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PUNJAB COLLEGE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATIONLUDHIANA

Submitted To: Submitted By:Mrs. Amandeep Kaur Aarti Jaspreet kaur

Jyoti Gupta

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr.No. Topic Page No.

1. Introduction. 3

2. Standards Devices. 3

3. Technical Information about “WI-FI”. 5

4. Uses of “WI-FI”. 7

5. Security 8

6. Advantages 9

7. Disadvantages. 10

8. Compairsion 10

9. Scope of Wi-Fi 11

10. Conclusion. 11

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INTRODUCTION

'Wi-Fi' stands for 'Wireless Fidelity.It is cutting edge techonology that

enables your laptop or PDA to connects to the internet wirelessly at very

high speed.It offers the wireless internet connection service almost FREE to

users.

WiFi, also known as 802.11b, uses radio waves to send information at

speeds of up to 11 megabits per second over a range of up to 300 feet. When

combined with a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router, it provides users

with wireless high-speed internet access. Most WiFi users access the internet

through home or work networks. In addition, there are over 24,000 WiFi Hot

Spots worldwide in cafes, airports, and hotels.

Wi-Fi is a brand originally licensed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the

wireless local area networks (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11

specifications. It was developed to be used for mobile computing devices,

such as laptops, in LANs, but is now increasingly used for more services,

including Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and basic connectivity of

consumer electronics such as televisions and DVD players, or digital

cameras.WiFi allows your business to deploy a network more quickly, at

lower cost.

STANDARD DEVICES

Wireless Access Point (WAP)

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A wireless access point connects a group of wireless devices to an

adjacent wired LAN. An access point is similar to an ethernet hub, relaying

data between connected wireless devices in addition to a single connected

wired device, most often an ethernet hub or switch, allowing wireless

devices to communicate with other wired devices.

Wireless Adapter

A wireless adapter allows a device to connect to a wireless network.These

adapters connect to devices using various interconnects such as PCI, USB.

Wireless Router

A wireless router allows wired and wireless ethernet LAN devices to

connect to a single WAN device such as cable modem or DSL modem. A

wireless router allows all three devices (mainly the access point and router)

to be configured through one central utility. This utility is most usually an

integrated web server which serves web pages to wired and wireless LAN

clients and often optionally to WAN clients.

Wireless Ethernet Bridge

A wireless Ethernet bridge connects a wired network to a wireless

network. This is different from an access point in the sense that an access

point connects wireless devices to a wired network. Two wireless bridges

may be used to connect two wired networks over a wireless link, useful in

situations where a wired connection may be unavailable, Like homes.

Range Extender

A wireless range extender or wireless repeater can extend the range of an

existing wireless network.

Antenna connectors

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Most commercial devices (routers, access points, bridges, repeaters)

designed for home or business environments use RP-TNC antenna

connectors

TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT “WI-FI”

Wi-Fi: How it Works

There are three most important items which makes Wi-Fi working in your laptop or desktop. These are:

* Radio Signals * Wi-Fi Card which fits in your laptop or computer. * Hotspots which create Wi-Fi Network.

Radio Signals:

Radio Signals are the keys which make WiFi networking possible. These radio signals transmitted from Wi-Fi antennas are picked up by WiFi receivers such as computers and cell phones that are equipped with WiFi cards. Whenever a computer receives any of the signals within the range of a

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WiFi network which is usually 300 - 500 feet for antennas, the WiFi card will read the signals and thus create an internet connection between the user and the network without the use of a cord.

Access points which consist of antennas and routers are the main source which transmit and receive radio waves.

Antennas work stronger and have a longer radio transmission with a radius of 300-500 feet which are used in public areas while the weaker yet effective router is more suitable for homes with a radio transmission of 100-150 feet.

Wi-Fi Cards:

You can think WiFi card as being an invisible cord that connects your computer to the antenna for a direct connection to the internet.

WiFi cards can be external or internal, meaning that if a WiFi card is not installed in your computer, you may purchase a USB antenna attachment and have it externally connect to your USB port, or have an antenna-equipped expansion card installed directly to the computer. For laptops, this card will be a PCMCIA card in which you insert to the PCMCIA slot on the laptop.

Wi-Fi Hotspots:

A Wi-Fi hotspot is created by installing an access point to an internet connection. The access point transmits a wireless signal over a short distance . typically covering around 300 feet. When a Wi-Fi .enabled device, such as a Pocket PC, encounters a hotspot, the device can then connect to that network wirelessly.

Most hotspots are located in places that are readily accessible to the public, like airports, coffee shops, hotels, book stores and campus environments. 802.11b is the most common specification for hotspots worldwide. The 802.11g standard is backwards compatible with .11b but .11a uses a different frequency range and requires separate hardware such as an a, a/g, or a/b/g adapter. The largest public Wi-Fi networks are provided by private internet service providers (ISPs) that charge a fee for users to connect to the internet.

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Hotspots are increasingly developing around the world. In fact, T-mobile USA controls more than 4,100 hotspots located in public locations such as Starbucks, Borders, Kinko.s, and the airline clubs of Delta, United, and US Airways. Even select McDonald.s restaurants now feature Wi-Fi hotspot access.

Any notebook computer with integrated wireless, a wireless adapter attached to the motherboard by the manufacturer, or a wireless adapter such as a PCMCIA card can access a wireless network. Furthermore, all Pocket PCs or Palm units with Compact Flash, SD I/O support, or built-in Wi-Fi, can access hotspots.

Some Hotspots require WEP key to connect that is the connection is considered to be private or secure. As for open connections, anyone with a WiFi card can gain access to that hotspot. So in order for a user to gain access to the internet under WEP, the user must input the WEP key code.

USES OF WI-FI

“WI-FI” AT HOME

Home Wi-Fi networks can bring a whole new dimension to a family’s digital

experience. Wi-Fi can make the increasingly ubiquitous home PC even more

powerful and exciting. With your TVs, computers, stereos, kitchen

appliances and other electronic devices connected through Wi-Fi, your home

can become a centre for your whole family to learn, play and communicate

in a multimedia-rich, audio and visual manner—wirelessly!.

“WI-FI” IN GAMING

With the use of “WI-FI” gaming systems are more compatible in use.

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The PlayStation Portable is Wi-Fi compatible, and uses this for local

multiplayer as well as connecting to wireless networks for online

gameplaying.

The Xbox 360 can be made Wi-Fi compatible if the user purchases a

separate wireless adapter.

“WI-FI” IN BUISNESS

For small businesses, Wi-Fi can mean connectivity between mobile

salespeople, floor staff and back-end support departments. The built-in

flexibility of a Wi-Fi network eliminates the need to move cables and

installation of hubs and routers, hence making it easy and affordable for

small business to make changes and scale.

Large corporations and campuses use enterprise-level technology and Wi-Fi

products to extend standard wired Ethernet networks to public areas like

training classrooms and auditoriums. For instance, Intel has deployed Wi-Fi

networks in many of their offices worldwide, providing anytime, anywhere

connectivity for employees in offices. Many corporations also provide

wireless networks to their offsite and telecommuting workers. Large

companies and campuses often use Wi-Fi to connect buildings.

SECURITY

Security is the bane of everybody who puts together a wireless network

access points, using factory default settings, are not secure at all.

If you already have a wireless network you may be concerned about whether

it is secure. There are four things you can do to ensure that you are secure:

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Make sure that your access point(s) are encrypting the wireless traffic

using Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

Buy a wireless intrusion detection system. A number of products are

available designed to help you monitor the security of your WiFi

network as well as who is using it.

If you have a high security requirement, then you should either ensure

your network people are appropriately trained or hire a wireless

consultant.

ADVANTAGES

Allows LANs to be deployed without cabling, typically reducing the

costs of network deployment and expansion. Spaces where cables

cannot be run, such as outdoor areas and historical buildings, can host

wireless LANs.

Built into all modern laptops

Wi-Fi products are widely available in the market. Different brands of

access points and client network interfaces are interoperable at a basic

level of service. Products designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED by the Wi-

Fi Alliance are interoperable and include WPA2 security.

Wi-Fi is a global set of standards. Unlike cellular carriers, the same

Wi-Fi client works in different countries around the world.

Widely available in more than 250,000 public hot spots and millions

of homes and corporate and university campuses worldwide.

As of 2006, WPA and WPA2 encryption are not easily crackable if

strong passwords are used .

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DISADVANTAGES

Power consumption is fairly high compared to some other standards,

making battery life and heat a concern.

Many 2.4 GHz 802.11b and 802.11g Access points default to the same

channel, contributing to congestion on certain channels.

Wi-Fi networks have limited range. A typical Wi-Fi home router using

802.11b or 802.11g with a stock antenna might have a range of 45 m

(150 ft) indoors and 90 m (300 ft) outdoors.

It become problem for large entities such as universities which seek to

provide large area coverage.

Wi-Fi networks can be monitored and used to read and copy data

(including personal information) transmitted over the network unless

encryption such as WPA or VPN is used.

comparison

WIRED NETWORKS

• Uses wires

• Easy to set up

• Makes immobile

• Expensive

• Better transmission speed

• No need to share space with

other users

WIRELESS NETWORKS

• Uses radio waves

• Difficult to set up

• Provides convience

• Not much expensive

• Less transmission speed

• Same connection shared by

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multiple people

SCOPE OF WI-FI

In few more years all electronic devices are going to have a built in

Wi-Fi…

So once again we welcome to world of wireless.

Colleges and businesses have suitable building layouts that can be

wireless to build a unwired network

CONCLUSION

If you take anything away from this article it should be this: you must switch

on the security features on your access points. Do NOT just switch on your

access point, configure the IP address and then assume that everything is

OK. It may well work, but it is NOT secure.

WiFi is seductively easy to use; don't let your guard down just for want of a

few minutes configuring your access points

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