2.3 Compare & contrast protocols for wireless networking Flashcards
2 main RF bands used by 802.11 standards?
- 2.4GHz
- 5GHz
What benefit does 2.4GHz RF band have over 5GHz?
Better signal penetration, giving it longer signal range
Signal penetration = ability of a signal to pass through obstacles like walls, floors, or building
3 Downsides to 2.4GHz RF band?
- Limited channels
- Prone to congestion & interference
- Lower max data rates than 5GHz
3 examples of wireless technologies that congest the 2.4GHz RF band?
- Wi-Fi networks
- Bluetooth
- Microwaves
Along with many others
You’ll likely need to memorize these specific examples for the exam
Downside of 5GHz RF band compared to 2.4GHz?
Worse signal penetration, giving it less signal range
What is the tradeoff with 5GHz?
Supports higher data rates at shorter ranges
Why does 5GHz have higher data rates than 2.4GHz?
Supports more individual channels & is less congested
less congestion = less interference
Nominal indoor range for Wi-Fi over 2.4GHz?
45m (150 feet)
Nominal indoor range for Wi-Fi over 5GHz?
30m (100 feet)
At what distances are clients able to connect to Wi-Fi at full speed?
This applies to both 2.4GHz & 5GHz
At 1/3 to a 1/2 of a RF’s max range
This depends on the wireless standard, building features, and interference from other radio sources.
6 IEEE 802.11 standards?
- a
- b
- g
- n
- ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- ax (Wi-Fi 6)
What RF band does 802.11a use?
5GHz
Data rate of 802.11a?
Up to 54Mbps
How many non-overlapping channels does 5GHz RF band have?
23
How wide is each channel in 5GHz RF band?
20MHz
What do regulatory requirements dictate for the use of 5GHz?
- Channels permitted for Wi-Fi & other purposes
- Power output of Wi-Fi devices operating in the band
The limites on power output may impace the range of Wi-Fi devices
Why must devices in the 5GHz RF band implement DFS?
DFS = Dynamic Frequency Selection
DFS is a mechanism & is a regulatory requirement in many countries for Wi-Fi devices operating in 5GHz & other certain RF bands
It requires Wi-Fi devices to detect & avoid using frequencies used by radar systems
This ensures Wi-Fi coexistence with critical communication systems.
When does a Wi-Fi device with DFS disable a Wi-Fi channel?
If it detects radar signals on that channel
What RF band does 802.11b use?
2.4GHz
Data rate of 802.11b?
Up to 11Mbps
How many channels does 2.4GHz RF band have?
14 channels
How are each channels in the 2.4GHz RF band spaced at?
5MHz
Meaning each channel would be 5MHz higher in frequency than the previous one (it starts from a base frequency of 2,412MHz , so the next channel would be at 2,417MHz, & so on)
What is the 2.4GHz RF band’s frequency range?
2,412-2,484MHz
Why do 802.11b channels overlap quite considerabely?
Spacing is only 5MHz & Wi-Fi needs 20MHz channel bandwidth
If you use Channel 2 (2,417MHz to 2,437MHz) in the 2.4GHz band, it overlaps with both Channel 1 (2,412MHz to 2,432MHz) and Channel 3 (2,422MHz to 2,442MHz). Interference can occur if nearby Wi-Fi networks are on Channels 1 or 3.
Which channels in the 2.4GHz RF band has the least overlap?
1, 6, & 11
These will suffer the least with interference
What 2.4GHz RF brand channels are permitted in the Americas?
1-11
What 2.4GHz RF band channels are permitted in Europe?
1-13
What 2.4GHz RF band channels are permitted in Japan?
14 (All channels)
What RF band does 802.11g use?
2.4GHz
Data rate of 802.11g?
Up to 54Mbps
What RF band does 802.11n use?
2.4GHz & 5GHz
How is each RF band in 802.11n (2.4 & 5GHz) implemented?
By 2 distinct radio transceivers
When is an AP or adapter considered “dual-band”
When it can support simultaneous 2.4GHz & 5GHz operations
Cheaper client adapters & many smartphone adapters support only a 2.4GHz radio
Which 802.11 standard introduced channel bonding?
Channel bonding allows more data to be transmitted at once, potentially increasing the overall throughput of the Wi-Fi network
802.11n
How does channel bonding in 802.11n work?
Channel bonding allows more data to be transmitted at once, potentially increasing the overall throughput of the Wi-Fi network
Combining 2 adjacent 20MHz channels into a single 40MHz channel
Which RF band is better suited for channel bonding?
5GHz
2.4GHz should not be used for channel bonding due to its restricted channel layout
Which 802.11 standard introduced MIMO?
MIMO = Multiple Input Multiple Output
802.11n
What does MIMO do?
MIMO = Multiple Input Multiple Output
Increases reliability & bandwidth by merging signal streams from 2-3 antennas