Wireless Technology

United Arab Emirates

Al-Ain University of Science and Technology.

Wireless Technology Prepared by : Ajab AL Otaibi

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Introduction

If you want to make a call from your mobile, if you want to check your email from your PDA, if you want to receive a message in your pager, if you want to make data portable and if you don't want to have cable problems than all you need is wireless network. The term "wireless" has become a generic and allencompassing word used to describe communications in which electromagnetic waves or RF (rather than some form of wire) carry a signal over part or the entire communication path. Wireless operations permits services, such as long range communications, that are impossible or impractical to implement with the use of wires. The term is commonly used in the telecommunications industry to refer to telecommunications systems (e.g., radio transmitters and receivers, remote controls, computer networks, network terminals, etc.) which use some form of energy (e.g. radio frequency (RF), infrared light, laser light, visible light, acoustic energy, etc.) to transfer information without the use of wires. Information is transferred in this manner over both short and long distances. Wireless networking is the best option is sometimes necessary option when you build networks. Today, with lower prices for network equipment, this increasing the volume of demand for the use of networks and the growth of wireless networking, which was limited to large companies and institutions.

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What is the wireless Technology mean? Wireless communication is the transfer of information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or wires between devices and among devices. The distances involved may be short (a few meters as in television remote control) or long (thousands or millions of kilometers for radio communications). Wireless networks are many and diverse but are frequently categorized into three groups based on their coverage range: Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLANs), and Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN). Below is a table indicating the range that wireless data network can handle: Meters

Network

0-10

Personal Area Network

0-100

Local Area Network

0-10000

Wide Area Network

WWAN includes wide coverage area technologies such as 2G cellular, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and Mobitex. WLAN, representing wireless local area networks, includes 802.11, HiperLAN, and several others. WPAN represents wireless personal area network technologies such as Bluetooth, PDA, Laptops and IR. All of these technologies are “tether less”—they receive and transmit information using electromagnetic (EM) waves. The WIFI mean wireless Fidelity and It is a wireless LAN technology that enables PC,s and other devices to connect easily to the internet. The WIFI is faster and less expensive than standard Ethernet and other common wire-based LAN technology. The problem with WIFI it is that we can use it in small area like hospital, schools, etc. we have another wireless network technology it is a Wireless Metropolitan network (WIMAN). It is have same idea of WIFI but for long distances like for Cities and it is a powerful tool. The goal of WMAN is to provide high-speed wireless internet access and have a ability to cover large geographic areas without need to deploy wires. The WMAN standard has a

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range up to 30 miles with data rate of up to 70 Mbits per second. The table below shows the comparison between WMAN, WLAN and Bluetooth:

The problem with wireless network it is The Data rate it is less than wired network and the other problems with a wireless technology it s a security and protection and the Interference. The wireless technology have various types of fixed, mobile, and portable two way radios, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wireless networking. Other examples of wireless technology include GPS units, garage door openers and or garage doors, wireless computer mice keyboards and headsets, satellite television and cordless telephones. Bluetooth Bluetooth is a personal area network (PAN) standard and it is the most common WPAN technology. It is a low power and short range. The goal is to connect components without weirs. Bluetooth, the new technology was named after the 10th century Danish King Harold Bluetooth. It's a great opportunity if we want to connect scanners, Digital cameras, headsets, mobile phones etc by being brought within the range, no driver installation just turn them on and they will work.

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The problems with Wireless network and the solutions. Some time Your computer may show a very weak signal strength and Telephones, microwaves, or other appliances may interfere with the wireless signal. The signal quality may fluctuate, or even disappear altogether, in different parts of your office or home and the connection may be very slow. Security -1 Wired LANs are more secure than Wireless ones. As we now the Wireless signal will pass through walls which means that hackers does not even need to be inside the premises to access LAN, and be inside the firewall. Also it's easier to monitor the traffic on the network and so acquire user name and .passwords Network Card -2 Network card for wireless network are more expensive than those for wired networks. For example we can mention that the card for Ethernet start at 100 DHs and wireless card start at around 500 DHs. Even that the price is going down everyday more it still they cannot be as cheap as wire card cause they .are more complex one 3-The location for routers The biggest culprit for weak signals is the location of routers. Many routers are installed at less than ideal locations - under tables, in closets, in corners on the floor, and basements. Many are installed near the outer wall of a building. This results in weak signals on the other end of the building so you have to move it to the right place. 4- Move wireless router away from other wireless equipment Most wireless networks operate at 2.4MHz, the same frequency as older cordless telephones and other wireless gadgets. Signals from these gadgets may interfere with your router’s signals. You can try moving you router away from such equipment (or the equipment away from the router if you can’t move the router). 5

5- Get a high-gain antenna for your wireless router If you can’t more the router, you can try replacing your router’s antenna with a high-gain antenna. You can’t replace antennas on all routers, but you can do so on many newer models. 6- Install a repeater A repeater is a device for boosting wireless signals across greater distances. If your router’s signal is weak in a certain location in the building, you can place a repeater half way between the router and the location to boost the signal strength. 7- Upgrade your router’s firmware Log in to your router’s administration interface. You will usually find an option to upgrade its firmware. Most people install routers and forget about them. You may be surprised to find that your router has several firmware upgrades that you haven’t applied. 8- Try changing your router’s broadcast channel You may be experiencing weak or noisy signals simply because your router broadcasts on a channel that doesn’t work well at your location. Try changing the channel. You will find an option to change the channel in your router’s administration interface. Conclusion We live in exciting times, when hosts of emerging wireless technologies promise radical change in our modes of perception, interaction, democratic participation and time and information management. As new technology is developed, we will witness even greater change, which hopefully will benefit society, rather than harm it. In the meantime, we have an obligation to approach that technology with a certain degree of criticality.

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