| Wireless LAN (WLAN) is a wireless
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| | lower data rates. Higher Frequencies (5
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| broadband technology that utilizes radio
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| | GHz) have less range but higher data
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| frequency (RF) to transmit and receive
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| | rates but is prone to blocking by solid
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| data through the air, minimizing the need
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| | objects. These are attributable to
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| for wired networks. There are two
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| | attenuation and interference. Attenuation
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| competing RF technologies in the use of
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| | or the loss of signal strength during
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| Wireless LAN, the IEEE 802.11 standard
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| | transmission is higher when the receiver
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| and proprietary technologies. Both fall
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| | is farther from the transmitter.
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| under wireless broadband technology.
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| | Obstacles such as mountains and buildings
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| Broadband means the ability to transmit
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| | also contribute to attenuation by
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| high-speed voice, data and video traffic
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| | blocking or weakening radio signals,
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| using a wide range of frequencies on a
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| | causing signal loss or dead spots.
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| single wireless medium or device. This
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| | Depending of what they are made of,
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| page aims to give you an overview about
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| | floors, walls, and ceilings can either
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| Wireless Broadband -IEEE 802.11 standard
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| | strengthen or weaken WLAN signals.
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| commonly called Wireless LAN. 802.11 is a
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| | Interference can be caused by nearby
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| standard agreed by the IEEE (Institute of
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| | stations operating in the same frequency
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| Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
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| | on the same channel. 2.4 GHz cordless
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| Inc.) the world's leading professional
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| | phones for instance can cause great
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| association for the advancement of
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| | interference on 802.11b wireless
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| technology. 802.11 is the standard
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| | networks. Wireless broadband and WLAN
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| adopted by IEEE to define an over the air
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| | devices are called transceiver devices
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| interface between a wireless client and
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| | since it both transmit and receive at the
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| base station or between two wireless
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| | same time. Each component both transmits
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| clients. The 802.11 standard has evolved
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| | and receives IP traffic. Antennas direct
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| over the years and became one of the most
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| | RF power into the air over a coverage
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| successfully deployed technologies. The
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| | area. An Antenna provides wireless LAN
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| standard now covers 802.11b, 802.11a and
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| | devices gain, direction and polarization.
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| 802.11g systems. Radio Frequency (RF) is
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| | Gain is the measure of increase in power
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| the medium use by wireless networks in
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| | while direction is the shape of the
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| the transmission of information over the
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| | transmission pattern. Polarization is
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| air. RF works by converting electrical
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| | dependent on antenna alignment and can be
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| current into radio waves and transmit
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| | typically described as vertical or
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| those waves over the air using a defined
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| | horizontal. Most Access Point antennas
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| frequency of the radio spectrum. An
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| | are designed to operate in vertical
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| example, the AM and FM radios two most
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| | pattern for maximum horizontal coverage
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| commonly known uses of the RF spectrum.
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| | plane or polarization. Putting the
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| The Federal Communications Commission
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| | antenna in a horizontal position will
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| (FCC) is the one administering the use of
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| | result in a vertical plane limiting
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| radio spectrum between the frequencies of
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| | coverage. The factor to consider in
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| 9 Kilohertz (KHz) and 300 gigahertz
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| | increasing the range of Wireless LAN
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| (GHz). 802.11 WLAN systems operate in the
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| | devices is the Antenna and EIRP. EIRP or
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| radio spectrum available to the public,
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| | Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power
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| also known as the unlicensed frequency
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| | is being governed or limited by FCC
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| band. These radio spectrum bands are
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| | regulations to a maximum of Four (4)
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| unlicensed, free for use by anyone
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| | watts with additional restrictions
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| provided FCC regulations are complied
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| | limitations depending on type of antenna
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| with. The FCC as a regulatory governs the
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| | (directional or omni-directional) and
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| maximum transmit power of wireless radios
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| | antenna placement (indoor or outdoors).
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| as well as, type of encoding and
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| | Some countries limit EIRP to as much as
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| frequency modulations to be used. In
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| | 100mw, above this will require a license
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| 802.11 operations, it is provided for by
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| | to operate. This applies mostly for
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| the FCC that non-licensed radios (such as
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| | outdoor WLAN equipments. To deploy
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| 802.11) must accept interference from
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| | long-range outdoor wireless broadband and
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| licensed electronic systems. FCC
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| | WLAN devices, please consult your
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| considers licensed device as the primary
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| | country's telecommunication commission
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| equipment. 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard
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| | guidelines on use of outdoor wireless
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| Operating Frequencies: The 802.11
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| | broadband (WLAN) devices. The goal is to
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| standard are assigned frequencies 2.4 GHz
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| | reach people yearning to start their own
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| (2.4-2.4835 GHz) on ISM Band and 5 GHz
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| | home-based business even in remote
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| (5.15-5.25 GHz, G.25-5.35 GHz,
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| | regions thru cost-effective internet
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| 5.725-5.825 GHz) of the U-NII band.
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| | business and long-range wireless
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| 802.11b and 802.11g operates on 2.4 GHz
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| | communication solutions.
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| while 802.11a is operating on the 5 GHz
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| | The author, Allan Amps is from the
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| band. 802.11 assigned frequency range has
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| | Telecom industry and has passion and
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| different characteristics. Lower
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| | interest in rural, remote internet
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| Frequencies (2.4 GHz ) exhibit better
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| | connectivity solutions, wireless gadgets
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| range but with limited bandwidth and
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| | and internet home-based business.
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