WIRELESS TECHNICAL FUNDAMENTALS: TOPICS
Conversions
1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz
1 GHz = 1,000 MHz
1 GHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz
I.E.
- 2400 MHz is the same as 2.4 GHz
- 5800 MHz is the same as 5800 GHz
Hz = Radio Spectrum
Bits = data
M = 1,000,000
G = 1,000,000,000
There is a total of 83.3 MHz of Spectrum available in the 2.4 GHz Band
ISM
ISM: Industrial, Scientific, and Medical
UNI-I (or UNII)
Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure
RF FUNDAMENTALS
RF Communication
Full Duplex
- Radio TX and RX data simultaneously
- Requires a pair of Frequencies (one for TX and one for RX)
- Fastest means of data transfer
Both radios are transmitting and receiving at the same time on different radio frequencies.
Half Duplex
- Used by IEEE 802.11a,b,g and others
- Time Division Duplex (TDD)
- Bi-directional system
- Only one radio transmits at a time
- Radio buffers the data until it is its turns to transmit
- Operates only on one radio channel
- Typically less then half thru-put of the over-the-air data rate
Radios alternate transmit and receive on the same radio channel.
DEFINITIONS
dB
Difference (or ratio) between two signal levels. Generally used used to describe the effect of system devices on signal strength.
dBm
A signal strength level. 0 dBm is defined as 1 mW of power. Small signals are negative numbers. (e.g. - 83 dBm)
dBi
The gain of an antenna relative to an isotropic radiator. Used in calculating ERP and range.
NOTE: dB, dBm and dBi are used because systems’ powers, gains and losses can be calculated by simply adding and subtracting.
ERP
Effective Radiated Power, equal to the antenna gain added to the power into that antenna. (Technically, called EIRP.)
Gain and Loss
Effective Radiated Power (ERP)
dBm vs. Watts
dBm
0
1
2
3
6
10
15
20
30
33
36
40
50
60
Power
1.0 mW
1.3 mW
1.6 mW
2.0 mW
4.0 mW
10.0 mW
32.0 mW
100 mW
1 Watt
2 Watts
4 Watts
10 Watts
100 Watts
1.000 Watts
dBm = 10 log
dBm = 10 log dBm = 10 log
Example: Convert 250 mW to dBm
10 log
250
= 10 x 2.39 = 24dBm
1 mW
Rule Of Thumb
Double/Half Power:
Add/Subtract 3dB
Ten Times/One-tenth Power:
Add/Subtract 10dB
Spread Spectrum Technologies
Frequency Hopping (FHSS)
- The radio carrier hops around the band.
Direct Sequence (DSSS)
- The radio carrier signal is “spread out” on a specific channel
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Channels For DSSS System
802.11 Radio Channels
All Radios in One Network Operate on a Single Channel
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802.11b WiFi Channels
In the United States and Canada there are 11 channels available for use in the 802.11b 2.4GHz WiFi Frequency range. This standard is defined by the IEEE.
Channel | Lower Frequency | Center Frequency | Upper Frequency |
1 | 2.401 | 2.412 | 2.423 |
2 | 2.406 | 2.417 | 2.428 |
3 | 2.411 | 2.422 | 2.433 |
4 | 2.416 | 2.427 | 2.438 |
5 | 2.421 | 2.432 | 2.443 |
6 | 2.426 | 2.437 | 2.448 |
7 | 2.431 | 2.442 | 2.453 |
8 | 2.436 | 2.447 | 2.458 |
9 | 2.441 | 2.452 | 2.463 |
10 | 2.451 | 2.457 | 2.468 |
11 | 2.451 | 2.462 | 2.473 |
There are only 3 non-overlapping channels available in the 802.11b standard.These are Channels 1,6, and 11. For WiFi access points that are located near each other it is recommended that they each use one of the above non-overlapping channels to minimize the effects of interference.
This overlapping of 2.4GHz channels are better visualized from the chart below.
No. 20MHz is in 802.11b/g and 802.11a.
20MHz is a channel width. Bandwidth. Wider = more speed.
802.11b/g are standard at 20MHz bandwidth per channel.
802.11b/g channels are in the 2.4GHz band and always 20MHz.
802.11a channels are more numerous and are in the 5.8GHz band. The are standard at 20MHz.
40MHz bandwidth in 802.11n, if achievable as I dscussed above, about doubles the speed/capacity. 802.11n is mostly focused on the 2.4GHz band.
Either 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz can accomodate 20 and 40MHz bandwidth if the product implments all four combinations.
Since there are more channels and less usage, the 5.8GHz band is the best place to try 40MHz. This band is known as 802.11a.
802.11n is most commonly in the 2.4GHz band.
A very few products are now capable of 40MHz on 5.8GHz under the 802.11 standards.
Some may be dual-band but may operate 20MHz on 5.8GHz and 20/40MHz in 2.4GHz.
Use of 40MHz is imprudent at 2.4GHz and is an immature product technology at 5.8GHz at this time.