WiFi_vo

This material was developed with funding from the National Science Foundation

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Wireless Technologies

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Wireless Technologies

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Wi-Fi 802.11

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Threeway Hand Shake

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Wireless technology enables communication between two or more devices over distances without the use of wires or cables; communication uses radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) waves. Wireless technology transmits electromagnetic signals over the air. Interference and obstacles can block RF signals. This technology allows users to communicate simultaneously over the same medium without their signals interferring with one another because RF and IR signals can be generated at different frequencies (hertz, Hz) that do not interfere with each other.

Technologies

Wireless Cellular Networks 802.16

Wireless Specialty Networks 802.15

Different Wi-Fi routers can have different power levels. Some are stronger and have more transimitting power; some have a better receive sensitivity.

Decrease Distance

Obstacles

Click on the buttons below to see how each affects transmission speed.

Any obstacle in a signal's way will slow the signal and weaken it.

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If there are too many devices operating in the same frequency, interference occurs.

Radio Quality

Click to continue

Speed

Increase Distance

Interference

As the distance increases, the speed of the signal decreases and also weakens.

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Distance

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A radio technology that uses a very low energy level for short-range, high-bandwidth communications. It operates at very high frequencies and can be used to capture highly accurate spatial and directional data. UWB-enabled devices like a smartphone, smartwatch, or smart key starts “ranging” when it is near another UWB device. Ranging means that it is calculating the time of flight between devices. This process achieves greater accuracy and allows these devices to understand both motion and relative position.

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Devices can transmit over long distances by passing data through a mesh network of intermediate devices to reach more distant ones. Personal area networks use small, low-power digital radios for home automation industrial control systems, or medical device data collection.Zigbee is low-power, low data rate, and close proximity.

Zwave

Ultra-Wide Band

Wireless specialty networks (WSN) include wireless personal area networks (WPANs), Bluetooth, Internet of Things networks, mesh networks, body area networks, wearables, and visible light communications.

Bluetooth relies on short-range radio frequency to allow devices to communicate with each other as long as the devices are within the required range. Bluetooth does not require internet access. Since it uses radio waves to communicate between devices, it does not require a clear line of sight to pair.Most Bluetooth devices have a maximum connectivity range of about 30 feet, and that distance decreases when obstacles (such as a wall) are present.

Bluetooth

802.15

Click on each type of WSN

Zigbee

Z-wave uses a mesh network and low-energy radio waves to communicate from device to device. It is primarily used in smart home networks to allow smart devices to connect and exchange control command and data. Z-wave's transmission rate is 100 kpbs (Zigbee transmits data at 250 kbps).A smart home hub such as newer models of Alexa can control Z-wave

802.11a

In 2013, WiFi 5 introduced multi-user, multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) which allows communications with up to four devices per channel download only. WiFi 5 works only on the 5 GHz frequency.

Theoretical Speed Transmission Frequency Range Reliability/ Capacity

802.11b

In 2019, WiFi 6 introduced high-efficiency wireless (HEW) based on an improved version of MU-MIMO. It supports eight devices per channel simultaneously with both download and upload resulting in decreased latency and increased bandwidth. WiFi 6 also increased sub-channel communication allowing up to 37 clients per channel. Target Wake Time helps clients conserve battery life.

6.9 - 9.6 Gbps 2.4 and 5 GHz 100 m Muti User Multi Input Multi Output MU-MIMO download only

Megabits per second (Mbps) measures how many megabits can be uploaded or downloaded over the network per second The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is vital for wireless communications infrastructure, and there are several distinct radio frequency bands used Three main factors influence Wi-Fi range: 1) the access point or router; 2) the structure you are in; 3) the wireless standard you are using Something that is consistently good in quality or performance The number of users that can be supported simultaeously (upload and download)

In 2003, WiFi 3 was introduced to bbe backward compatible with both 802.11a and 802.11b, and speed improved compared to 802.11b.

In 2022, WiFi 7 introduced Extremely High Throughput Wireless (EHTW), a Multi-link Operation (MLO) which enables a client and access point (AP) to use multiple bands simultaneously to pass data. MU-MIMO enhancement to 16 devices per channel download and upload.

802.11g

30 Gbps max 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz 100 m Multi User Multi Input Multi Output MU-MIMO download/upload

802.11n

54 Mbps 2.4 GHz 100 m Single Input Single Output SISO

54 Mbps 5 GHz 100 m Single Input Single Output SISO

802.11

802.11ac

In 1999, WiFi 2 was developed for commercial applications and was faster than 802.1b. It provided more channels for greater coverage.

11 Mbps max 2.4 GHz 100 m Single Input Single Output SISO

802.11ax

600 Mbps 2.4 or 5 GHz 100 m Dual Input Dual Output DIDO

802.11be

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In 2009, WiFi 4 introduced the single user multiple-input-multiple-output (SU MIMO), a technology that allows the use of multiple antennas to transmit more data by combining indendent data streams.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) developed and maintain a set of standards that provide the basis for wireless network products. The Wi-Fi standard has expanded to provide enhanced communication speeds, reliability, and security. These standards use new communication frequencies.

In 1999, WiFi 1 was developed for consumer applications and was less expensive.

2.3 - 6.9 Gbps 5 GHz 100 m Single User Multi Input Multi Output SU-MIMO

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What is Wi-Fi?

We rely on wireless networks for everything from our phone to our refrigerator. More and more devices now operate using a wireless Internet connection. We use a wireless technology known as Wi-Fi to connect computers, tables, smartphones, and other smart devices to the Internet. Wi-Fi is the radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device. The device translates the signal into the data the user sees, and then transmists a radio signal back to the router (which connects to the Internet).

Devices

All newer computers, phones, tablets, and routers

Frequency

2.5GHz

Shorter range Low Interference Higher speeds

Characteristics

5GHz

Older routers and clients, IoT devices and sensors

Wi-Fi signals use two frequency bands. Each frequency band is divided into multiple channels. Drag the red slide to reveal more information on each frequency.

Longer range Higher Interference Lower speeds

Multiple Devices (download/upload)

Some wireless standards could only server one client at a time.Each device can send or receive data, then it waits while the other devices are served.Newer standards allowed for several devices to be served simultaneously.Eary standards only allowed simultaneous operations for download data, newer standards suported both download and upload simultaneously.

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Devices served simultaneously (download only)

Serving

Devices served simultaneously

1st

2nd

Capacity

Single Device

3rd

Multiple Devices (download only)

Single device at a time

Dual Input Dual Output (DIDO)

Reliability

Single User - Multi Input Multi Output (SU-MIMO)

click each of the routers to see technology improvements

Multi User - Multi Input Multi Output (MU-MIMO Download Only)

Single Input Single Output (SISO)

A reliable wireless network can perform a set under many determined conditions. In wireless communication, the two most important factors are dealing with interference and obstacles.

Multi User - Multi Input Multi Output (MU-MIMO Download/Upload)

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WCDMA

CDMA

Extremely high speed, low latency

100 MHz

2001

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High security, international roaming

Each generation (G) defines a set of telephone network standards that describe the technologies implemented for a specific mobile phone system. The first generation, 1G, introduced in 1979 used analog technology. In 1991, 2G was launched based on digital technology. It was also the first Internet system (unfortunately, data rates were poor).

With rapid data transfer speeds, 4G offered buffer-free video streaming and provided a path to connect IoT devices and services.

LTE, WIMAX

OFDM, BDMA

Internet service

Click on each generation to build the table

5G functions across a larger spectrum of radio frequencies. This allows carriers to increase network services in the ultra-high mmWave bands. 5G has increased download speeds and reduced latency.

Packet switching

Packet switching except for air interference

Wireless World Wide Web

Ultra broadband

Advantage

Broadband

25 MHz

The transition to 3G provided increased network speeds and introduced internet connectivity and web browsing.

2018

Year introduced

High resolution video streaming, remote control of vehicles, robots and medical procedures

2009

Switching type

High speed applications, mobile TV, wearable devices

Applications

Cellular

30 GHz to 300 GHZ

Video conferencing, mobile TV, GPS

Bandwidth

802.16

Access system

802.16 is a set of broadband wireless access standards for wireless metropolitan area networks and is known as WirelessMAN or WiMAX, the commercialized name.

Speed, high speed handoffs, global mobility

MIMO, mm Waves

Technology

There are several factors that affect the performance of your Wi-Fi network:

Wi-Fi Performance

Capacity is the volume of data and number of wireless clients or devices supported in a service area.

Transmission speed is the rate that the data gets between an access point and a wireless device.

Transmission frequency is the channel used to transmit the radio signal. These frequencies are like AM/FM radio or Television channels. Different channels transmit different information.

A reliable wireless network performs under many conditions and can deal with the two most important factors--interference and obstacles.