Outline

An introduction to WiFi in New Zealand
A brief introduction to WiFi in New Zealand to set the scene.
What is WiFi?
• The 802.11 standard
• Frequency hopping
• Direct sequence spread spectrum
• Carrier sense multiple access (CSMA/CA) with collision avoidance
• Modulation techniques
• Frequency bands
• Interference considerations
• Radiocommunications Act 1989, other applicable regulations and applications to WiFi

IEEE 802.11a-1999
IEEE 802.11a-1999 or 802.11a, is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 specification that added a higher throughput of up to 54 Mbit/s by using the 5 GHz band. It has seen widespread worldwide implementation, particularly within the corporate workspace.
• Operational frequencies in New Zealand
• Data rates
• Range
• OFDM advantages
• Interference
• Penetration
• BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM
• IFFT
• Line of sight and the effect of obstructions   
• Coding rate
• Compatibility

IEEE 802.11b-1999
IEEE 802.11b-1999 or 802.11b, is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 specification that extended throughput up to 11 Mbit/s using the same 2.4 GHz band.
• Operational frequencies applicable to New Zealand
• Data rates
• Range
• Point to multipoint
• DSS
• Complimentary code keying
• External antennas & outdoor ranges
• ERP as applicable to NZ
• Adaptive rate selection
• Compatibility

IEEE 802.11g-2003
IEEE 802.11g-2003 or 802.11g, is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 specification that extended throughput to up to 54 Mbit/s using the same 2.4 GHz band as 802.11b.
• Operational frequencies applicable to New Zealand
• Data rates
• Range
• Compatibility
• OFDM

IEEE 802.11n
IEEE 802.11n is a proposed amendment to the IEEE 802.11-2007 wireless networking standard to significantly improve network throughput over previous standards

802.11n is expected to be finalized, although many “Draft N” products are already available.
• Current standards update
• Goals and objectives of the specification
• Estimated timeline towards release

RF Deployments
• Project planning for RF deployments
• Process of RF deployments
• Successful/unsuccessful RF deployments
• Design engineering
• Traffic engineering
• RF optimisation & performance testing

Testing for Knowledge
• Scanning and joining
• Authentication and de-authentication
• Associating and disassociating
• Differentiate radio related issues associated with operating in different bands
• Explain the fundamentals of CSMA/CA in WiFi networks
• Power saving mode
• Re-association and mobility management techniques of WiFi

WiFi in Operation
• Original MAC layer
• BSS
• AP and STAs
• Synchronisation
• RTS/CTS
• Network allocation vector
• DCF basic access
• DIFS & back off algorithm
• SIFS
• MSDU
• PCF for controlled, un-contended access
• QoS limitations with 802.11 MAC

Practical Exercise
• WiFi network design
• Generation of a network topology and all elements required to support the given traffic requirements and service types
• RF considerations for planning access point coverage
• Generation of sample deployment GANTT charts

Future of WiFi
A brief overview of where WiFi is likely to be used in the future, changes in technology or and/or standards.

Facilitator

Ian Hastie , Link Information Technologies Ltd

Ian owns and operates LINK Information Technologies Ltd (LINKIT).

Ian brings over 30 years experience in the Telecommunications and Aviation industries in New Zealand. He spent his early years working on voice communications and radio transmission systems in the aviation sector and, in later years, systems integration and project management of complex radio data networks with Ericsson Communications; and since 1997 launched LINKIT and developed customers and business partners throughout NZ, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Ian has designed, built and tested a number of indoor and outdoor metropolitan IP based wireless networks, bringing a wide breadth of systems integration, project management and systems training expertise. Ian developed and installed NZ’s first outdoor Wireless IP Network in Wellington in 1996 for NetLINK.

In-house Training