Wireless Broadband(WiMax)
Dr Usha Raghavan
Wireless transmission
• Wireless means transmitting signals using radio waves as the
medium instead of wires.
• Wireless technologies are used for tasks as simple as switching off
the television or as complex as supplying the sales force with
information from an automated enterprise application while in the
field.
• Now cordless keyboards and mice, PDAs, pagers and digital and
cellular phones have become part of our daily life
Characteristics of Wireless communication
• Mobility − A wireless communications system allows users to access information beyond their desk
and conduct business from anywhere without having a wire connectivity.
• Reachability − Wireless communication systems enable people to be stay connected and be
reachable, regardless of the location they are operating from.
• Simplicity − Wireless communication system are easy and fast to deploy in comparison of cabled
network. Initial setup cost could be a bit high but other advantages overcome that high cost.
• Maintainability − In a wireless system, you do not have to spend too much cost and time to maintain
the network setup.
• Roaming Services − Using a wireless network system, you can provide service any where any time
including train, buses, aeroplanes etc.
• New Services − Wireless communication systems provide various smart services like SMS and
MMS.
What is 802.16a ?
WiMAX is such an easy term that people tend to use it for the 802.16 standards and technology
themselves, although strictly it applies only to systems that meet specific conformance criteria laid
down by the WiMAX Forum.
The 802.16a standard for 2-11 GHz is a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology
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that will provide broadband wireless connectivity to Fixed, Portable and Nomadic devices.
It can be used to connect 802.11 hot spots to the Internet, provide campus connectivity, and
provide a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile broadband access.
Wireless Broadband
• Wireless MAN is called as WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access
• WiMax provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of transmission
modes from Point to point to Multipoint links to portable and fully Mobile
Internet access.
• This technology provides upto 10 Mbps bandwidth without the need of
cables.
WiMax architecture
• A subscriber send wireless traffic at a speed ranging from 2 Mbps to 155 Mbps from a
fixed antenna on a building.
• The base station receives transmissions from multiple sites and send the traffic over
wireless or wired links to a switching centre using 802.16 protocol
• The switching centre sends traffic to an ISP or the PSTN
WiMax have paved the way for the entry of broadband wireless access as a new bearer to
link homes and businesses with core telecommunication networks.
The technology provides less expensive access with more ubiquitous broadband access
with integrated data, voice and video services
Services
• WiMAX can provide two forms of wireless service −
• Non-line-of-sight − service is a WiFi sort of service. Here a small
antenna on your computer connects to the WiMAX tower. In this mode,
WiMAX uses a lower frequency range -- 2 GHz to 11 GHz (similar to
WiFi).
• Line-of-sight − service, where a fixed dish antenna points straight at the
WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole. The line-of-sight connection is
stronger and more stable, so it's able to send a lot of data with fewer
errors. Line-of-sight transmissions use higher frequencies, with ranges
reaching a possible 66 GHz.
Feature WiMax Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
(802.16a) (802.11b) (802.11a/g)
Primary Broadband Wireless Wireless LAN Wireless LAN
Application Access
Frequency Band Licensed/Unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM 2.4 GHz ISM (g)
2 G to 11 GHz 5 GHz U-NII (a)
Channel Adjustable 25 MHz 20 MHz
Bandwidth 1.25 M to 20 MHz
Half/Full Duplex Full Half Half
Radio Technology OFDM Direct Sequence OFDM
(256-channels) Spread Spectrum (64-channels)
Bandwidth <=5 bps/Hz <=0.44 bps/Hz <=2.7 bps/Hz
Efficiency
Modulation BPSK, QPSK, QPSK BPSK, QPSK,
16-, 64-, 256-QAM 16-, 64-QAM
FEC Convolutional Code None Convolutional Code
Reed-Solomon
Encryption Mandatory- 3DES Optional- RC4 Optional- RC4
Optional- AES (AES in 802.11i) (AES in 802.11i)
Mobility Mobile WiMax In development In development
(802.16e)
Applications
• Wireless Broadband allows higher data rates in homes, offices and even
mobile environment. Therefore all the applications in home and office are
potential candidate for wireless broadband. These include Standard ethernet
or WiFi indoor using 802.16d and outdoor mobile using 802.16e