of a wireless network is simply the way network
components are arranged. It describes both the physical layout of
devices, routers, and gateways, and the paths that data follows
between them.
 We will study about the star, mesh, and cluster-tree. Understanding
the strengths and weaknesses of each will help you determine which
topology is best for your specific application.
a) Star Topology
 A star topology is a point-to-point architecture where individual wireless devices, or nodes, communicate
directly with a central "hub” or gateway.
 Devices in a star topology communicate only with the gateway – not with each other.
 The gateway then transmits the data to a central collection point, such as a control room – either directly,
or by connecting to another network. The gateway also receives data from the central point and relays it
to the appropriate device.
 Because each device communicates directly with the gateway, a star topology is also sometimes
described as a "point-to-point" or “line-of-sight” architecture.
 These simple, direct wireless connections make star topologies applicable for relatively simple or low-
power applications because they can potentially use the least amount of power of all the topologies.
 However, the distance data can be transmitted (from the wireless device to the gateway) is limited –
often 30 to 100 meters if low-power radios are used to extend battery life.
 If something disrupts the direct, line-of-sight transmission path between a device and its gateway, there’s
a good chance communication will be hindered and the data lost.
 There are plenty of things in a plant to cause such problems, including radio-frequency interference and
physical structures such as vessels, piping, and equipment.
 Even temporary obstructions like trucks, construction equipment, or scaffolding can disrupt
communications – as can environmental factors like rain, fog, and humidity.
 In a star topology, communication can be interrupted if something disrupts the line-of-sight transmission path
between device and gateway.
 That's why it's important to conduct a site survey as part of the planning for a wireless network based on star
topology. The survey identifies where devices can be placed to provide a greater likelihood for line-of-sight
transmission (and appropriate range) to the gateway.
 Unfortunately, site surveys can be expensive, and they're only a snapshot in time. They can't predict future
changes – such as new construction or other environmental changes – that can interrupt that line-of-sight
transmission.
 If such changes interfere with communication, you have three options:
 Move the device – which may degrade measurement quality or data reliability
 Move the gateway – which can be difficult if it also has wired connections for communication or power, or if
moving it interrupts the transmission path to a different device.
 Increase the device signal strength – which decreases battery life and may still not be sufficient to overcome the
interference. (That’s why traditional point-to-point wireless devices often have an installed battery life of less
than 1 year).
 Many of these limitations can be overcome by using a topology that allows more than one transmission path
between devices and gateway.
b) Mesh Topologies
 Unlike in a star topology, where each device talks only to the gateway, the devices in a mesh
topology can also communicate with other nodes in the network. A message can "hop" from node
to node to node until it reaches the assigned gateway – a capability called multi-hopping.
 Devices in a mesh topology can communicate with any other network node within range. This
arrangement has both advantages and disadvantages compared to a star topology.
 Easier expansion. There's no need to add new gateways or relocate existing ones as the network
grows. A new device only has to be within range of any existing node to communicate on the
network.
 Higher fault tolerance. Each wireless node has multiple transmission paths back to the gateway and
to other nodes. If one path is blocked – or if an intermediate node fails – messages can still get
through using other transmission paths. This provides redundancy.
 Potentially higher power consumption. A traditional mesh topology requires that sensor nodes
continuously "listen" for messages from other devices. This "always on" duty cycle reduces battery
life.
 New network technologies avoid this disadvantage by activating each device only when it needs to
send or receive data
 Network latency. As the number of hops a device requires to send data to the gateway changes,
the latency will also change. Each hop can increase latency, but because measurement updates
c) Cluster-tree topology
A cluster-tree topology is a hybrid of star and mesh topologies: Wireless devices in a
star (point-to- point) topology are clustered around routers or repeaters that
communicate with each other and the gateway in a mesh (point-to-multipoint)
topology.
A cluster-tree topology combines point-to-point communications from device to
router with point-to- multipoint communications between routers and gateways.
This approach attempts to blend the advantages of both other topologies: potentially
low power consumption of the "star" portions of the cluster-tree, and extended range
and fault tolerance of the "mesh" portions.
If the direct, single-hop transmission path between a router and gateway is
interrupted, messages can multi-hop through other routers to reach their destination.
However, the disadvantages of a star topology still apply. A site survey is still required
to make sure the end devices in each star have a clear line of sight to their assigned
router and there is still backup path for each device to communicate with its assigned
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