Wireless Local Area
Networks 24
24.1 Introduction
Wireless technology is an alternative to wired technology, which is commonly used for connecting
devices in wireless mode. Wireless local area networks (WLANs) transfer data through the air
using radio waves instead of cables. The key advantages of the wireless LAN are that it eliminates
the laying of cables and wiring cost, and that it accommodates mobile PC workstations. WLANs
use the industrial scientific and medical (ISM) frequency bands 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz, for
wireless LAN products and they need not obtain license to operate in this band. Wireless networks
are standardized by IEEE. Under IEEE 802 committee, the wireless LAN and metropolitan area
network (MAN) standards are developed. The first wireless network standard was created by IEEE
in 1997 and had been named as 802.11. It uses 2.4 GHz frequency and the supported maximum
network bandwidth is 2 Mbps. Later, IEEE 802.11b was created in July 1999 and the supported
network bandwidth is 11 Mbps. The 802.11b uses radio frequency (2.4 GHz) as same as the
original 802.11 standard.
Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) is a generic term that refers to the IEEE 802.11 communications
standard for WLANs. Wi-Fi is used to connect computers to communicate each other, to the
wired network, and to the Internet.
An updated version of the original 802.11 standard was created and called 802.11a. Due to
its higher cost, 802.11a is usually found on business networks whereas 802.11b better serves
the home market. 802.11g was created to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b and
supports network bandwidth up to 54 Mbps. 802.11n is the newest IEEE standard in the 802.11
family. It improves on 802.11g in the amount of bandwidth by using multiple wireless signals
and antennas instead of one. This technology is called multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO).
It will also operate on the 2.4 GHz band.
The IEEE 802.11 standard is relating to physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC)
layer. There is only one standard for MAC layer, but different standards have been proposed
for the PHY layer. The standard defines several different modulation methods: infrared, direct-
sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), orthogonal
frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), and also defines three different PHY layer technologies:
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g.
Wired Ethernets offer data rates of 100 Mbps, and the performance gap between wired and
wireless LANs is likely to increase over time without additional spectrum allocation. Despite the
678 Mobile Cellular Communication
big data rate differences, wireless LANs are becoming the preferred Internet access method due to their
convenience and freedom from wires.
For better understanding of how 802.11 and its variants (802.11a, IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi),
IEEE 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11n) work, it is important to understand the basic building blocks
and technologies used in the standards. The 802.11 architecture, wireless topologies, high-
performance radio LANs (HIPERLANs), wireless personal area network (WPAN) standards, and
wireless local loop (WLL) technology are further discussed in this chapter.
24.2 Advantages and disadvantages of wireless local area network
The following are some specific advantages of wireless LANs over wired LANs:
• Mobility: Wireless LANs support mobility. This improves the real-time access to information
even when the user is moving from one place to another within the range of an access point
(AP).
• Different topologies: Different wireless networks are configured in two different modes: ad-hoc
mode and infrastructure mode.
“Ad-hoc” mode provides peer-to-peer communication between wireless devices. “Infrastructure”
mode provides communication between wireless device and a central node, which in turn
can communicate with wired nodes on that LAN. In wired LAN, Ethernet cables must be run
from each computer to another computer or to the central device. It can be time-consuming
and difficult to run cables under the floor or through walls, especially when computers are
placed in different rooms.
• Flexible architecture: It is easier to add or remove workstations.
• Cost effective: Although the initial investment required for wireless local area network (WLAN)
hardware can be similar to the cost of wired LAN hardware, installation expenses can be
significantly lower.
The following are the disadvantages of WLANs:
• Less security: Wireless LANs are less secure than wired LANs, because wireless communication
signals travel through the air and can easily be intercepted by others using the same frequency
band and by multipath fading. Automatic repeat request (ARQ) and forward error-correction (FEC)
techniques are used to increase reliability.
• Low data rates: The data transfer rate decreases with increase in the number of devices.
• Need for energy efficient: In mobile applications, battery power is a scarce resource. Therefore,
the devices must be designed to be energy efficient.
• Limited coverage: Devices will only operate at a limited distance from an AP, with the distance
determined by the standard used and buildings and other obstacles between the AP and the
user.
24.3 WLAN topologies
Wireless network topology is the configuration in which a mobile terminal (MT) communicates
with another. WLANs can be built with either of the following topologies:
• Peer-to-peer (ad-hoc) topology
• Infrastructure topology
Wireless Local Area Networks 679
24.3.1 Ad-hoc network topology
Ad-hoc or peer-to-peer network topology applies to reconfigurable networks that can operate
without need for a fixed infrastructure. This is the easiest WLAN mode to configure and requires
the least hardware.
An ad-hoc mode WLAN is comprised of two or more computers communicating directly with
each other using wireless network cards.
The ad-hoc network topology is shown in Figure 24.1. These networks are primarily used by
the military and also in a few commercial applications for voice and data transmission.
Multi-hop ad-hoc networks: In some ad-hoc networking applications, where users may
be distributed over a wide area, a given user terminal may be able to reach only a portion of
the other users in the network due to transmitter signal power limitations. In this situation,
user terminals will have to cooperate in carrying messages across the network between widely
separated stations. Networks designed to function this way are called multi-hop ad-hoc networks.
In an ad-hoc multi-hop network, each terminal should be aware of the neighbouring terminals
in its coverage range.
24.3.2 Infrastructure network topology
In the infrastructure topology, there is a fixed (wired) infrastructure that supports communication
between MTs and between MTs and fixed terminals.
The infrastructure networks are often designed for large coverage areas and multiple base station
or AP operations. In this WLAN mode, a hardware or software AP is configured as part of the
WLAN design. This AP then provides connectivity for all of the systems on the WLAN. The
Desktop
1 0 1 1001 1 1
0000
010
0
Laptop Tablet
Figure 24.1 Ad-hoc network topology
680 Mobile Cellular Communication
Desktop Printer
Existing LAN
Desktop
Access point Server
Infrastructure (AP)
mode network
Laptop Tablet
Figure 24.2 Infrastructure network topology
wireless network card on each computer is configured to use a specific AP to connect to a specific
WLAN and all traffic to other computers on the WLAN is directed through the AP.
Access point : The AP is a wireless LAN transceiver or “base station” that can connect one or
many wireless devices simultaneously to the Internet.
The AP coordinates transmission and reception from multiple wireless devices within a specific
range; the range and number of devices depend on the wireless standard being used and vendor’s
product. In infrastructure mode, there may be multiple APs to cover a large area or only a single
AP for a small area such as a single home or small building. Figure 24.2 shows the basic operation
of an infrastructure network with a single AP.
All standardized cellular mobile telephone and wireless data systems use an infrastructure
network topology to serve MTs operating within the coverage area of any base station.
Infrastructure topology uses APs to bridge traffic onto a wired (Ethernet or token ring) or a
wireless backbone.
24.3.3 Comparison of ad-hoc and infrastructure network topologies
Ad-hoc mode WLANs are very easy to configure and do not require a great deal of effort to set up.
Whereas infrastructure mode WLANs are slightly more difficult to set up than ad-hoc-mode WLANs.
Wireless Local Area Networks 681
In ad-hoc or peer-to-peer single-hop networks, expansion is always limited to the coverage
of the radio transmitter and receiver. In multi-hop ad-hoc networks, as the number of terminals
increases, the potential coverage of the network is increased. However, the traffic handling
capacity of the network remains the same. To connect an ad-hoc network to the backbone of
a wired network, one needs to use proxy server with a wireless connection as a member of the
ad-hoc network. In practice, all terminals supporting ad-hoc networking operate in a dual mode
that also supports the infrastructure operation. Wireless infrastructure networks are inherently
scalable. To scale up with a wireless infrastructure network, the number of base stations or APs is
increased to expand the coverage area or to increase the capacity while using the same available
spectrum. Therefore, for wide area coverage and for applications with variable traffic loads,
infrastructure networks are always used.
Flexibility
Operation of infrastructure networks requires deployment of a network infrastructure which is
very often time-consuming and expensive. Ad-hoc networks are inherently flexible and can be
set up instantly. Therefore, ad-hoc networks are always used for temporary applications where
flexibility is of prime importance.
Controllability
To coordinate proper operation of a radio network, one need to centrally control certain features
such as time synchronization, transmitted power of the mobile stations operating in a certain
area, and so on. In an infrastructure network, all these features are naturally implemented in
the base station or AP. In an ad-hoc network, implementation of these features requires more
complicated structures demanding changes in all terminals.
Routing complexity
In multi-hop peer-to-peer networks, each terminal should be able to route messages to other
terminals. This compatibility requires each terminal to monitor the existence of other terminals
and be able to connect to those available in the immediate neighbourhood. For this, there is
a need for a routing algorithm that directs information to the next appropriate terminal.
Implementation of these features adds to the complexity of the terminal and the network
operation. In infrastructure and peer-to-peer single-hop ad-hoc networks, this problem does not
exist.
Reliability
Infrastructure networks are “single failure point” networks. If the base station or AP fails, the
entire communications network is destroyed. This problem does not exist in ad-hoc peer-to-peer
configurations.
24.4 Introduction to wireless local area network standard IEEE 802.11
The IEEE 802.11 is an international standard that describes WLAN characteristics. The Wi-
Fi corresponds to the certification name issued by the Wi-Fi Alliance group. The IEEE 802.11
standard ensures the compatibility between the hardware devices.
Wi-Fi provides high-speed connections to laptops, desktop computers, and personal
digital assistants (PDAs) located within a radius of 20–50 m for indoor and 100 m for outdoor
communication applications. Wi-Fi providers started providing the Internet APs in public
EVOLUTION of MOBILE SYSTEM
