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GODAVARI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RAJAHMUNDRY

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

AUTHORS

JADDU NAGA SUDHEER CSIT 3 RD YEAR 04551A1222 jnsudheer@yahoo.com 9290009741

K.V.S.ANIRUDHA CSIT 3 RD YEAR 04551A1203 anirudh_kaki@yahoo.com 9985700883

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WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

ABSTRACTION
Wireless networks are nowadays the most popular means of data communication. A wireless network is defined as a network protocol that enables online content to be viewed and accessed via wireless devices such as cell phones, laptops and handheld devices. Bluetooth is a simple type of wireless networking that allows the formation of a small network with up to eight devices being connected at once.Wireless networks may operate on licensed or unlicensed portions of the frequency spectrum. Some of the types of wireless networks that we come across are WLANS(Wireless Local Area Networks),WPANS(Wireless Personal Area Networks),WMANS( Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks),WWANS(Wireless Wide Area Networks).As far as application point of view the different categories of wireless networks are CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data), HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data), PDC-P (Packet Data Cellular),GPRS(General Packet Radio Service),1xRTT(1x Radio Transmission Technology), Bluetooth,

MMDS(Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service),LMDS(Local Multipoint Distribution Service),WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access),802.11(Wi-Fi)The advantages offered by wireless networks lure the users around the world to switch to wireless networks. But users have to compromise with the speed limitations offered by wireless networks. Security of a wireless network is influenced by unauthorized access and viruses. It will be more beneficial if Security levels of wireless networks are improved. There are broadly three methods of security available when it comes to wireless networking and they are Wep (Wired equivalent privacy), Ssid (service set identifier), Mac (Media access control) address filtering. Convenience and mobility are just two of the benefits that attract users. Will the world of networking ever be completely wire free? I guess well have to wait and see!

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3 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION Introduction Whether its because you have made a call using a mobile phone, received a message on your pager, checked your email from a PDA, we have all come across a wireless data or voice network! If a user, application or company wishes to make data portable, mobile and accessible then wireless networking is the answer. A wireless networking system would rid of the downtime you would normally have in a wired network due to cable problems. It would also save time and money due to the fact that you would spare the expense of installing a lot of cables. Also, if a client computer needs to relocate to another part of the office then all you need to do is move the machine with the wireless network card. Wireless networking can prove to be very useful in public places libraries, guest houses, hotels, cafeterias, and schools are all places where one might find wireless access to the Internet. From a financial point of view, this is beneficial to both the provider and the client. The provider would offer the service for a charge probably on a pay per use system, and the client would be able to take advantage of this service in a convenient location; away from the office or home. What is a network? A network is a set of devices connected by media links. A node can be a computer, printer, or any other device capable of sending and receiving data generated by other nodes on the network. The links connecting the devices are often called communication channels.

Types of networks A) Token ring networks B) Ethernet networks C) Wireless networks

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What is a wireless network? A network protocol that enables online content to be viewed via wireless devices Such as cellphones, laptops and handhelds are called a wireless network. Bluetooth is a simple type of wireless networking that allows the formation of a small network with up to eight devices being connected at once. Such devices would include PDAs, Laptops, Mobile Phones and Personal Computers. However, Bluetooth may also be found in keyboards, mice, headsets and mobile phone hands-free kits, amongst others. It was originally invented by Ericsson in 1994. In 1998 the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) was formed by a small number of major companies Ericsson, Nokia, Intel and Toshiba to help each other develop and promote the technology. Bluetooth falls under personal area networking since it is has a very short range 30 to 300 feet. This sort of range adds to the security of such a technology in that if someone wanted to sniff your connection they would not only need special equipment but they would have to be fairly close to you. The main features of Bluetooth are that unlike Infra Red, the signal is not affected by walls it uses radio technology, it is not very expensive, and has little power consumption. Wireless data networks exist in such number and variety as to be difficult to categorize and compare. Some wireless data networks run over wireless voice networks, such as mobile telephone networks. CPDP, HSCSD, PDC-P, and GPRS are examples. Other wireless networks run on their own physical layer networks, utilizing anything from antennas built into handheld devices to large antennas mounted on towers. 802.11, LMDS, and MMDS are examples. A few wireless networks are intended only to connect small devices over short distances. Bluetooth is an example. Wireless networks which run over other wireless networks often utilize the lower layer networks to provide security and encryption. Stand-alone wireless networks either provide their own security and encryption features or rely upon VPN's (Virtual Private Networks) to provide those features. In many cases, multiple layers of security and encryption may be desirable. Some wireless networks are fixed, meaning that antennas do not move frequently. Other wireless networks are mobile, meaning that the antenna can move constantly. This is sometimes a feature of the specific

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5 implementation and antenna design, instead of an inherent limitation of the wireless network specification. Wireless networks may operate on licensed or unlicensed portions of the frequency spectrum. Types of Wireless Networks a) WLANS: Wireless Local Area Networks WLANS allow users in a local area, such as a university campus or library, to form a network or gain access to the internet. A temporary network can be formed by a small number of users without the need of an access point; given that they do not need access to network resources. b)WPANS: Wireless Personal Area Networks The two current technologies for wireless personal area networks are Infra Red (IR) and Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15). These will allow the connectivity of personal devices within an area of about 30 feet. However, IR requires a direct line of site and the range is less. c) WMANS: Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks This technology allows the connection of multiple networks in a metropolitan area such as different buildings in a city, which can be an alternative or backup to laying copper or fibre cabling. d) WWANS: Wireless Wide Area Networks These types of networks can be maintained over large areas, such as cities or countries, via multiple satellite systems or antenna sites looked after by an ISP. These types of systems are referred to as 2G (2 nd Generation) systems.

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6 Below is a table indicating the range that wireless data networks can handle: Metres 0-10 0-100 0-10000 Network Personal Area Network Local Area Network Wide Area Network

Common Wireless Network Types based on application point of view Major types of wireless networks include: CDPD HSCSD PDC-P GPRS 1xRTT Bluetooth IrDA MMDS LMDS Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service Local Multipoint Distribution Service Cellular Digital Packet Data High Speed Circuit Switched Data Packet Data Cellular General Packet Radio Service 1x Radio Transmission Technology

WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access 802.11 Wi-Fi

Advantages of wireless communication Laptops are easier to use and so are used more often. To hook up to the network, a student merely opens his laptop, inserts a wireless card and turns on the machine. Thats all. The wireless connection eliminates the need to find a hub, unravel a cord, walk or reach several feet, and plug in. The ease of access to the network encourages precisely what schools want to see: greater use of the laptops and greater integration of the technology into the curriculum. Faculty members who had been put off by the sheer physical effort of getting a room of students online seem more likely to consider

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7 assignments to use the web. Ease of use also encourages spontaneity. Inside or outside class, students and faculty can turn to their laptops to collaborate or answer questions as soon as the need arises. The system saves time. With access easy, setup is fast. Valuable as this is for one user, it is even more so for several notably, groups of students in classrooms. With wires, teachers report as much as five minutes spent setting up and shutting down the laptops for class. A wireless network frees as much as ten minutes of extra learning time each period potentially as much as an hour a day for students who are using laptops in several different courses. Wireless connections also improve productivity outside the classroom. Students can get to work in study hall in a flash. Faculty finds it easier to use small bits of time. Wireless works anywhere, so users can move around. No longer tethered to a 15-foot patch cord, students and teachers with working batteries can move around the classroom, even rearrange desks if desired. Outside class, students and faculty can move from classroom to office to conference room as they choose without logging on and off and plugging in and unplugging. Disadvantages of wireless communication Wireless systems are slower. Existing wireless technology does not offer the performance of wired systems. How much slower it operates depends on the task at hand. While there is little difference in simple and frequent - uses such as checking e-mail and browsing the web, more complex tasks such as downloading large files and using multimedia software all go far more slowly. Indeed, the difference between the speed of wired and wireless systems is not very significant when dealing with sites such as sites on the Internet that are not located on the school server. Wireless systems are harder to supervise in the classroom. Some students take advantage of the ease of use of wireless to send e-mail, play games or otherwise tune out during class. Classroom distractions have always been part of school. Wireless cards make it easier for students to be distracted. One consequence is that teachers are encouraged to make their students active and involved participants in class rather than passive recipients of explanations or lectures.

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8 Wireless systems are not truly wireless. While wireless technology eliminates the need for a cord connecting the user to the network, students still need to plug their laptops into an electrical outlet unless their batteries are charged. Students are not always reliable about recharging their batteries at night, charges run out and many aging batteries can no longer hold a charge. So electrical wires remain. Wireless communication security Unfortunately, no computer network is truly secure. It's always theoretically possible for eavesdroppers to view or "snoop" the traffic on any network, and it's often possible to add or "inject" unwelcome traffic as well. However, some networks are built and managed much more securely than others. For both wired and wireless networks alike, the real question to answer becomes - is it secure enough? Wireless networks add an extra level of security complexity compared to wired networks. Whereas wired networks send electrical signals or pulses of light through cable, wireless radio signals propagate through the air and are naturally easier to intercept. Signals from most wireless LANs (WLANs) pass through exterior walls and into nearby streets or parking lots. Network engineers and other technology experts have closely scrutinized wireless network security because of the open-air nature of wireless communications. The practice of wardriving, for example, exposed the

vulnerabilities of home WLANs and accelerated the pace of security technology advances in home wireless equipment. Overall, conventional wisdom holds that wireless networks are now "secure enough" to use in the vast majority of homes, and many businesses. Security features like 128-bit WEP and WPA can scramble or "encrypt" network traffic so that its contents can not easily be deciphered by snoopers. Likewise, wireless routers and access points (APs) incorporate access control features such as MAC address filtering that deny network requests from unwanted clients. Obviously every home or business must determine for themselves the level of risk they are comfortable in taking when implementing a wireless network. The better a wireless network is administered, the more secure it becomes. However, the only truly secure network is the one never built!

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9 Security methods for wireless communication The following are three methods of security available when it comes to wireless: a) WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) Wired Equivalent Privacy is intended to stop the interception of radio frequency signals by unauthorized users and is most suitable for small networks. This is so because there is no key management protocol and each key must be entered manually into the clients this proves to be a very time consuming administrative task. WEP is based on the RC4 encryption algorithm by RSA Data Systems. It works by having all clients and Access Points configured with the same key for encryption and decryption. b) SSID (Service Set Identifier) SSID acts a simple password by allowing a WLAN network to be split up into different networks each having a unique identifier. These identifiers will be programmed into multiple access points. To access any of the networks, a client computer must be configured with a corresponding SSID identifier for that network. If they match then access will be granted to the client computer. c) MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering A list of MAC addresses belonging to the client computers can be inputted into an Access Point and thus only those computers will be allowed access. When a computer makes a request, its MAC address is compared to that of the MAC address list on the Access Point and permission granted or denied. This is a good method of security but only recommended for smaller networks as there is a high rate of work involved in entering each MAC address into every Access Point. By taking example of Bluetooth, which is a simple wireless network, we can better understand the security issues of a wireless network. Bluetooth is a specification for short distance wireless communication between two devices.

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10 Bluetooth Specifications Fixed/Mobile Mobile

Circuit/Packet Both Max Bandwidth Range Frequency 1Mb 10 meters 2.40GHz-2.483.5Ghz (U.S. and Europe) or

2.472Ghz-2.497Ghz (Japan)

Host Network None Definer URL Bluetooth SIG http://www.bluetooth.org/

Bluetooth Security Bluetooth security is based upon device authentication, not user authentication. Each device is either trusted or untrusted. Bluetooth devices are identified by unique 48-bit identifiers, much like Ethernet MAC addresses. Bluetooth Security Modes Bluetooth features three security modes. Mode Name 1 2 Non-secure Service-level security Link-level security Description No security is implemented Access is granted to individual services Security is enforced at a common level for all applications at the beginning of the connection

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11 The Future of Wireless communication About twenty per cent of homes with broadband Internet have WLANS, and this number is set to increase. It is predicted that worldwide hotspots have now reached 30,000 and will grow to about 210,000 within the next five years. Most large hotels already offer Wi-Fi and with business travellers being the ones who are willing to pay for wireless access, it is most likely that the hotel industry will be the next big growth area for hotspots. 802.11n, the next Wi-Fi speed standard, is set to offer a bandwidth of around 108Mbps and is still under development. Wi-Fi security should be bettered with the release of the 802.11i standard which will be out in the third quarter of this year. If you are after assured quality of service then the 802.11e standard will be of interest to you this will ensure that packets are delivered in a timely fashion. With speeds of 70 Mbps and a range of up to 30 miles, the 802.16 standard better known as WiMAX, is sure to be a hit. This should make an impact within the next two years, although Intel have announced they will start shipping WiMAX enabled chips in the second half of this year. Even though the approval of 802.11n isnt expected until the end of 2006, hardware manufacturers such as Belkin have already started to offer Pre-N routers and wireless network adapters. These offer improved network speed and range which would benefit users who wish to transfer larger files and stream audio/video. With Pre-N, an Access Point and Wireless NIC Card 10 feet away from each other have an average throughput of about 40mbps. Hardware vendors, such as Linksys and D-Link have also announced the use of MIMO (Multiple- In-Multiple-Out) in their products. MIMO allows the signal to be bounced off several antennas and paths so that data delivery is guaranteed. Basically, many unique data streams are passed in the same frequency channel. It is a technology that allows for the boosting of wireless bandwidth and range, effectively providing better performance for wireless multimedia and entertainment systems. Convenience and mobility are just two of the benefits that attract the users worldwide. Will the world of networking ever be completely wire free? I guess well have to wait and see!

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