Research Paper on Wireless-Fidelity (WI-FI)

Introduction

Wireless Fidelity (WI-FI) is an advanced technology meant for WLAN network with IEEE 802.11 standards-based devices. WI-FI is a trademark that restricts using of wireless fidelity to devices that have passed the certification Interoperability test (CIT). Products eligible to apply the wireless fidelity technology are consoles of video games, computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, audio players, digital cameras and finally the modern-technology printers. Wireless fidelity devices are connected to internet through WLAN and the APs. An Access Points is a hotspot that has a range of connectivity of about 66 feet (20 meters).

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The coverage of WI-FI is small in rooms having walls that intercept and block the radio waves, or it can be large by the application of several overlapping points of access. Wi-Fi uses 2.4 GHz UHF and a 5.8 GHz SHF ISM that are twelve and five centimeters respectively. These elements of Wi-Fi enables any individual who has a wireless modem and is in range can access the network. However, Wi-Fi is vulnerable to attacks like those that hacking (referred to eavesdropping) compared to other networks. WPA is a Wi-Fi Protected Access that is a composition of technologies aimed at protection the information transferable across the Wi-Fi networks besides having solutions for enterprise and personal networks. Features of WPA technology are the application of strong passwords and advanced changes in the security landscape (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al. 12).

The history of Wi-Fi dates back to 1971 when ALOHA net managed to connect the Islands of Hawaii b using UHF packets of a wireless network. ALOHA net and its protocol were the earliest forerunners to the invention and innovation of Ethernet followed by the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi protocols. The U.S. communication commission in 1985 released the first ISM band for use. The ISM bands are similar to those used by devices like ovens, microwaves subject to the interface. The AT&T and NCR corporations invented precursor to IEEE in 1991 aimed for cashier systems under the WaveLAN. The first version of IEEE 802.11 protocol launched in 1997 that gave a speed of 2 megabits per second and was later upgraded to 11Mbits per second (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al., 10).

An Australian radio astronomer with his colleagues developed a patent critically used in the wireless fidelity by the product of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research project (CSIR). In the current world, the application of Wi-Fi has ease communication and transfer of files from one person to the other. Wi-Fi Is has enhanced secure connection communication globally since one can communicate with another person when his or her communication devices are connected to Wi-Fi despite the difference in the geographical area. In addition, Wi-Fi assists in information access seen by libraries installing Wi-Fi to facilitate online learning (Yu, Jiguo, et al., 2).

Wireless Networks

WLAN

A WLAN is a wireless local area network that can connect above two devices over small distances with the aid of wireless distribution technique that gives a link to internet by access point (AP). The application of spread-spectrum technologies enable the users of this kind of wireless technology to move around within the area of network coverage and remain connected. The devices using the IEEE 802.11 standards of the WLAN network are marketed under the brand name of Wi-Fi. In addition, the technology of fixed wireless connects computers or networks at two locations by the use point-to-point links. This kind of technology is commonly used in the microwave or even the laser light (modulated) over a line of sight. The WLAN network is applicable in connecting cities and two buildings without the installation of a wired connection or link as long as the distance is within the coverage (Yu, Jiguo, et al., 1).

Mobile Network

A cellular (mobile) network is a Radio-distributed network across land areas referred as cells. Every area is served by a single base station. Each cell cite characteristically applies unique radio frequencies from other neighboring cells that neighbor it for prevention against any interference or disturbance with frequencies. As a result, joining these cells together provides a vast radio coverage geographically that enables many portable transceivers like pagers and mobile phones to communicate through the cell sites (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al., 6).

Under the cellular network, there has been advancement in technology through the application of Global System for Mobile Communications abbreviated (GSM). The GSM has three systems that are the operation support, switching and finally the base station systems. A mobile or cell phone connects to the base station that links the support and operating system. After the connection, it progressively links to the switching system where there is a transfer of calls to the right receivers. The GSM is the popular standard used by the cellphones. Another advancement in the mobile network is the Personal Communication Service. Southern Asia and North America uses this kind of radio band (Yu, Jiguo, et al., 1).

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN is a wireless network covering a large geographical area. These areas can be neighboring cities, towns or even suburbs. This kind of network connects branch offices or other entities. The wireless connection between AP is applicable in microwaves, point-to-point links by using on a 2.4 GHz band-parabolic dishes. The band is applicable instead of the omnidirectional antennas that are applicable in smaller networks. This kind of network entails access points (APs), gateways, bridging relays and other forms of configurations like mesh systems. In the mesh system, every access functions is like a relay (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al. 7).

Wireless Networking Components

The components of wireless networks include transmitters responsible for transmission, Access points, gateways and Integrated circuits that give power to the entire system to enable the functioning of the components. Wireless networks use access points (AP) referred as wireless access points (WAP) that provide a gateway to a wired network and the WLAN adapter that enables the connection between the PC client and the AP. An AP connects directly to a DSL modem (wired network) and provides the wireless links several wireless adapters. The wireless adapters connect clients to the wireless networks. Also, a PtP like can be part of the tree star and other types of topologies used in wireless networks (Yu, Jiguo, et al., 2).

Operation Modes

A single AP of a WI-FI can connect approximately 30 users and operate within a range of about 100-150 feet indoors beside the 300 feet outdoor area of coverage. 802.11b uses two modes of operation that are the infrastructure and ad hoc networks. The ad hoc network is a self-contained station groups with no connection to the internet or LAN. Ad hoc can contain more than two wireless stations and does not have internet connections or access to the rest of the universe. It is peer-to-peer networks or Independent Basic Service Sets. The infrastructure network, on the other hand, has more than one AP called the Basic Service Set. The EES is, therefore, an interconnection of BBC via the same backbone (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al. 12).

Infrastructure Mode

The infrastructure mode of wireless networks includes the ring, star, mesh fully connected, tree line and bus modes. The star infrastructure is applicable in Hotspots, offices, telecenters and WISP's. It is applicable to the connect point to Multi-point and the infrastructure used by wireless network. In a full- mesh network topology, every node directly connects to other nodes. Partial mesh network on the other hand connects every node to certain nodes in the network but not all like in the full mesh topology. The nodes in the mesh topology run similar protocol routing and can be of different hard and software as long as they are compatible with the specifications of the mesh protocol (Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al. 12).

Distribution System

A distribution system is a mechanism where the nodes and Access points in wired IP subnetwork communicate and have a stable link between each other. As a result, in a Distribution System (DS) the application of an Inter-Access- Point Protocol is important for the layer-link mobility. When there is a movement of a wireless station from one BBS to another, there must update all databases of the individual nodes. This is ensures that the distribution system of the wireless network (DS) can be able to distribute packets through the right Access point (Yu, Jiguo, et al., 1).

Work Cited

Mohamed, Ahmed Faisal Toda, et al. Performance Analysis of WLAN and WiMAX Integration. Diss. Sudan University of Science and Technology, 2017.

Yu, Jiguo, et al. Hierarchical Topology Control for Wireless Networks: Theory, Algorithms, and Simulation. CRC Press, 2018.