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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Wireless Local Area Network

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is known to be an extension of wired

area networks. Wired local area network and WLAN share the same basic principle in
operation. The only difference is by means of delivering data to a certain terminal or
point. WLAN uses Radio Frequency (RF) to transmit and receive data over the air.
Minimizing the need to be wired connected [1]. WLAN enables power of freedom so
users are able to access a certain information with ease and seamlessly.

Wireless LAN industry has emerged as one of the fastest growing segments of
the communications industry and promises a lot of potential growth. Cahners-Instat
foresees the industry growing from 1.1 Billion USD of 2000 to 5.2 Billion USD by
2005, economic growth beyond that will be very significant [1].WLAN offers
productivity, convenience and cost advantages over wired networks. The advantages
WLAN offer are [2]:

a. Mobility – users are able to access information at anywhere and at any time.
b. Installation speed and simplicity – WLAN are easy and fast to be installed.
c. Installation reliability – network can be installed where wired network are
impossible to be installed.
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d. Reduced Cost of Ownerships – higher initial investments but long-term cost

benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and
changes.
e. Scalability – can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs of
specific applications and installations.

Figure 1.1 illustrates the two way connection between the Ethernet hub with
access points and server. The two way arrow represents wired connection between
devices. Laptops are connected to the system via wireless connection. WLAN have two
kind of network configuration that is an ad-hoc and client to access point network. Client
to access point network is more rigid and requires the laptops to be always connected
and synchronized with an access point [2].

Laptop
Laptop

Laptop
Laptop
Access Point

Server Access Point

Ethernet Hub

Figure 1.1 Ad-hoc and client to access point network [2]

WLAN data is a multimedia data. Multimedia data computing is time bounded

and require high data rate. A 54 Mbps WLAN will have a 70% of nominal data rate
equal to 38 Mbps [3]. Achieving this data rate requires network protocol to be efficient
and robust. Seventy percent data rate is rule of thumb for true data rate estimation in
WLAN.
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With the complexity of WLAN is, people have yet to become accustomed to
wireless has there are a variety of issues to deal with other then just swapping wires.
It involves dealing with interference, ensuring that all areas are covered, tracking a
mobile user’s whereabouts and managing battery power, and other things [4].
Implementation of WLAN has one physical layer per network must be able to support,
movable and mobile stations moving at pedestrian and vehicular local premises
environment speeds.

WLAN standards are expected to kick start wireless industry by making it

feasible to invest in infrastructure and developing low cost hardware for implementation.
Rapid growth is likely as the price of the technology drops, standards are adopted and
people become accustomed to wireless solution. Standards will assure user
interoperability by designing one WLAN Media Access Controller (MAC) that can
support various physical layers [3]. Various physical layers give a user to have
maximum flexibility. A system designer usually chooses a physical layer based on a
particular installation and environment.

1.2 WLAN Standards

WLAN transmit using radio frequencies, which are regulated by the same type of
laws used to govern such things such has as AM/FM radios. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States regulates the use of wireless
LAN devices. Radio bandwidth approved for WLAN communications falls in 900 MHz,
2.4 GHz, 5.16 GHz and 5.7 GHz band [3].

European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), introduced

regulations for 2.4GHz in 1994. Hiperlan is a family of standards in the 5.15-5.2 GHz
and 19.3 GHz frequency bands. Table 1.1 below illustrates the operating frequency
WLAN frequency bands and typical data rates.
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Table 1.1 : WLAN frequency bands and typical data rates [4]

Wireless Technology Data Rates

400 MHz UHF 4.8 – 19.2 Kbps

900 MHz Spread Spectrum 100 – 400 Kbps

2.4 GHz Spread Spectrum 1 - 2 Mbps

2.4 GHz Future More than 10 Mbps

5.7 GHz Future More than 20 Mbps

Standards are created by groups of people that represent many different

organizations such has academics, business, military and government [2]. The Institute
of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) have created and maintained several
accepted operational standards and drafts.

Table 1.2 illustrates a brief comparison of capabilities of WLAN standards that is

the main focus of the researchers in the world. A brief overview of standards is provided
below:

Table 1.2 : Comparison of WLAN standards [2]

Characteristic IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11a HiperLAN2

Spectrum 2.4 GHz 5 GHz 5 GHz
Maximum physical 11 Mbps 64 Mbps 54 Mbps
rate
Max data rate, layer 5 Mbps 28 Mbps 32 Mbps
3
OFDM (Orthogonal
PHY DSSS (Direct Sequence OFDM Frequency Division
Spread Spectrum)
Multiplexing)
CSMA/CA Carrier Central resource
Medium access Sense Multiple CSMA-CA control/TDMA/TDD
control Access/Collision (Time Division
Avoidance) Duplexing)
Connectivity Connection-less Connection-less Connection-oriented
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Characteristic IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11a HiperLAN2

Single carrier with
Frequency selection DSSS Single carrier Dynamic Frequency
Selection
No NAI/IEEE
Authentication No
address/X.509
Encryption 40-bit RC4 40-bit RC4 DES, Triple-DES
Handover support No No No
Ethernet, IP, ATM,
Fixed network Ethernet
Ethernet UMTS, FireWire
support
(1394), PPP
Management 802, 11 MIB 802, 11 MIB HiperLAN/2 MIB
Radio link quality No
No Link adaptation
control
IEEE, WECA HiperLAN2 Global
Organization IEEE, WECA
Forum (H2GF)
ATM/802,
OoS support PCF PCF 1p/RSVP/DiffServ
(full control)

a. IEEE 802.11 – the original wireless LAN standard that specifies the slowest data
transfer rates (1-2 Mbit/s) in both RF and light based transmission.

b. 802.11b – describes somewhat faster data transfer rates (11 Mbit/s) and a more
restrictive scope of transmission technologies. Promoted has Wi-Fi by the
Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA).

c. 802.11a – describes much faster data transfer data rate (54 Mbit/s) then 802.11b
but lacks backwards compatibility with 802.11b.

d. 802.11g – describes data rates equally as fast as 802.11a and boasts the backward
compatibility to 802.11b which requires making inexpensive upgrades.

e. HiperLAN/2 – developed by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards

Institute) to provide a broadband and most flexible connection between devices
over the mobile channel.
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1.2.1 Overview Of WLAN Standards

1.2.1.1 The Open Air Standard

The Open Air Standard was established by Wireless LAN International Forum as
an interoperable standard in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum technology is used to ensure high security and any immunity to interference.
The standards specifies the physical and media access control layer requirement to
achieve through data communications, roaming, security, configuration and coexistence
[5].

1.2.1.2 The ETS 300 328 Standard

The 2.4 GHz frequency band is used and utilized by other types of equipment
such has the microwave oven. This creates interference and degrades performance. To
mitigate this effect the ETS 300 328 standard suggests the use of Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technique. This technique uses several frequencies to
communicate by spreading over it. Eavesdrop is virtually impossible by just listening in.

The raw bit rate of equipment is normally 2 Mbit/s with a net throughput of
typically range of 600 to 800 kbit/s. The effective radiated power from the antenna must
not exceed 100 mW. This is significantly lower then allowed Federal Communication
Commission (FCC) in United States. With that amount of power from the antenna, radio
range is normally range of 20 to 50 meters indoor and range of 100 to 200 hundred
meters outdoor [5].

1.2.1.3 The HiperLAN Standard

HiperLAN is a European family of standards on digital high speed wireless LAN

in the 5 GHz and 17 GHz frequency band [6]. The 5 GHz standard serves to ensure the
possible inter operability of different manufacturers’s wireless communications
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equipment operating in this spectrum. It allows both synchronous and asynchronous

traffic.

The HiperLAN standard only describes a common air interface including the
physical layer for wireless communications equipment and leaving decisions on higher
level protocol. It also defines Medium Access Control (MAC) sub layer and Channel
Access Control (CAC) sub layer corresponding to the Data Link Layer (DLL) in OSI
model.

MAC layer is responsible for handling multiple transmissions without

intervention, performing time critical protocol functions to reduce overhead on processor
and automatically performing simple frame exchange sequences without interrupting
firmware [6].

There is no fixed infrastructure stated in HiperLAN standard. Two stations may

exchange data directly, without any interaction from a wired or radio based
infrastructure. If two HiperLAN stations are not in radio contact with each other, they
may use a third station. The third station can relay messages between the two
communicating stations. HiperLAN has relative high throughput and a raw bit rate of
approximately 24 Mbit/s in MAC protocol [5]. Raw bit rate of 24 Mbit/s will be able to
support multi-media communication.

1.2.1.4 The NII/SUPERnet Standard

The National Information Infrastructure/Shared Unlicensed Personal Radio

Network (NII/SUPERNet) enables wireless transmission of digital data and multimedia
among computers and other information appliances, both within Local Area Networks
(LAN) and between point-to-point site at rates of approximately 24 Mbps.
 8

The NII/SUPERnet standard regulates the NII/SUPERnet devices under FCC.

The goal of this new standard is to foster the development of a broad range of new
devices and stimulate the growth of WLAN industries. It defines low power SUPERnet
service of no more than –10 dBW across 200 m in the 5.15GHz - 5.35GHz frequency
bands that will permit much faster wireless LANs to be designed for in-building use to
meet a growing need [5].

1.2.1.5 The IEEE 802.11 Wireless Standard

The IEEE 802.11 specification is a wireless LAN standard developed by the

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) committee in order to specify
an over the air interface between a wireless client and a base station or access point as
well as among wireless clients [3].

There are two important layers stated by the standard. That is the Physical (PHY)
layer and Media Access Control (MAC) layer. Physical layer defines modulation, signal
characteristics, measuring the RF energy at the antenna and determining the received
signal strength. The MAC associated with rules for accessing the wireless medium with
the support of the physical layer. MAC is given the clear channel status for data
transmission when PHY measures the RF energy below a specified threshold value in
the antenna [3].

The MAC layer employs a collision avoidance protocol called CSMA/CA. In

nature it is difficult to detect collisions signals in an RF transmission network and has a
substitute collisions avoidance is employed. This protocol allows using Request To Send
(RTS), Clear To Send (CTS) and data acknowledge (ACK) transmission frames to help
prevent the disruptions caused by “hidden node” problem [7]. Figure 1.2 shows
development stages of each WLAN standards from formation of standards until mass
deployment of devices.
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INTEROPERABILITY Open Air

METRICS AGREED -

WIRELESS TEST LAB ESTABLISHED

802.11DS, 802.11FH
LAN
STANDARD
DEVELOPMENT
HiperLAN1
PUBLISHED STANDARD

STANDARD BODY FORMED 802.11HS, 802.11GHz, Home RF,

Bluetooth

Figure 1.2 Current status and stages of each WLAN standards [3]

1.2.2 Importance Of Standards

In the 1990s WLAN devices has been mass deployed has predicted, and flat sales
growth of wireless networking components prevailed. Propriety hardware was the only
choice to install before 1998, but only for those application suitable for lower data rates
and enough cost saving to warrant purchasing wireless connections. Today many
organizations have propriety wireless networks for which high cost is need in order to
maintain or replace hardware and software if an upgrade is required. Relatively low data
rates, high prices and especially the lack of standards kept many end users away from
purchasing WLAN [5].

WLAN is an enabling technology, proven over the last decade in vertical

applications such as recording of retail transactions and management of inventory. Many
hospitals and universities that now broadly use the technology with standard PC
platforms have dramatically improved the services they provide to staff, patients, and
students. These installations have increased productivity in the enterprise environment,
and major corporations have turned WLAN.
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The scalability is best demonstrated in the protection of historical building. In

this buildings it is completely prohibited against any structural alterations such has
drilling of holes for new cabling. WLAN is the only viable option for such an
environment . WLAN can be quickly installed and placed into service. Organizations
leasing office space may not want to invest in the installation and maintenance of wired
LAN. Wireless LANs represent a one-time investment; once configured, wireless LANs
can be moved from place to place with little or no modification, and will not incur
additional installation cost [8].

Today WLAN are called has hotspots where casual surfers flock to public
hotspots in airports, hotels, convention centers and coffee shops. Casual surfers with a
WLAN card gain access to the Internet. WLAN networking setup allows laptop users to
access the broadband connection from any room and desktop users to access the Internet
without drilling holes for cables.

1.3 Research Background

The acceptances of wireless 2G technologies has been tremendous, even though

systems with 2G are not interoperable. 3G technologies will some however will bring
some convergence but is still a long way being a single global technology. 4G with
Internet Protocol (IP) based is projected to fuse all sorts of networks and will bring
convergence to all related technologies. In a dense user environment hot spots WLAN is
said to be a complementary technology towards cellular technology [8].

Cellular mobile services operators offer WLAN services in major hot spots.
Among the hot spots area are airport, hotels and coffee shops. This configuration is an
ad-hoc network oriented. Their objectives to continuing offer higher throughput in a
mobile environment, similar to performance user experiences in the SOHO (Small
 11

Office Home Office) environment. WLAN is not a part of the evolution path of cellular
network but as a wireless extension to SOHOs [8].

WLAN complements to the a wide area 3G network. It offers close inter-working

to ensure proper delivery of services according to most appropriate available access
network. Figure 1.3 illustrates WLAN has essential part of multi technology access
network [9]. The future of all types of network will be IP based. IP will fuse all different
network interface into one huge seamless network.

Services and
application

New radio
i t f

Media Access System

DAB, DVB
Wireline xDSL
IP-based core network

WLAN type
Cellular GSM

IMT-2000 UMTS

Short-range
connectivity

Figure 1.3 A Multi Technology Network [9]

WLAN market seems to be evolving in a similar fashion to the networking

industry as a whole, starting with the early adopters using whatever technology was
available. The market has moved into a rapid growth stage, for which popular standards
are providing the catalyst. The rate of growth is the big difference between the
networking market as a whole and the wireless LAN market. WLAN offers so many
flexibilities in terms of implementation.
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As the WLAN technology improves, the cost of manufacturing and thus

purchasing and implementing the hardware continues to fall, and the number of installed
wireless LANs continues to increase. Standards that govern WLAN operation will
increasingly stress interoperability and compatibility [9].

1.4 WLAN Problem Scenario

Indoor WLAN communication takes place between a single personal computer

of notebook and the rest of LAN components. Traffic volume for an average user is
generally low, for example if a device operating at a stated 11 Mb will have a true
throughput of 1 to 2 Mb.When WLAN grows to serve a dozen links or even hundreds of
links on an enterprise. Traffic volume for an average user degrades with number of
users. A solution is needed to increase the traffic volume [3].

Hidden transmitter phenomenon generates multipath and localized packet

retransmission. Hidden transmitter problem is something that is unavoidable. It occurs
when a wireless node cannot hear one or more of the other nodes. Multiple nodes will
attempt to transmit data over the shared medium simultaneously, causing more than one
transmitting direct path between the transmitter and receiver. A multipath interference is
created.

This effect is similar to a broadcast storm on a wired LAN segment and brings
the traffic to a stand still. Interfering transmitters have a very detrimental effect on the
performance of every wireless node in the network. This cause a 50 % performance of
the entire network. There is a dire need for solutions that offer higher bandwidth and to
decrease multipath problem [8].

Hidden node problem also results in retransmission of packet. This extra traffic
consumes a small portion of the network bandwidth, but considered a part of the normal
 13

overhead associated with WLAN traffic. Active attempts are taken in order to reduce
this overhead [8]. In general, researchers on Wlan intend to find a solution that will be
able to meet the following criteria.

a. Need to increase higher bandwidth.

b. Need to decrease multipath problem.

c. Need higher rate of transmission.

d. Need to increase capacity/traffic volume.

1.5 Thesis Problem Statement

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristic of wireless local area
network physical layers based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
standards and achieving further improvements using OFDM Multiple Input Multiple
Output (MIMO).

The physical layer defines the electrical, mechanical and procedural

specifications for transmission of information over a communication channel and
medium. WLAN physical layer is last layer in the Open System Interconnect (OSI)
protocol stack of a common networking system defined by the International Standards
Organization (ISO).

1.6 Research Objective

The research is to design and simulate the basic physical layer processing blocks
of WLAN using Simulink and Matlab. The physical layers will be based on IEEE
802.11a Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) standard. Higher Open
 14

System Interconnect (OSI) layers of WLAN networking protocol stack will remain
same.

Upon completion of the design, the research is to study and simulate the
performance of the OFDM based WLAN. Further investigation is carried out to observe
improvements using MIMO technique. Objectives of the research are:

a. To study IEEE 802.11a standard. This standard encompass the WLAN physical
layer based on OFDM. Further studies are carried out on OFDM using MIMO.

b. To design the IEEE 802.11a standard WLAN physical layer initially with
OFDM.

c. To simulate and produce error performance (BER versus Eb/No) of the design on
various WLAN

d. To further investigate performance improvement with MIMO.

1.7 Thesis Outline

The thesis is organized into six chapters that completely covers this research.
Chapter 1 covers the introduction of significant WLAN standards and its attributes. It
defines the research problem statement and objectives. Chapter 2 provides explanation,
principles and major concepts related to the research and simulation for WLAN systems.
An explanation on the WLAN channel is provided.

Chapter 3 provides the explanation of the system level modeling and simulation
setup of OFDM IEEE 802.11a using Matlab and Simulink. Here it explains how
information is assimilated in the research and explains in details of the model itself with
all of its composition and components. It is basically a transmitter and receiver with
 15

WLAN channel in between. Chapter 4 provides the explanation for the extension of the
OFDM model using MIMO to improve the performance.

Chapter 5 presents the results from the simulation of the model has explained in
chapter 5. It provides a comparisons between produced results and theoretical results
based on past research papers and journals and discussion on the results. Chapter 6
provides the conclusion and future work that can be undertaken to refine the research.
The final chapter also provides an overall conclusion of the work conducted in this
research project. Future works and recommendations are outlined.

1.8 Summary

The research objective are explained. A brief explanation of WLAN standards is

provided with certain focus and interest in the IEEE 802.11a standard physical layers.
Research background and thesis composition is explained. Following chapters outline
the information has explained in the thesis outline. Chapter 2 explains the literature
review, where the research quotes all the past work and research done related to the
research.