Wireless Local Area Networks (WiFI- IEEE 802.11)

Wireless Local Area Networks (WiFI- IEEE 802.11)


WiFi is a brand originally licensed by the WiFi alliance to describe the underlying technology of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 specifications.A Wireless LAN (WiFi) is data transmission system designed to provide location-independent network access between computing devices by using radio waves rather than guided medium.

The WiFi speed standard offered around 108Mbps.The range feasibility for WiFi also depanding the environment. Typical indoor ranges are between 150-300 feet.Outdoor range are around 1000 feet.WiFi can also be used to create a mesh network. WiFi also allows connectivity in peer-to-peer (Wireless ad-hoc network) mode which enables devices to connect directly with each other.

When the technology was first commercialized there were many problems because consumers could not be sure that how the products from different vendors would work together. The WiFi alliance began a community to solve this issue so as to address the needs of the end user allow the technology to mature.
The alliance created the branding WiFi certified to show consumer that predict are interoperable with other products displaying the same branding.

A WiFi wireless, it also have weakness of their behavior such as it have same properties as non-switches wired when it transmits in the air. The typical range also will affect interferences with radio transmissions. Beside, it also cannot do collision detection and instead uses a packet exchange (RTS/CTS used for collision Avoidance or CA) to try to advoid collision channels.