Psiber Data Systems RF3D manual Fundamentals of Wireless Network Planning, Product Updates

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1.3 Product Updates

New versions of RF3D WifiPlanner are released from time to time. To search for up- dates, please visit www.rf3d.com in the Internet. The RF3D website has a download area where you can download the latest program version.

The same website allows you to upgrade from RF3D WifiPlanner Lite to the next higher version. Or you can order an upgrade by e-mail to sales@rf3d.com.

Fundamentals of Wireless Network Planning

To plan an efficient wireless network, it helps to understand a little radio communica- tion theory. In this document we can only provide a brief summary with regard to wire- less networks. For more detailed information, please consult the specialist literature.

2.1 Standardization in Wireless Networking

In designing standards for wireless networks as they are used in the industry today, the IEEE built on the Ethernet standard, IEEE 802.3. Like Ethernet, an IEEE WLAN functions as a shared medium with a decentralized access control mechanism. Every station competes for access with all other stations, and is responsible for regulating its own use of the medium. In this situation, the CSMA/CD access protocol (Carrier Sense Mul- tiple Access with Collision Detection) ensures that every station gets an opportunity to transmit data over the medium. Because it uses the same media access technique, 802.11 WLAN is often called “wireless Ethernet”.

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines several different Ethernet-based wireless networks. The most common of these are 802.11a, b, g and h. In general, two different radio techniques are used in two different frequency bands. The 2.4 GHz ISM band is most often used. This band is reserved worldwide for license-free industrial, scientific and medical applications. The frequency band used can vary from one country to an- other, however. For example, eleven channels can be used in the 2.4 GHz band in the United states, while up to 14 channels are available in other parts of the world. The other frequency band used for wireless Ethernet is around 5 GHz. In addition to the fre- quency bands, the IEEE standards also specify transmitter power, data rates, packet structure, management packets, and much more.

2.1.1 The IEEE 802.11b Specification

The wireless Ethernet standard IEEE 802.11b, adopted in late 1999, is the first such standard to be widely supported for both industrial and home use. Networking com- ponents that support this standard communicate in the 2.4 GHz band. The specified data transfer rates are 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbit/s.

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