WIRELESS FIDELITY

Guided by : Hardik Kothari

Submitted by: Yesha K. Trivedi

C.U.SHAH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY WADHWANCITY 363030

C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology

WIRELESS FIDELITY

INDEX SR. NO.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

Introduction 1 Brief History of wi-fi ... 1 What is wi-fi 3 Why wi-fi? 3 Who can use wi-fi? .. 5 Wi-Fi standard 6 6.1 ) 802.11 b 6.2) 802.11 a

7.

Components of wi-fi 7 7.1) Wi-Fi radio devices 7.2) Access points or gateways

8. 9. 10.

Wi-Fi Drivers.. 11 Communication channel for Wi-Fi...11 Transmission technology for Wi-fi ..12 10.1) Narrow band technology 10.2) Spread Spectrum technology 10.2.1) Frequency Hopping Spread spectrum 10.2.2) Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

11.

Comparison between wi-fi and other networking Methods .15

12.

Topology design of access point 16 12.1) Design Approach 12.2) Design Procedure

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WIRELESS FIDELITY 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Wi-Fi Vs Bluetooth 21 Wi-Fi Security 21 Advantages of Wi-Fi ..23 Problems with Wi-Fi 24 Application Areas of Wi-Fi ...24 The Future of Wi-Fi 28 Conclusion 28

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to thank our respected H.O.D Ms. Saroj Bodar without whose support and encouragement this paper could not have been completed. I also take this opportunity to thank respected Mr. Hardik Kothari sir who helped me through out the semester to prepare this seminar. I also thank to my friends and my brothers who have helped me in gathering and organizing the required information for making of this paper.

TRIVEDI YESHA K. 6TH I.T.

C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology

WIRELESS FIDELITY

WI-FI
1. INTRODUCTION TO WI-FI
Inexpensive broadband wireless networks that can keep you connected while you move about the office or home are getting better all the time. The broadband wireless Web is being built around a technology known as Wi-Fi, or 802.11b, that is easy to underestimate. Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity, an increasingly popular networking standard that is used to create wireless local area network in homes and offices at speeds up to 11megabits per second , far faster than the peak 144-kilobit-per second rate so called 3G(3rd generation) mobile-phone networks that Sprint PCS for one, plans to deliver. For now , Wi-Fi primarily provides broadband Internet access to specially outfitted PCs and laptops within a few hundred feet of a so-called Wi-Fi base station, or transmitter. These create what in the Wi-Fi vernacular are known as Hot Spots in homes, airport lounges , or libraries. Business are also adding Wi-Fi networks to allow for easy Net access from conference rooms and temporary work stations and also to avoid the hefty costs in both time and money of wiring an office. Wi-Fi s most admirable attributes are that it is fast and cheap. It operates on unlicensed airwave spectrum , so no extra monthly costs on top of the charge for a broadband connection are incurred. Its also easy to install. Most high-end laptops now come ready for Wi-Fi, equipped with a special plug-in circuit card. Hostel and coffee shops are offering customers Wi-Fi access as a convenience. Starbucks has equipped 530 stores and plans eventually to enable more than 70% of its 3,200 company-owned North American outlets.

2. A BREIF HISTORY
Network Technologies and radio communications were brought together for first time in 1971 at the University of Hawaii as a research project called ALOHANET. The ALOHANET system enabled computer sites at seven campuses spread out over four islands to communicate with the central computer on Oahu without using the existing unreliable and expensive phone lines. ALOHANET offered bi-directional communications, in a star topology between the central computer and each of the remote stations. The remote stations had to communicate with one another via the centralized computer.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY In the 1980s, amateur radio hobbyists, hams, kept radio networking alive within the United States and Canada by designing and building terminal node controllers (TNCs) to interface their computers through ham radio equipment. TNCs act much like a telephone modem, converting the computers digital signal into one that a ham radio can modulate and send over the airwaves by using a packet switching technique. In fact the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Canadian Radio Relay League (CRRL) have been sponsoring the Computer Networking Conference since the early 1980s to provide a forum for the development of wireless WANs. Thus hams have been utilizing wireless networking for years, much earlier than the commercial market. In 1985, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) made the commercial development of radio base LAN components possible by authorizing the public use of the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands. These band of frequencies resides between 902MHz and 5.85GHz, just above the cellular phone operating frequencies. The ISM band is very attractive to wireless network vendors because it provides the part of the spectrum upon which to base their products and end users do not have to obtain FCC licenses to operate the products. The ISM band allocation has had a dramatic effect on the wireless industry, promoting the development of wireless LAN components. Without a standard, however, vendors began developing proprietary radios and access points. In the late 1980s the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802 Working Group, responsible for the development of the LAN standards such as Ethernet and Token Ring, began development of standards for wireless LANs. Under the chairmanship of Vic Hayes, an engineer from NCR, the IEEE 802.11 Working Group developed the Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer specifications. The IEEE Standards Board approved the standard on June 26, 1997 and the IEEE published the standard on November 18, 1997. The finalizing of this standard is prompting vendors to release 802.11 compliant radio cards and access points through out 1998. Other vendors new to the wireless market are sure to develop and release 802.11 compliant product based on the standard blueprint provided by the 802.11 standard. Another widely accepted wireless network connection, however, has been wireless WAN services, which began surfacing in the early 1990s. Companies such as ARDIS and RAM Mobile Data were first in selling wireless connections between portable computers, corporate networks and the Internet Companies then began introducing Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) services which enable users to send and receive data packets via digital transmission services. These services enable employees to access email and other information services from their personal appliances without using the telephone systems when meeting with customers, traveling in the car and staying in hotel. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 5

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3. WHAT IS WI-FI?
Wi-Fi is a trade-group certified wireless networking standard that rellies on the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b specifications. The 802.11b spec allows for the wireless transmission of approximately 11 Mbps of raw data at indoor distances from several dozen to several hundred feet and outdoor distances of several to tens of miles as an unlicensed use of the 2.4GHz band. The 802.11a spec uses the 5GHz band , and can handle 54 Mbps at typically shorter distances. The distances for both standards depends on impediments, materials, and line of sight. The 802.11b specification started to appear in commercial form in mid-1999, with Apple Computers introduction of its Airport components, manufactured in conjunction with Lucents Wave LAN division. Wi-Fi is an extension of wired Ethernet, bringing the same principles to wireless communication, and as such is ecumenical about the kinds of data that pass over it. Its primarily used for TCP/IP , but can also handle other forms of networking traffic , such as AppleTalk of PC file sharing standards.

4. WHY WI-FI?
The main reasons for using Wi-Fi are as below. Mobility Scalability Increased Reliability Reduced Installation Time Financial benefit Long-Term Cost Savings

Mobility
Mobility enables users to physically move while using an appliance, such as a handheld PC or data collector. Many jobs require workers to be mobile, such as inventory clerks, healthcare workers ,police officers etc. Of course, wireless networks require a physical link between the users workstation and networks resources, which makes access to these resources impossible while roaming. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 6

WIRELESS FIDELITY Mobile applications requiring Wi-Fi networking include those that depend on real time access to data usually stored in centralized databases. If your applications requires mobile users to be immediately aware of changes made to data, or information put into the system must immediately be available to others, you have a definite need for wireless networking. For accurate and efficient price markdowns, for example many retail stores use wireless networks to interconnect handheld bar code scanners and printers to databases having current price information. This enables the printing of the correct price on the items, making both the customer and the business owner more satisfied.

Scalability
Wi-Fi systems can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and installations. Configuration are easily changed and range from peer to peer networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users that enable roaming over a broad area.

Increased Reliability
A problem inherent to wired networks is the downtime that results from cable faults. In fact, cable faults are often the primary cause of system downtime. Moisture erodes metallic conductors via water intrusion during storms and accidental leakage of liquids. With wired networks, users may accidentally break their network connector when trying to disconnect their PCs from the network to move them to different locations. Imperfect cable splices can cause signal reflections that result in unexplainable errors. The accidental cutting of cables can bring a network down immediately. Wires and connectors can easily break through misuse and even normal use. These problems interfere with the users ability to utilize network resources, causing havoc for network managers. An advantages of wireless networking, therefore, results from the use of less cable. This reduces the downtime of the network and the costs associated with replacing cables.

Reduced Installation Time

The installation of cabling is often a time consuming activity. For LANs, installers must pull twisted-pair wires above the ceiling and drop cables through walls to network. These tasks can take days or weeks, depending on the size of the installation. The installation of optical fiber between buildings within the same geographical area consist of digging trenches to lay the fiber or pulling the fiber through an existing conduit. You might need weeks of possibly months to receive right-of-way approvals and dig through ground and asphalt. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 7

WIRELESS FIDELITY The deployment of wireless networks greatly reduces the need for cable installation, making the network available for use much sooner. Therefore, many countries lacking a network infrastructure have turned to wireless networking as a method of providing connectivity among computers without the expense and time associated with installing physical media. This is also necessary within the United States to set up temporary offices and rewire renovated facilities.

Financial Benefit
Wi-Fi is a no risk financial decision especially for small business or companies in hard to wired locations, because of its low cost. Consulting firm which spent 30,000$ to wire its office, says the similar Wi-Fi installation today would cost only 500$. This shows that it is really beneficial to install Wi-Fi instead of wired network.

Long Term Cost Savings

The changes like companies reorganization, resulting in the movement of people, new floor plans, office partition and other renovations often require recabling the network incurring both labor and material costs. In some cases, the recabling costs of organizational changes are substantial, especially with large enterprise networks. A reorganization rate of 15 percent each year can result in yearly reconfiguration expenses as high as $250,000 for networks that have 6,000 interconnected devices. The advantage of Wi-Fi is again based on the lack of cable. You can move the network connection by just relocating an employees PCs or access points. An oil exploration company operating in Colombia, South America, experienced high expenses when relocating its drilling rigs. The oil drilling setup requires two control rooms in portable sheds located approximately 5,000 feet from the drilling platform to provide 500 kbps computer communication between the sheds and drilling rig. The communication system consisted of Ethernet networks at each of the three sites. Each shed had four PCs running on the network and drilling site had one PC for direct drilling control purpose. Every time the oil company needed to move to a different drilling site, which occurred four or five times each year, it had to spend $50,000 to $75,000 to reinstall optical fiber over the difficult terrain between the sheds. So naturally in this type of cases Wi-Fi is better option.

5. WHO CAN USE WI-FI?

Every one can use Wi-Fi almost every where in the world. Home Wi-Fi networks can connect multiple computers to each other, to peripherals and to the internet. A wi-fi network can connect a familys computer together to share such hardware and C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 8

WIRELESS FIDELITY software resources as printer and Internet. That means everyone in the family can share stored files, photos, and documents and print them out on a single printer attached to one desktop computers all without unsightly cables running throughout the home.In a home or home office, using wi-fi certified equipment in your wireless network gives you the ability to share a single high speed broadband cable or DSL connection. A wi-fi network can easily be expanded to ten users or more. Large corporations and campuses use enterprise level technology and Wi-Fi certified wireless products to extend standard wired Ethernet networks to public areas like meeting rooms, training class rooms, and large auditoria. Service providers and wireless ISPs use Wi-Fi technology to distribute Internet Connectivity within individual homes and business as well as apartments and commercial complexes. Busy public places like coffee shops, hotels, airport lounges, and other locations where large crowds gather will be the fastest growing segment of Wi-Fi as more and more travelers and mobile professionals clamour for fast and secure Internet access wherever they are. Soon, Wi-Fi networks will be found in urban areas providing coverage throughout the central city, or even lining major highways, enabling travelers access anywhere they can pull over and stop.

6. WI-FI STANDARDS
There are mainly two standard for Wi-Fi. 1> 802.11a 2> 802.11b

6.1) 802.11b
The most established wireless LAN technology its also the most affordable. Allows wireless connection up to 300 feet from an access point, and can easily be added to existing wired networks. With speeds up to 11Mbps, performance is comparable to standard wired Ethernet network. Industry standard 802.11b products are easy to find and compatible with each other.

6.2) 802.11a
802.11a provides a bigger pipe for data and supports more simultaneous users. Ideal for deployments where speed and bandwidth are important , 802.11a networks can run at up to 54Mbps and supports more users per access point than a Wi-Fi solution. WiFi is a wireless communications specification for digital devices. Wi-Fi is often referenced by its standards numbers in the 802.11x family.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY The popular 802.11b Wi-Fi devices broadcast in the 2.4Ghz band also used by cordless phones. Faster but shorter range of 802.11a devices use the 5Ghz bandwidth. Both can send signals many hundreds of feet in clear territory.

7. COMPONENTS OF WI-FI
There are two types of Wi-Fi components you will need to build your home or office network. 1> Wi-Fi radio devices. 2> Access points or gateways Third type is Wi-Fi equipped peripherals are emerging and will soon be commonplace. This group includes printers, scanners, cameras, video monitors, settop boxes and other peripheral equipment.

7.1) WI-FI Radio devices: PC card Radio

Wi-Fi networks use a radio band to broadcast data to other Wi-Fi enabled equipment and the most common client devices is the PC Card Wi-Fi radio. There are hundreds of variations, but most look like a standard Type-II PC Card that slides into your laptops PC Card slot.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY These cards used to be known as PCMCIA=personal computer memory card international association cards but are now called pc cards the protruding end of most Wi-Fi PC Card contains a built in antenna, usually a miniature twin diversity antenna, which can sometimes spring out to improve coverage. Some of them have tiny connector on the end to which you can attach a larger , more powerful antenna to maximize range.

Mini PCI modules and Embedded Radios

Your desktop or laptop may come Wi-Fi enabled. If so, it most likely has a mini PCI radio installed by the manufacturer.

Many manufacturers now install an embedded mini PCI Wi-Fi radio in laptop computers and other mobile computing devices before they leave the factory. If you are using a Windows based laptop in your network and you cannot use a PC Card or other Wi-Fi adapter, you will need one with a pre-installed Mini PCI Wi-Fi radio. You should ask the factory to install one when you order a new laptop.

USB Adapters
Most desktop computer do not provide PC slots for Wi-Fi PC radios. You can solve this problem by using a PCI/ISA bus adapter a USB adapter. For most users with desktop computers, C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 11

or

WIRELESS FIDELITY the easiest way to add a Wi-Fi radio is to use a USB adapter. Simply plug the USB connecter into one of the USB jacks on your desktop PC. Because their power is delivered through the USB cable , most USB adapters dont require a separate DC power module.

PCI and ISA Bus Adapters

Many Wi-Fi vendors provide ISA and PCI compliant radios that fit inside a desktop

computer and enable the computer to work in a Wi-Fi network. These can be either one-piece ISA or PCI radios or two piece units that comprise a PC Card reader or adapter and a separate Wi-Fi PC Card Radio that slides into the reader.

Compact Flash and other Small-Client Format

Designed for smaller PDAs and other mobile computing devices, 802.11b.Wi-Fi radios can be built onto a Compact Flash format. Much smaller than a typical type II PC Card, CF Wi-Fi cards have the same range and performance as their larger cousins.

7.2) Access points and Gateways

Even though client device radios can be configured to talk to each other , a Wi-Fi network operates more effectively when using a central base station to coordinate communications. There are 2 types of Wi-Fi wireless base station gateway and an access point. 1> Access point. 2> Gateways. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 12

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However, the distinctions between the two are not clear. A wireless gateway is targeted toward a totally wireless home or small-office environment. An access point is targeted toward a more integrated combined Ethernet and wireless environment usually larger business, campuses or corporations. Gateways and access point can also differ regarding their capacity to perform security functions, provide firewall protection, and manage network traffic and tasks. Gateways often include NAT=Network Address Translation routing and DHCP=Dynamic Host Control Protocol services. These create and provide the individual IP addresses all the wireless or wired clients needs to function in a network and also enable a single Wi-Fi gateway to simultaneously provide Internet access to numerous users from a single shared Internet connection. Gateways may also include other applications and features such as encryption and security, VPN, firewall. An access point does not usually furnish NAT routing or DHCP, the wired routers in the system provide those network functions. Access points work as merely transparent bridges between wired networks and the various wireless users throughout a facility. Even though access points generally do not provide NAT or DHCP, they usually enable roaming, higher levels of security and a high level of network control and management. Some gateways also provide these services. In fact, by toggling certain functions on and off, many wireless base stations can operate either as a gateway or an access point. But a gateway is usually the only wireless base station in a small

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WIRELESS FIDELITY office or home, whereas in a large office or campus there might be hundreds or thousands of access points forming one or multiple overlapping wireless networks.

8. WI-FI DRIVERS
As wireless LAN grow within corporations, the desire to extend support follows naturally. Cahners estimated that the number of 802.11 based access points shipped each year will nearly triple from 1.2 million in 2001 to 3.5 million in 2005. The firm expects yearly 802.11 network interface card (NIC) shipments to jump from 6.3 million last year to 19.4 million in2005. In fact, most of the major notebook computer markers ship products today with embedded 802.11 NICs. Combine that with the fact that Microsoft has embedded wifi capabilities into Windows XP and it is clear that, like it or not, there is a wi-fi user base growing up around you. The XP operating system automatically searches for a Wi-Fi access point and if it finds one, asks the user if he would like to use the service. We had users signing up for our service before it was even announced says Tim Barrett, vice president of Airpath. Wi-Fi support can indeed draw business. Mark Hedley , CTO at hotelier Wyndham International, based in Dallas, says his company is most certainly taking conference business away from other hotels thanks to the 802.11 connectivity in 148 of its properties. Wireless provider Wayport ate the up front capital costs, Hedley says. You will not likely see much more of that in the wake of the dot-com demise. At the time, every one expected a 20% consumption rate, but it is actually been more like 2% to 4%.

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9.COMMUNICATION

CHANNEL

FOR

WI-FI

Wireless networking uses air as a medium. At earths surface where the wireless networks works contains oxygen and nitrogen gases.An effective medium for the propagation of radio waves and infrared lights. The radio spectrum and ISM band is shown in the figure.

10. TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY FOR WI-FI

There are two technologies for transmission. 1> Narrowband Technology 2> Spread Spectrum Technology

10.1)

Narrowband Technology

A narrowband radio system transmits and receives user information on a specific radio frequency. Narrowband radio keeps the radio signal frequency as narrow as possible just to pass the information. Undesirable cross talk between communications channels is avoided by carefully coordinating different users on different channel frequencies. A private telephone line is much like a radio frequency. When each home in a neighborhood has its own private telephone line, people in one home can not listen to calls made to other homes. In a radio system, privacy and noninterference are accomplished by the use of separate radio frequencies. The radio receiver filters out all radio signals except the ones on its designated frequency. From a customer standpoint, one drawback of narrow band technology is that the enduser must obtain an FCC license for each site where it is employed. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 15

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10.2) Spread Spectrum Technology

Most wireless LAN systems use spread spectrum technology, a wideband radio

frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission critical communications systems. Spread spectrum is designed to trade off bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the tradeoff produces a signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread spectrum signal being broad cast. If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread spectrum signal looks like background noise. Spread spectrum simply means that data is sent in small pieces over a number of the discrete frequencies available for use at any time in the specified range. There are further 2 types of this technology. 1>Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Technology 2> Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Technology 10.2.1) Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Technology (FHSS) FHSS uses a narrow band carrier that changes frequency in a pattern known to both transmitter and receiver properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short- duration impulse noise.

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HOPPING PATTERN : C A B E D Devices using Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum send a short burst of data, shift frequencies (hop) and then send another short burst. Since the FHSS devices that are communicating agree on which frequencies to hop to, and use each frequency for a brief period of time before moving on several independent FHSS network can exist in the same physical area without interfering with each other. Also due to FCC restriction as well as the fact that FHSS devices generally send data on just two to four frequencies simultaneously and they only use 1 MHz or less of the available bandwidth because they use any given frequency for such a short time. It takes the data signal and modulates it with carrier signal that hops from frequency to frequency as a function of time over a wide band of frequencies. A frequency hopping radio for example will hop the carrier frequency over the 2.4GHz and 2.483GHz. A hopping code determines the frequencies the radio will transmit and in which order. To properly receive the signal the receiver must be set to the same hopping code and Listen to the incoming signal at the right time and correct frequency. FCC regulations require manufactures use 75 or more frequencies per transmission channel with a maximum dwell time of 400 meters. If the radios encounters interference on one frequency then the radio will retransmit the signal on subsequent hop on another frequency. This technique reduces interference because the propagation from narrow band signal. Thus, the aggregate interface will be very low, resulting in little or no bit errors. Operating radios can use spread spectrum within the same frequency band and not interfere assuming they each use a different hopping pattern. While one radio is C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 17

WIRELESS FIDELITY transmitting at one particular frequency, the older radios uses a different frequency. A set of hopping codes that never use the same frequencies at the same time are considered orthogonal. Some vendors allow user to choose the channel (the particular hopping code) through software that the radio will operate on all users within the same local network, however have to use the same code. This does give you the ability, though to have wireless LAN within close proximity to each other long as you assign them orthogonal hopping codes. The FCCs requirements for the number of different transmission frequency allow frequency hopping radios to have money non interfacing channels.

10.2.2) Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Technology (DSSS) Direct sequence spread spectrum generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip or chipping code. The longer the chip, the grater the probability that the original data can be recovered . Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission , statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected by most narrowband receivers. Devices using Direct Spread Spectrum communicate by splitting each byte of data into several parts and sending them concurrently on different frequencies. DSSS uses a lot of the available bandwidth, about 22 MHz . It combines a data signal at the sending station with a higher data rate bit sequence or it creates a chip code or processing gain. A high processing gain increases the signals resistance to interfere. The minimum linear processing gain that the FCC allow is 10, and most products operate under 20. The IEEE 802.11 Working Group has set their minimum processing gain requirement at 11. As figure shows an example of the operation of DSSS. A chipping code is assigned to represent logic one and zero data bits. Chipping Code: 0=11101100011 1=00010011100 Data Stream: 101 Transmitted Sequence: C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 18

WIRELESS FIDELITY 00010011100 11101100011 00010011100 As the data stream is transmitted the corresponding code is sent. As shown in example. Many DSSS products on the same area, the number of channels Sequence many products operate band into non overlapping several separate network to operate market utilize more than one channel in the available, however, is limited. With Direct on separate channels by slicing the frequency channels. This results in the potential for without interfering with each other.

11. COMPARISON TO OTHER NETWORKING METHODS

No other networking technology used to set up a small home or SOHO network provides the convenience or mobility of a Wi-Fi network. That's because other methods, including standard wired Ethernet networks and phone line- and power linebased networks, all require a connection via wire or cable. Wi-Fi uses radio waves that travel through walls and floors and connect you anywhere, indoors or out. Networks based on phone lines, also called Home PNA, must have a phone jack close to the computer or peripheral that is to be networked with the rest of your system. Unfortunately, most homes have only two or three phone outlets or even just one! and these outlets may not be where you want to put your computer, printer or other device. You may have problems with this type of network based on the quality of your phone line installation and especially if you have numerous phone devices plugged into each wall jack. Networks based on power lines, also called HomePlug, have location problems, too. Of course, there are many more power outlets in a home than there are phone plugs, but power plugs may not be where you need them when you need them, especially outdoors. Power line networks are often more expensive than Wi-Fi based equipment. Power line networks can experience interference from transformers, large appliances, power strips, surge protectors and even common "wall warts" (DV power supplies). In addition, apartments and condominiums that share power lines may also inadvertently share access to confidential files and information on the computers that are attached to the power line network even if users think they've established tight security protections Neither power line - nor phone line-based networks provide true mobility or portability.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY These technologies don't allow you to just pick up your laptop or PDA and go anywhere in your home or small office and begin working or continue working in another location without losing contact with your network. Working outside on your patio or next to the pool is an impossibility. And since power-line and phone linebased networks aren't available at "HotSpots" (e.g., airports, hotels and cafes), localized access networks or at the office, they can't be used when traveling or working in a corporate office.

12. TOPOLOGY DESIGN OF ACCESS POINT

12.1) Design approach
In selecting Access point locations one must avoid coverage gaps, areas where no service will be available to users. One would like to space the Aps as far as possible to minimize the cost of equipment and installation. Another reasons to space the Aps far apart is that coverage overlap between Aps operating on the same radio channel degrades performance. Minimizing overlap between Aps coverage areas when one is selecting Ap locations help to minimize co channel overlap. The rules of thumb are inadequate in doing this type of design. Rather, each building design must be based on careful signal strength measurements. This is particularly challenging because the building is a three dimensional space and an Aps located on one floor of the building provides signals coverage to adjacent floors of the same building and perhaps to other buildings as well. After the Aps have been located and their coverage areas measured, radio channels are assigned to the Aps. Eleven DSSS radio channels are available in the 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz band used in North America, of these are three that have minimal spectral overlap. These are channels 1,6, and 11[1]. Thus in North America, Aps can operate on three separate non interfering channels. Further more some NAS can switch between channels in order to talk with the Ap proving the best signal strength or the one with the Ap providing the best signal strength or the one with the lightest traffic load. Use of multiple channels can be very helpful in minimizing co channels overlap which would otherwise degrade performance. Our approach is to assign one of these three channels to each of the Aps and to do so in a way that provides the smallest possible co channels coverage overlap. Making these frequency assignment is essentially a map coloring C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 20

WIRELESS FIDELITY problem, and there are various algorithms that give optimal or near optimal assignment of the three radio channels, given a particular set of Ap placement and coverage areas. The design must also consider service to areas with high and low densities of users. If many users of wi-fi computers are located in a small area, it may be necessary to use special design techniques in these areas. We expect that most parts of a campus will be low density areas. However, there will be some areas, particularly classrooms and lecture halls that will be high density area, with high concentrations of users, mostly students. Two design layout techniques those are useful in high density situation are increasing receiver threshold settings and using multiple wi-fi Aps. Wi-fi products some provides the controlling the size of coverage area of each Access point. Here we will discuss on the ideal Access point coverage, the coverage volume of the access point is shown in figure as three coaxial cylinders, the middle cylinder, representing coverage on floor on which the axis point is located, has radius R. The access point is located on the axis of cylinder ,representing the coverage on the floors above and below the one on which access point is located, have radius R , which is less than R. The height of each of the three cylinders can be thought of building. These three cylinders can be thought of as a single object, which moves about as the location of the Access Point moves. The problem of locating of Access Points within a building can be viewed as a problem of locating these shapes within the building in such a way that all spaces are filled with as little overlap as possible, while coverage volumes are not actually perfect cylinders, one can find the average coverage radius inside a building and use this as the radius of an idealized cylindrical coverage volume. This can be achieved by defining an acceptable signal strength threshold and determining the average distance from Access Point at which signals fall below the threshold.

12.2)

Design Procedure

The initial selection of Access Point location begins with a complete set of signal strength measurement within the building. Signal strength measurements should be made in all areas of building with particular attention to the buildings construction so that characteristics within each part of the building are understood. These measurements have two purpose.1>To divide the building into spaces that are relatively isolated from each other from a propagation perspective and to determine the typical coverage radius of Access Point. Signal strength measurements should be taken to determine the same floor coverage radius R and the adjacent floor coverage age R of Access Point. Access Points can be placed within a building in an array that is either linear array shown in figure each of these shows how Access Points can be located in a single floor needing wireless LAN coverage. It is only necessary to locates the Access Points C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 21

WIRELESS FIDELITY in a way that provides coverage throughout the floor and also minimizes as far as possible the overlap between and among Access Point coverage areas. A linear array is used when the building is narrow relative to R, and a rectangular array when the building width is large relative to R. On the hand, in a building that requires coverage on more than one floor, adjacent floor coverage must be considered in locating each Access Point. Usually, a staggered approach is used. As one moves along the length or width of a building, one places Access Points first on one floor and then on an adjacent floor. In this case the coverage of the next Access Points same floor coverage. As in a single floor building , a linear array is used when the building is narrow relative to R, and a rectangular array when the building width is large relative to R. We illustrate by using four scenarios or situations one will encounter when designing an indoor wireless network. Each is determined by whether the building is single story and by the width of the building relative to R and R. In each case we give the appropriate out approach and list the figure that illustrates it. Solid lines show coverage on a floor and dashed lines show adjacent floor coverage. Scenario 1: Single floor linear array, illustrated in this figure Single story building or a building that requires wireless coverage on only one floor whose width (smallest outer dimension ) is not large relative to R, D denotes the distance between adjacent Access Points.

Scenario 2: Single floor rectangular array illustrated in the figure .A single story building (or a building that requires wireless coverage on only one floor) whose width (smallest outer dimension) is large relative to R. D denotes the distance between two Access Points. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 22

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Scenario 3: Multi floor linear array illustrated in this figure .A multi story building whose width is not large relative to R and R, D denotes the distance between adjacent Access points on different floors. Scenario 4: Multi floor rectangular array, illustrated in figure. Multi story building whose width ( smallest outer dimension) is large relative to R and R, D denotes the distance between adjacent Access Points on the same floor and D denotes the distance between adjacent Access Points on different floors.

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13. WI-FI VS BLUETOOTH

As wi-fi continuous its expansion the much hyped personal area networking technology known a bluetooth is recently enter the market. Bluetooth is designed to provide short range connectivity for peripheral such as keyboards, speakers, and headsets. It is design to support low data rate (721kbps) and limited rage(10m) in order to achieve low coast. When you compare bluetooth with wi-fi you will find the bluetooth is short wire replacement for the mask of the cable. Bluetooth also have network capabilities to maximum of seven users, with one machine as masters on the other hand wi-fi is long wire wireless network replacement technology, it is design to allow user to lock on to the office/business network. Concerning the technical deference, wi-fi users the packet switching multipoint technology as the Ethernet where as Bluetooth users a much simpler time division techniques. Some problem that Bluetooth face is the Microsofts most recent operating system, Windows-XP does not support the bluetooth. The current price for Bluetooth chip sets is still considerably above the target price US$5. In fact still same range of wi-fi chip sets us $20 to us $30.

14. WI-FI SECURITY

Here are a few simple steps you can take to maximize the security of your wireless network and to protect your data from prying eyes and ears. This section is intended for the home, home office and small office user. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 24

WIRELESS FIDELITY Turn on WEP ( Wired Equivalent Privacy) Change your default password If possible than close your network Change your network name Move your access point Use MAC control tables Other simple solutions Use VPN (Virtual Private Network) Enterprise level User Authentication via 802.1x and EAP

1> Turn on WEP Most important: Turn on WEP(Wired Equivalent Privacy). WEP is the underlying security technology provided by the Wi-Fi (802.11b) standard. Even though WEP is not perfect, it does provide basic security. Some experts say that from 60 to 80 percent of all wireless LAN networks operate with WEP not turned on. Most home and small office Wi-Fi systems provide 40-bit (also called 64-bit) WEP encryption. To make initial installation simple, most Wi-Fi access points ship with WEP turned off. So once you have your network turned on and working, make sure you activate WEP by following the instructions in your manufacturer's instructions. You can also increase your security by periodically changing the encryption key.If you're concerned about privacy, change your code every week or two. If you're very concerned, change it more often or use an advanced security technology such as 802.1x, which can change your WEP code automatically every 5 minutes or so. 2> Change your default pass word Most wireless networks ship with a default password provided by the manufacturer. Change it as soon as possible. Most hackers can easily figure out the default password once they identify the make of your network access point. 3> Close your Network If possible, block the SSID (Service Set Identifier) from being broadcast. This has the effect of "closing" your network. Many Wi-Fi systems enable you to close the network.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY All access points ship with a wireless beacon signal so that wireless PCs can more easily find them. In effect, the signal is shouting, "I'm here! Log on!" By turning the SSID off or by "closing" your network, you make it much harder for hackers to find you: If they don't know your network exists, there's less chance they will spend the time to crack your communications. So, If your equipment permits you to close the network, make sure you do so. 4> Change your Network name Most access points ship with a default Network name. When your network is up and running you should change the name to something personal, yet hard to guess. 5> Move your access point To increase privacy, place your access point in the middle of the room, away from open windows and doors. The more metal and wood you put in the way, the less distance your wireless messages can travel. You can test how much of your signal is escaping from your business or home by taking your Wi-Fi equipped laptop outside and checking to see how far you can go and still make a connection. You might be surprised. 6> Use MAC control tables Use MAC (Medium Access Control) tables if your access point supports them. Like all networking devices, a Wi-Fi radio, has a unique MAC address coded into its memory. By using the MAC Access Control List (ACL), you can limit the wireless connection to only those Wi-Fi radios whose MAC addresses are directly enabled in your access point. It's like call blocking on a telephone, but for a wireless LAN. If a rogue wireless radio with a MAC address that is not in this table tries to connect to your network, your access point will not let it. 7> Other simple solutions There are various ways to set up your computer's directories and network to protect your stored files and data. One way is to turn off "Sharing" and use "Passwords" to access directories holding confidential files. Sharing and Passwords are accessed in Windows by right clicking on the directory and going to the "Properties" command. Also see Windows networking tips and secrets. Remember that most web sites that handle purchases, credit cards and other financial information usually use encryption methods such as SSL(secure socket layer) to protect sensitive data. So most financial data transmitted over the Internet is already encoded from the time it leaves your computer until it reaches the web site. 8> Use Virtual Private Network

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WIRELESS FIDELITY Many large companies use VPN (Virtual Private Network) technologies for staff that need to remotely access the company's corporate database. VPN systems also work for Wi-Fi wireless networks. A VPN creates a virtual tunnel from your computer through the local wireless access point, through the Internet, and then to your corporate headquarters. Even though it can be complicated and expensive, using VPN creates an almost impenetrable wall of security for your wireless communications whether you're working from home, an airport lounge or your company's meeting rooms. 9> Enterprise level User Authentication via 802.1x and EAP WEP has almost no user authentication mechanism. To strengthen user authentication, Wi-Fi protected Access implements 802.1x and the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). To gather, these implementations provide a framework for strong user authentication. This framework utilizes a central authentication server, such as RADIUS, to authenticate each user on the network before they join it, and also employs mutual authentication so that the wireless user does not accidentally join a rogue network that might steal its network credentials.

15. ADVANTAGES OF WI-FI

1> 2> It is fast and reliable. It has long range. 1000 ft or 305m in open areas and 250ft to 400ft or 76m to 122m in closed area. 3> 4> 5> Easily integrated into existing wired Ethernet networks. Compatible with original 802.11 DSSS devices. Allows you to connect internet from anywhere.

6> It give certification to you means you will be able to connect anywhere where there are certified products. 7> No need to initiate connection when up and running automatic connection when approaching 802.11 network.

16. PROBLEMS WITH WI-FI

1> 2> Speed can fluctuate significantly. There is a problem in selection of frequency.

3> If the range of radio signal is less then ,one should have to put repeater and amplifier in between. C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 27

WIRELESS FIDELITY 4> Wi-Fi works on radio signal. It is not provide user privacy because any simple radio receiver can receive the radio signals. So there should be tight security for it unlike wired network. 5> 6> There will be a problem of multi path fading. Collision avoidance is the big issue for it.

17. APPLICATION AREAS OF WI-FI

Wireless networking is applicable to all industries with a need for mobile computer usage or when the installation of physical media is not feasible. Such networking is especially useful when employees must process information on the spot directly in front of customers, via electronic based forms and interactive menus. Wireless networking makes it possible to place portable computers in the hands of mobile front line workers such as doctors, nurses, warehouse clerks, inspectors, claims adjusters, real estate agents, and insurance sales people.

Installation In Difficult to wire Areas

The implementation of Wi-Fi networks offers many tangible cost savings when performing installations in difficult to wire areas. If rivers, freeways, or the other obstacles separate building you want to connect, a Wi-Fi solution may be much more economical than installing physical cable or leasing communication circuits, such as T1 service or 56Kbps lines. Some organizations spend thousands or even millions of dollars to install physical links with near by facilities. If you are facing this type of installation, consider wireless networking as an alternative. The deployment of wireless networking in these situations costs thousands of dollars, but will result in a definite cost savings in the long run.

A Wi-Fi solution in an Historic Building

An observatory in Australia has provided stargazing to astronomy enthusiasts for nearly 140 years. Built in 1858 the observatory is classified by the National Trust as one of Australias historical buildings. When the observatory began investigating ways to share these views of space with a much broader audience, the obvious solution was to download images to multiple PCs and large screens via a local area network. Due to the historical nature of the building however cabling was not an option. Very thick sandstone walls and historic plaster ceilings could not be easily drilled into and strings of cable would have been unsightly and unsafe to the public. The observatory installed Lucent Wi-Fi radio cards in each of their eight PCs and the network server. Telescopic images are downloaded from the Internet or from C.U.Shah College Of Engineering And Technology 28

WIRELESS FIDELITY electronic cameras housed in the observatorys telescopes. These images are then displayed on the various PCs for individual viewing or on larger monitors for group viewing.

Retail
Retail organization need to order, price, sell and keep inventories of merchandise. A wireless network in a retail environment enables clerks and storeroom personnel to perform their functions directly from the sales floor. Sales people are equipped with a pen based computer or a small computing device with bar code reading and printing capability, with the wireless link to the stores database. They are then able to complete transactions such as pricing, bin labeling, placing special orders, and taking inventory from anywhere within the store.

Warehouse
Warehouse staff must manage the receiving, putting away, inventory and picking and shipping of goods. These responsibilities require the staff to be mobile. Warehouse operations have traditionally been a paper intensive and time consuming environment. An organization can eliminate paper, reduce errors, and decrease the time necessary to move items in and out, however, by giving each warehouse employee a handheld computing device with a bar code scanner interfaced via a wireless network to a warehouse inventory system.Upon receiving an item for storage within the warehouse, a clerk can scan the items bar coded item number and enter other information from a small keypad into the database via the handheld device. The system can respond with a location by printing a put away label. A forklift operator can then move the item to a storage place and account for the procedure by scanning the items bar code. The inventory system keeps track of all transactions, making it very easy to produce accurate inventory reports. As shipping orders enter the warehouse, the inventory system produces a list of the items and their locations. A clerk can view this list from the database via a handheld device and locate the items needed to assemble a shipment. As the clerk removes the items from the storage bins, the database can be updated via handheld device. All these functions depend heavily on wireless networks to maintain real time access to data stored in a central database.

Healthcare
Healthcare centers such as hospitals and doctors offices, must maintain accurate records to ensure effective patient care. A simple mistake can cost someones life. As a result, doctors and nurses must carefully record test results, physical data, pharmaceutical orders, and surgical procedures. This paperwork often overwhelms healthcare staff, taking 50 to 70 percent of their time.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY Doctors and nurses are also extremely mobile, going from room to room caring for patients. The use of electronic patient records, with the ability to input, view, and update patient data from anywhere in the hospital, increase the accuracy and speed of healthcare. This improvement is possible by providing each nurse and doctor with a wireless pen base computer, coupled with a wireless network to databases that store critical medical information about the patients. A doctor carrying for someone in the hospital, for example can place an order for a blood test by keying the request into a handheld computer. The laboratory will receive the order electronically and dispatch lab technician to draw blood from the patient. The laboratory will run the tests requested by the doctor and enter the result into the patients electronic medical records. The doctor can then check the results via the handheld appliance from anywhere in the hospital. Another application for wireless networks in hospitals is the tracking of pharmaceuticals. The use of mobile handheld barcode printing and scanning devices dramatically increases the efficiency and accuracy of all drug transactions such as receiving, picking, dispensing, inventory taking and the tracking of drug expiration dates. Most importantly, however, it ensures that hospital staff can administer the right drug to the right person in a timely fashion. This would not be possible without the use of wireless network to support a centralized database and mobile data collection devices.

Real Estate
Real estate salespeople perform a great deal of their work away from the office, usually talking with customers at the property being sold or rented. Before leaving the office, salespeople normally identify a few sites to saw customers print Multiple Listing. Service (MLS) information that describes the property and than drive to each location with the potential buyer. If the customer is unhappy with the round of sites, the real estate agent must drive back to the office and run more listings. Even if the customer decides to purchase the property, they must both go back to the real estate office to finish paper work that completes the sale. Wireless networking make the sales of real estate much more efficient. The real estate agent can use a computer away from the office to access wireless MLS records. IBMs Mobile Networking Group and Software Corporation of America, for example, make wireless MLS information available that enables real estate agents to access information about properties such as descriptions, showing instructions, out standings loans and pricing. An agent can also use a portable computer and printer to produce contracts and loan applications for signing at the point of sale.

Hospitality
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WIRELESS FIDELITY Hospitality establishments check customers in and out and keep track of needs, such as room service orders and laundry requests. Restaurants need to keep track of the names and numbers of people waiting for entry, table status and drink and food orders. Restaurants staff must perform these activities quickly and accurately to avoid making patrons unhappy. Wireless networking satisfies these needs very well. Wireless computers are very useful in the situations where there is a large crowd such as a restaurant. For example someone can greet restaurants patterns at the door and enter their names, the size of the party and smoking preferences into a common database via wireless device. The greeter can then query the database and determine the availability of an appropriate table. Those who oversee the tables would also have a wireless device used to update the database to show whether the table is occupied, being cleaned or available. After obtaining a table the waiter transmits the order to the kitchen via the wireless device, eliminating the need for paper order tickets.

Utilities
Utility companies operate and maintain a highly distributed system that delivers power and natural gas to industries and residencies. Utility companies must continually monitor the operation of the electrical distribution systems and gas lines and must check usage meters at least monthly to calculate bills. Traditionally, this means person must travel from location to location, enter residencies and company facilities, record information and then enter the data at a service or computing center. Today, utility companies employee wireless networks to support the automation of meter reading and system monitoring, saving time and reducing overhead costs. Kansas City Power and Light operates one of the largest wireless metering systems, serving more than 150,000 customers in eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. This system employs a monitoring device at each customer site that take periodic meter readings and sent the information back to database that tracks usage levels and calculates bills, avoiding the need for the staff of meter readers.

18.THE FUTURE OF WI-FI

Intel put aside $150 million of this fund to invest in Wi-Fi initiatives. Intel expects to introduce its Banias processors for mobile devices during the first half of 2004, said a company spokes woman. Banias is a low power processor designed specifically for mobile devices that includes integrated 802.11a and 802.11b wireless capabilities. Cometa aims to roll out a nationwide Wi-Fi network and sell exclusively through the channel, said Lawrence Brilliant, CEO of Cometa, in a recent interview with CRN.

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WIRELESS FIDELITY Looking to Wi-Fi rather than 3G , BT (British Telco) has installed some 80 Wi-Fi hotspots, called Openzone in Hilton hotels, airports and motorway service stations across the UK, and has agreements to put in place another 40. BT believes that Wi-Fi which is expected to be half the price of 3G and three times faster is will be the fastest growing mobile technology. The Hilton hotel group, which was one of the first business to trial BT open zone, has allowed the installation of wi-fi hotspots in 36 of their hotels across England, Scotland and Wales. Hilton has agreed to install 15 more hotspots at further hotels in the near feature. The company hopes to have 400 hotspots by summer this year and 4000 by June 2005. In the future it is expected that BTs wi-fi hotspots will also reach railway stations.

19. CONCLUSION
Wi-fi has all the making of a pervasive, explosive technology, huge growth, a strong value proposition, multiple and expanding uses, industry standardization, and global standardization. The technologys flaws are nothing more than speed bumps, given the billions of dollars of R and D already poured into this space. Last and most importantly, there is plenty of running room as we move from the corporation to the home to the campus to the airport to the hotel and potentially to a citywide, may he nationwide, level. This truly is next big thing. After the research of wireless fidelity we can conclude that the wi-fi is the better option for fast and reliable access of your network at any where.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS:
IEEE Communication Magazine November 2001, vol 39 Information Technology March 2002 Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tenenbaum Electronics For you, February 2003 PC Quest, August 2003

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WEBSITES:
www.wireless.com www.howstuffworks.com www.weca.net www.accc.uic.edu/seminars/wireless www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk www.mobileinfo.com www.nwfusion.com

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