Wi-Fi

• WIRELESS FIDELITY
 What is Wi-Fi?
• Wi-Fi i.e. Wireless Fidelity is a wireless
technology that uses radio frequency to transmit
data through the air.

 Wi-Fi refers to a type of Ethernet specified under

the IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b Standards for
LANs operating in the 5-and 2.4-GHz unlicensed
frequency bands respectively.
 Wi-Fi Standards

802.11b
 Runs in the 2.4 GHz frequency range
 Uses direct-sequence spread-spectrum
technology
 Has 11 channels, with 3 non-overlapping, and
supports rates up to 11 Mbps
Disadvantage of 802.11b

 It is prone to interference from other devices

(microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc) and also
has security disadvantages

 It limits to the number of access points in range of

each other
802.11a
• Runs in the 5 GHz range
• Uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
technology
• Has 12 channels, 8 non-overlapping, and supports
rates up to 54 Mbps
• Flexible because multiple channels can be combined
for faster throughput and more access points can be
collocated
Disadvantage of 802.11a

As this standard does not support frequency hoping

in response to interference it retransmits or wait for
the higher level TCP/IP protocol to sort out signal
from noise. This works well for data transmission
but but can result in voice transmission choppy
 Range and Performance

• 802.11a
– Indoor 40-300 feet
– Outdoor – 100 to 1000 feet
• 802.11b
– Indoor 100-300 feet
– Outdoor 400 – 1500 feet
 Upcoming Standards

 802.11g : Backwards compatible with 802.11b

with the same disadvantages
 802.11b+ : Backwards compatible with
802.11b supports rates up to 22 Mbps
 802.11i : Provides more security by advance
encryption technology
 802.11e : More multimedia friendly for viewing
streaming videos.
 Why Wi-Fi ?

• Setup Cost – Reduced cabling required

• Flexibility – Quick and easy to setup

• Scalability – Can be expanded with growth

• Freedom – You can work from any location

 What do you need to do Wi-Fi ?
• Existing wired
network

• Access point

• Wireless adapter
 Security

• Data Security/Encryption
• Third Party solution -Fortress
• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
• Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)-Shared
key
 Conclusion

• Wi-Fi is a certification of interoperability

for IEEE 802.11b systems awarded by the
Wi-Fi Alliance. A Wi-Fi seal indicates that
a device has passed through independent
tests and can be safely interoperated with all
other certified devices.