AN INTRODUCTION TO WIRELESS NETWORKS

Increasingly homes and small businesses are turning to Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) to provide broadband internet access to areas that may be difficult or expensive to hard-wire. The IEEE 802.11 standard offers a simple and economical means to create an office, public, or in-home LAN environment. Wireless connectivity eliminates the need to rewire buildings with Ethernet cables. IEEE 802.11 is not an alternative to broadband; rather, it is a fast and economical way to distribute broadband within a home or office environment. A broadband connection with your local cable company is still needed to create a wireless network. Demand for access to wireless connections is exploding, as we can now take advantage of WLANs at public access locations, also known as "HOT SPOTS". Many hot spots are now located at coffee shops such as Starbucks, conference facilities, hotels and airline terminals. Several different IEEE standards are currently certified that provide data transfer rates ranging from 11 Mbps to 54-plus Mbps. Choosing the right WLAN technology is an important decision based on the needs of an individual home or office network. The following is a brief overview of products based on 802.11 protocols. IEEE 802.11 technology is advancing very quickly, and products based on these protocols have different features and capabilities. IEEE has currently certified standards 802.11b, 802.11a and certification is expected in mid 2003 for 802.11g. 802.11b Operating at transfer speeds of up to11 Mbps, 802.11b products offer a mature solution to your wireless needs. 802.11b products have been on the market for three years, and there are more than 30 million devices in use. With an average actual throughput of about 4.5 Mbps, 802.11b is fast enough for most network applications and file transfers. The single most compelling benefit of the IEEE 802.11b standard is the economic advantage over other wireless standards. When deploying 802.11b, fewer access points are typically needed because of the extended range capabilities (typically up to 1200 feet or more). Because this protocol operates at a lower frequency, it will drain less power from laptops and other portable devices. Also, IEEE 802.11b is widely deployed in many business and public locations such as airports, coffee shops, and hotels. The 802.11b protocol is based on a radio frequency modulation technique known as direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). DSSS is less susceptible to radio noise and interference because it spreads a transmission signal over a broad band of radio frequencies. Quick Outline of Benefits

Security

In most situations, 802.11b products are the lowest cost option for client adapters, routers and access points. 802.11b products are forward compatible and can interoperate with dual-band and future 802.11 protocols such as 802.11g. Wi-Fi certification assures interoperability between equipment from different vendors. 802.11b offers a range up to 500 meters in an open environment. 802.11b client cards typically require less power, so client devices operate longer when running on batteries. Large installed base of 802.11b networks.

The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) algorithm is used to protect 802.11b networks from unauthorized users and

eavesdropping on transmitted data. WEP, which supports 48-, 64-, and 128-bit encryption, is secure enough for most homes and businesses when properly configured. For those who need additional security the new standard of 802.11g will offer 256-bit encryption. General Notes The IEEE 802.11b standard and the devices operating on this bandwidth provide a reliable solution for most WLAN's. Especially where range is a priority, 802.11b networks typically operate at longer range, in both open space and through walls, than 802.11a networks. WLAN's are subject to interference from many common items using the 2.4 GHz band, including portable phones, microwave ovens and baby monitors. This can adversely impact performance. 802.11a Wireless devices operating under 802.11a can transmit data at up to 54 Mbps on 8 non-overlapping channels. Featuring faster speeds 802.11a products are quickly moving into the market. 802.11a delivers up to 54 Mbps, although realistic throughput is approximately 27 Mbps. Because the 802.11a devices operate on a higher frequency (5 Ghz), however, range can be somewhat less than 802.11b systems, which operate at a lower frequency (2.4 GHz). In some scenarios, this can increase the cost of the overall system, because a greater number of access points may be needed. In addition to using a different frequency than 802.11b, 802.11a also uses a different modulation technique known as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Quick outline of 802.11a benefits IEEE 802.11a devices offer certain advantages over 802.11b products including much faster transfer speeds of up to 54 Mbps. In addition, more access points can be co-located, with each access point supporting more users. Interference from common household items is also less as 802.11a operates in the unregulated 5 GHz frequency range. Security WEP algorithms are used to protect 802.11a networks, but with stronger 152-bit encryption keys. When properly configured, this provides more protection than 802.11b networks. General Notes on 802.11a 802.11a devices are general used in high-density networks as more channels permit more users per access point, which can mean a more cost-effective WLAN. However, 802.11a devices are not directly compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g networks. It is possible to link these different standards through a router which adds to the overall cost of a users network. The most significant drawback to 802.11a is the shorter range. Due to the higher operating frequency, 802.11a networks typically offer shorter range and are less capable of working through walls and floors. 802.11a adapters generally consume more power, which results in shorter battery life in portable devices. 802.11g Sometime in mid 2003 the IEEE is expected to certify a new standard known as 802.11g. This standard will operate at 54 Mbps with 3 non-overlapping channels at 2.4 GHz. Significantly, 802.11g is an extension to 802.11b, which is the technology used in the majority of wireless LAN's, and will be backward compatible allowing 802.11b devices to connect with 802.11g devices. Expected data transfer rates of 54 Mbps are expected, with realistic throughput of 716 Mbps. The 802.11g standard is not expected to be ratified until approximately May 2003, although products based on the draft specification will be available in early 2003. Quick Outline of 802.11g Benefits The central benefit of 802.11g will be the increase in data transfer rates up to 54 Mbps peak throughput. In addition g will be backward compatibility with all 802.11b devices. This standard will also bring forward the other benefits of 802.11b such as lower power consumption and longer range. Security 802.11g products will have the same security capabilities as 802.11b, that is 64, and 128-bit WEP. In addition it is anticipated that the standard will include 256 bit encryption, allowing for more secure wireless networks. General Notes on 802.11g

The key improvement found in 802.11g is the increase in data transfer speeds. Also because 802.11g works with existing 802.11b devices, the new standard will provide a smooth upgrade scenario when higher performance is needed while continuing to support the users original 802.11b investment. The higher speed of 802.11g is three to five times faster than 802.11b. Although 802.11g devices are expected to be priced higher than 802.11b, it will be less costly than 802.11a or dual band solutions. The IEEE 802.11g specification has not yet been ratified. Some manufacturers are releasing products in advance of the finalized specification, although this may present interoperability, performance, and usability problems in the future. 802.11g is not interoperable with 802.11a devices; however, 802.11g and 802.11a can coexist with the use of a router.

WIRELESS IEEE STANDARDS COMPATIBILITY CHART

Wireless
Standard Ratified Raw Data Rates Average Actual Throughput Frequency Available Spectrum Modulation Encoding Available Spectrum

802.11b IEEE & WiFi

Sept 99 11 Mbps 4-5 Mbps 2.4 GHz 83.5 MHz DSSS/CCK 83.5 MHz

802.11a IEEE & WiFi

Sept 99 54* Mbps 27 Mbps 5 GHz 300 MHz OFDM 300 MHz

Dual Band IEEE & WiFi

Sept 99 11 & 54** Mbps 27 Mbps 2.4 & 5 GHz 300 MHz DSS.CCK & OFDM 300 MHz

802.11g Est. May '03

Est. May '03 54 Mbps 20-25 Mbps 2.4 GHz 83.5 MHz DSSS/PBCC 83.5 MHz

802.11b+ (non-standard)
Never 22 & 44 Mbps 6 Mbps 2.4 GHz 83.5 MHz PBCC 83.5 MHz

*72 Mbps in Turbo mode **108 Mbps in Turbo mode Wireless Access Points To understand the role of a wireless access point a simple comparison can be made to the base stations for mobile cellular networks. The base station in a mobile cellular network aggregates and manages all the mobile clients and interfaces with the switched landline network. In the same fashion, wireless access points (AP) connect the wireless LAN to the users wired network. An AP is a device that both transmits and receives wireless network data, and then transmits that data to the wired backbone through the use of a standard Ethernet cable. Essentially, the wireless equivalent to a LAN hub, the AP receives, buffers and transmits data between the WLAN and the wired infrastructure. The number of users an AP supports is determined by the technology utilized. The AP, or the antenna connected to it, is generally mounted high on a wall or ceiling to enable line-of-sight transmission to the adapters. APs have ranges from less than 100 feet to 1,000 feet, depending on technology and configuration. Some routers also have APs built-in. Wireless Network Interface Cards WLAN adapters take the form of PC network interface cards, PCMCIA cards for notebooks, and USB adaptors for both notebooks and desktops, and PCI for desktops. These network adapters provide the interface between the network operating system and the wireless signal through the antenna, creating a transparent connection to the network. How to connect to the backbone? Most WLAN's have an access point, usually a router, which connects wireless users to the wired internet connection

and to the LAN. This WLAN setup requires a client adapter and access point. The access point is connected via Ethernet cable to the wired backbone typically a cable modem in the home for example. The wireless clients then access the network via the AP. Will one standard dominate wireless connections? In general each protocol uses very different technology and chipsets that adhere to unique specifications. Also each protocol has its own strengths and weaknesses as described above. Significantly, there are tens of millions of 802.11b products already in use. This installed base will be around for a long time, and allows for easy use in multiple networks for owners of laptops. Although 802.11a and 802.11b are not compatible, they still can be used on the same system in two ways. The first requires the use of a dual-band AP. Second a WLAN can be designed with two different access points and these protocols can co-exist on the same network and access each other via a router. The 802.11a systems will not be compatible with the new 802.11g standard, and would require the same type of configuration. This problem will not be present with 802.11g, as the IEEE has specified that 802.11b devices will work within 802.11g networks. However, 802.11g devices will only operate at have speeds of up to 11 Mbps and will not reach the full potential of 54 Mbps in an 802.11b network. As part of the IEEE specification, when 802.11g devices detect the slower 802.11b devices, 802.11g devices will start doing an RTS/CTS handshake (request-to-send/clear-tosend) for every packet prior to sending the actual packet. This can slow down network performance. It is optimal to have fewer 802.11b clients on the network or upgrade them to 802.11g. When there is a combination of several 802.11b and 802.11g clients on an 802.11g-based network (802.11g access point and routers), the actual throughput for 802.11g devices is reduced from 22 Mbps down to approximately 10 Mbps, while 802.11b clients maintain throughput between 4-4.5 Mbps. At this time, we expect that both lines of products will be available through the end of 2003, and that the 802.11b products are expected to be more affordable through 2003. Nor do we expect 802.11g to replace 802.11a as each protocol has its own strengths and weaknesses. Which product will offer the best range? The principal factor in determining the range of a wireless system is based on the frequency band that it operates in rather that the standard that it uses. Although makers of 802.11a equipment might disagree, the 5 GHz frequency that the 802.11a operates in results in a much shorter range than 802.11b or g products, when used in the typical residential environment. The lower-frequency band of 802.11b and g suffers from less signal reduction when passing through the walls and ceilings of your home or business. What is Bluetooth? Wireless technology has made many advances in the past few years. Bluetooth is a technology specification for small, short-range wireless links between PCs, mobile phones, and other portable handheld devices. This technology will also permit connectivity to the Internet. Bluetooth covers a range of up to 10 meters in the 2.4GHz spectrum. This short range renders the Bluetooth standard useless in most WLAN's. Because 802.11b and 802.11g WLAN's also operate in the same frequency band, there may be interference issues as well. No one knows what advances will surely develop in wireless connectivity over the coming years. A decision to build a WLAN requires analysis of your needs and your budget. Please contact your sales representative for more information. Copyright 2003. Broadband Products, Inc.