Advanced Networks Flashcards
Modulation
The encoding of data in a radio wave
Carrier Signal
The basis upon which information is superimposed allowing for transmission of data
AM
Amplitude Modulation
Varies the amplitude of a carrier signal to encode the message signal
ASK
Amplitude Shift Keying
Toggles the amplitude of the carrier signal depending on the message signal
FSK
Frequency Shift Keying
Toggles the frequency of the carrier signal between two distinct values depending on the message signal (0 or 1)
PSK
Phase Shift Keying
Toggles the phase of a carrier signal depending on the digital signal
Binary PSK
Toggles the phase between two states to encode 1 bit (2 states)
Quadrature PSK
Toggles the phase between four states to encode 2 bits (4 states)
Eight-PSK
Toggles the phase between eight states to encode 3 bits (8 states)
QAM
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
Varies both the phase and amplitude of the to improve bandwidth efficiency
FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access
Divides a band into channels and assigns each user a channel
(Dynamic) TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access
Divides time into slots and allocates each user a time slot
Guard Periods may help space out time slots
Dynamic TDMA considers user requirements and allocates multiple time slots if necessary
CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access
Uses orthogonal modulation codes to allow multiple transmissions over the same frequency bands
802.11
Wi-Fi
Specifications for PHY Layer and MAC Layer for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)
DSSS
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Wi-Fi Modulation Technique
Spreads signal across an entire allocated frequency by modulating with a spreading code (known only to the sender and receiver) at a higher bit-rate
A higher bit-rate (spreading ratio) uses more frequency and improves interference immunity
FDM
Frequency Division Multiplexing
Wi-Fi Modulation Technique
Combines multiple signals into one signal for transmission over a single channel
Guard bands between each signal avoid overlap
OFDM
Orthogonal FDM
Wi-Fi Modulation Technique
Sub-carrier frequencies are orthogonal with the peak coinciding with the nulls of adjacent subcarriers
Saves bandwidth, allowing for higher data rate but is more susceptible to noise
OFDMA
OFDM With Multiple Access
Wi-Fi Modulation Technique
Not every packet utilises the entire bandwidth of a sub-carrier. So sub-carriers (and time allocations) are divided amongst users
Improves efficiency
Beamforming
Wi-Fi Spatial Performance Improvement
Focuses radio waves in the direction of a specific client
Improves medium range communications (Provides no benefit for long range and is not needed for short range)
MIMO
Multiple-Input Multiple-Output
Wi-Fi Spatial Performance Improvement
Uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver for simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple data streams
MU-MIMO
Multi-User MIMO
Wi-Fi Spatial Performance Improvement
Enables parallel communication with multiple clients
CSMA/CD
Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection
Ethernet Multiple Access Technique
Detects collisions and retransmits
CSMA/CA
Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance
Wi-Fi Multiple Access Technique
Avoid collisions by checking if a channel is clear before transmitting
Transmitter sends RTS (Ready to Send) message to Receiver
Receiver responds with CTS (Clear to Send) message to Transmitter
Nodes that hear CTS don’t transmit until data is sent
5GHz Wi-Fi
More bandwidth but worse penetration than 2.4GHz
Interferes with radar, requiring Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
DFS
Dynamic Frequency Selection
Avoids interference with radar by checking if it is detected on a channel and avoiding it if necessary
In-use channels are monitored and channel is changed if radar detected
Adds cost and complexity and is susceptible to false triggers
802.11ax
Wi-Fi 6
Designed for efficiency in dense environments
Uses 1024-QAM
Uses 2.4GHz, 5GHz and provisionally 6GHz
TWT
Target Wake Time
Allows clients to schedule times with Wi-Fi access points for waking up and sending data
Ideal for IoT and Sensor Networks
LPWAN
A category of wireless communication that covers low-power long-range connection.
LoRaWAN
LPWAN Technology
Low Power Long Range Wide Area Network
LoRaWAN Cost
Expensive
Proprietary Physical Layer
Pricey Gateways
LoRaWAN Transmission Speeds
50 kbit/s
Slow
LoRaWAN Packet Size
256 bytes
LoRaWAN Range
10km
LoRaWAN Power
Low
LoRaWAN Layer
Data Link & Physical
LoRaWAN Topology
Star-of-Stars
LoRaWAN Advantages
Uses Chirp Modulation
- Doppler Resistant: Ideal for moving objects
- Interference Resistant
- Multipath Resistant
- Highly Scalable
Uses IP for communication between Gateways and Cloud Services
Uses sub-GHz frequencies that penetrate obstacles and don’t collide with other communication protocols
Up to 10km range in rural areas
LoRaWAN Disadvantages
Proprietary PHY Layer
Relatively Low Data Rate
Sigfox
LPWAN Technology
Uses Ultra Narrow Band modulation for very slow data transmission
NB-IoT
LPWAN Technology
Uses a low-cost sim-card within a narrowband of 4G LTE and 2G GSM for 4x faster speeds than LoRaWAN. Used in Asset Tracking
Nano Satellites
LPWAN Technology
Low Earth Orbit satellites that forward data from devices onto ground stations. Requires subscription
LTE-M
LPWAN Technology
Uses 4G LTE for 1Mbit/s speeds at relatively high-power consumption
Bluetooth
Short range, personal area network wireless communication technology
2.4GHz band is divided into 79 Bluetooth channels, communication is divided into 1600 time slots per second
Bluetooth Layer
Data Link & Physical
Bluetooth Range
1m - 100m
Bluetooth Transmission Speeds
1 Mbit/s
Bluetooth Power
Low if BLE
Bluetooth Topology
Star
Bluetooth Cost
Inexpensive
Bluetooth Piconet
One controller forms up to seven active connections with responders creating a Piconet
Up to 255 responders can be parked, maintain a connection but not communicating
Bluetooth (Adaptive) Frequency Hopping
Reduces interference by having transmission hop between channels.
Adaptive Frequency Hopping avoids channels in use such as those used by Wi-Fi
Bluetooth GATT Profile
GATT Profiles standardise exchange of data for specific device types e.g. Heart Rate Sensor
Bluetooth Advantages
Frequency hopping improves security as all channels must be sniffed
Interleaving allows communication with multiple responders
TDMA allows contention-free networking
Ubiquitous integration among devices
Bluetooth Disadvantages
Operates in unlicensed 2.4GHz ISM band, interference prone
Relatively low data rate
802.15.4
A standard covering specification of the Physical and Data Link layers for low-rate wireless PANs
802.15.4 Layer
Data Link & Physical