Wireless transmission medium

Last updated Feb 8, 2023

• Technology
• Networking

The method of transmitting data through wireless means. Uses radio frequencies to transmit data. The most common standard in today’s world used is Wi-Fi by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

As with other radio communication, wireless transmission mediums work in a two-way system with a transmitter (wireless NIC) and receiver. Two frequent hardware devices enabling wireless transmission include the wireless access point and residential gateway.

# Wireless LAN

A computer network that links two or more devices using a wireless connection to form a local area network¹. Most WLANs today conform to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Typically has several parameters that must be specified, namely the:

• service set identifier (SSID);
• frequency channel;
• frequency band;
• security type;
• encryption type; and
• other miscellaneous parameters, including:
  • the host’s internet-protocol-address; and
  • a MAC address filter list.

A case-sensitive text string that uniquely identifies a service set (i.e., WLAN). Comprises of a sequence of alphanumeric characters up to 32 characters. Usually broadcasted by the AP to all wireless devices in the coverage range.

A portioned range in the radio frequencies occupied by WLANs. Adjacent WLANs should use different frequency channels to prevent interference with each other. Usually automatically selected by the AP.

The interval in the frequency domain used. In the context of Wi-Fi networks, depending on which generation of Wi-Fi the network operates in, the band may be 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.

Higher-numbered bands enjoy better performance, have less proneness to interference, and offer more non-overlapping channels. They are, however, disadvantaged in range as they cover a shorter range than their lower-numbered counterparts.

The protocol used to maintain security within the WLAN. Can be open, meaning there is no authentication and encryption. If using the Wi-Fi standard, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) (now obsolete) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) are additional types to secure the network.

A term used on clients that refer to surveying radio frequencies and finding an AP that provides better service (i.e., has a stronger signal or higher data rate) when moving from one point to another.

APs should share the same SSID, authentication, and encryption, with channels being different.