WIRELESS NETWORKS

WIRELESS NETWORKS HAVE NETWORK SIGNALS THAT ARE NOT

DIRECTLY TRANSMITTED BY ANY TYPE OF FIBER OR CABLE.
HOWEVER, WIRELESS SWITCHES AND HUBS ARE USUALLY
CONNECTED TO THE CORE NETWORK WITH SOME TYPE OF
COPPER OR FIBER-OPTIC BACKBONE CABLING MEDIA.
IN THIS CHAPTER, YOU WILL LEARN TO:

• Understand how infrared wireless systems work

• Know the types of RF wireless networks
• Understand how microwave communication works and its
advantages and disadvantages
INFRARED TRANSMISSIONS

Infrared (IR) transmissions are signal transmissions that use

infrared radiation as their transmission method. Infrared
radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has a
wavelength longer than visible light with less energy.
HOW INFRARED TRANSMISSIONS WORK

• The infrared transmissions travel through the air and consist

of infrared radiation that is modulated in order to encode the
LAN data.
• Point-to-point and broadcast are the two types of infrared
transmission.
POINT-TO-POINT
INFRARED
TRANSMISSION
• Point-to-point infrared
transmissions are those infrared
transmissions that use tightly
focused beams of infrared
radiation to send information or
control information over a
distance.
• Frequency range. Infrared light
usually uses the lowest range of
light frequencies, between
100GHz and 1,000THz
(terahertz).
• Cost. The cost depends on the kind of equipment used. Long-distance
systems, which typically use high-power lasers, can be very expensive.
Equipment that is mass-produced for the consumer market and that can be
adapted for network use is generally inexpensive.
• Installation. Infrared point-to-point requires precise alignment. Take extra
care if highpowered lasers are used, because they can damage or burn eyes.
• Capacity. Data rates vary from 100Kbps to Gigabit Ethernet.
• Attenuation. The amount of attenuation depends on the quality of emitted
light and its purity, as well as general atmospheric conditions and signal
obstructions. Rain, fog, dust and heat can all affect the ability to transmit a
signal.
• EMI. Infrared transmission can be affected by intense visible light. Tightly
focused beams are fairly immune to eavesdropping because tampering
usually becomes evident by the disruption in the signal. Furthermore, the area
in which the signal may be picked up is very limited.
BROADCAST
INFRARED
TRANSMISSION
• Broadcast infrared systems
spread the signal to a wider
area and allow reception of the
signal by several receivers.
One of the major advantages
is mobility; the workstations or
other devices can be moved
more easily than with point-to-
point infrared media.
• Frequency range Infrared
systems usually use the lowest
range of light frequencies,
from 100GHz to 1,000THz.
• Cost. The cost of infrared equipment depends on the quality of light required.
Typical equipment used for infrared systems is quite inexpensive. High-power
laser equipment is much more expensive.
• Installation. Installation is fairly simple. When devices have clear paths and
strong signals, they can be placed anywhere the signal can reach, making
reconfiguration easy. One concern should be the control of strong light
sources that might affect infrared transmission.
• Capacity. Although data rates are most often less than 1Mbps, it is
theoretically possible to reach much higher throughput.
• Attenuation. Broadcast infrared, like point-to-point, is affected by the quality
of the emitted light and its purity and by atmospheric conditions. Because
devices can be moved easily, however, obstructions are generally not of great
concern.
• EMI. Intense light can dilute infrared transmissions. Because broadcast
infrared transmissions cover a wide area, they are more easily intercepted for
eavesdropping.
ADVANTAGES OF INFRARED

• Relatively inexpensive
• High bandwidths
• No FCC license required
• Ease of installation
• High security on point-to-point connections
• Portability
DISADVANTAGES OF INFRARED

• Line-of-sight needed for focused transmissions

• Weather attenuation
RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SYSTEMS

• Radio frequency (RF) transmission systems are those network

transmission systems that use radio waves to transmit data.
In late 1999, RF transmission systems saw a sharp increase
in use. Many companies are installing RF access points in
their networks to solve certain mobility issues. The year 2003
saw the explosion of wireless hot spots (especially in coffee
shops, hotels, and airports).
HOW RF WORKS
• Radio waves have frequencies from 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 1
gigahertz (GHz), and RF systems use radio waves in this
frequency band. The range of the electromagnetic spectrum
from 10kHz to 1GHz is called radio frequency (RF).
• Radio waves can be broadcast either omnidirectionally or
directionally. Various kinds of antennas can be used to
broadcast radio signals. Typical antennas include the following:
• Omnidirectional towers
• Half-wave dipole
• Random-length wire
• Beam (such as the Yagi)
For computer network
applications, radio
waves are classified in
three categories:
• Low power,
single frequency
• High power,
single frequency
• Spread spectrum
ADVANTAGES OF RF

• No line-of-sight needed
• Low cost
• Flexible
DISADVANTAGES OF RF

• Susceptible to jamming and eavesdropping

• Susceptible to RF interference
• Limited range
MICROWAVE COMMUNICATIONS

• Microwave communications use powerful, focused beams of

energy to send communications over long distances.
HOW MICROWAVE COMMUNICATION
WORKS

• Microwave communication makes use of the lower gigahertz

frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. These
frequencies, which are higher than radio frequencies,
produce better throughput and performance than other types
of wireless communications.
Two types of
microwave data-
communications
systems:
• Terrestrial
• Satellite
ADVANTAGES OF MICROWAVE
COMMUNICATIONS

• Very high bandwidth

• Transmissions travel over long distances
• Signals can be point-to-point or broadcast
DISADVANTAGES OF MICROWAVE
COMMUNICATIONS

• Equipment is expensive
• Line-of-sight required
• Atmospheric attenuation
• Propagation delay
• Safety