An Investigation into Signal Strength of 802.11n WLAN

With the continual improvement in IEEE 802.11 standards wireless networks are being deployed in ever increasing numbers. As technology advances the data rates and coverage of Wi-Fi increases and so the usage for different high bandwidth requirement applications increases. These enhancements to the technology do provide network design engineers with some significant problems when designing the network infrastructure. Prior to the installation of Access Points it is difficult to predict whether access can be guaranteed at specific locations. Additionally, to increase the level of security, it is often preferable, despite the use of security protocols, to ensure that the signal strength is not large enough to enable connection in areas other than those designated. Experience with existing equipment may not be sufficient to ensure a secure design. It is shown that it is likely that equipment built to the anticipated IEEE 802.11n specification that uses MIMO provide a far more complex situation than equipment designed to previous standards. By combining the theory of antennae and the measurement of the performance of equipment built to the IEEE 802.11n draft, it is possible to create a mathematical model that can predict the network coverage which should be extendable to the new standard. Additionally it is argued that due to the backward compatibility of equipment then the increased data rates are not going to be realised until the all intended clients have been upgraded.

[1]  M. Salazar-Palma,et al.  A survey of various propagation models for mobile communication , 2003 .

[2]  Sedki M. Riad,et al.  Ultrawideband through-the-wall propagation , 2005 .

[3]  William Stallings,et al.  Wireless Communications & Networks , 2002 .

[4]  Vic Grout,et al.  Prediction of Wireless Network Signal Strength Within a Building , 2008, INC.

[5]  Theodore S. Rappaport,et al.  Measurements and models for radio path loss and penetration loss in and around homes and trees at 5.85 GHz , 1998, IEEE Trans. Commun..

[6]  Sergey N. Makarov,et al.  Antenna and EM Modeling with MATLAB , 2002 .

[7]  Neeli R. Prasad,et al.  802.11 WLANs and IP Networking: Security, QoS, and Mobility , 2005 .

[8]  David Hucaby CCNP BCMSN Official Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition) (Exam Certification Guide) , 2006 .

[9]  B. H. Fleury,et al.  Radiowave propagation in mobile communications: an overview of European research , 1996 .

[10]  Lorne Liechty,et al.  Developing the Best 2.4 GHz Propagation Model from Active Network Measurements , 2007, 2007 IEEE 66th Vehicular Technology Conference.

[11]  Vijay K. Garg,et al.  Wireless Communications and Networking , 2008 .

[12]  Lorne Christopher Liechty,et al.  Path Loss Measurements and Model Analysis of a 2.4 GHz Wireless Network in an Outdoor Environment , 2007 .

[13]  T.S. Rappaport,et al.  Radio-wave propagation for emerging wireless personal-communication systems , 1994, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine.

[14]  Andrea Goldsmith,et al.  Wireless Communications , 2005, 2021 15th International Conference on Advanced Technologies, Systems and Services in Telecommunications (TELSIKS).

[15]  James Chellis,et al.  CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide , 1998 .

[16]  Zhengqing Yun,et al.  Propagation prediction models for wireless communication systems , 2002 .