Affordable Wireless LAN Design for Davis Networks Inc.

Introduction and Network Overview

This proposal outlines the development of an affordable local area network (LAN) for Davis Networks Inc. The goal is to provide wireless Internet connectivity to all users for their desktops and laptops, drawing from the organization's existing high-speed connection at a cost of approximately $800–$1,000. Providing Internet to the same location costs approximately $700, including all ancillary expenses such as wiring. Various obstacles must be considered in implementing the project, including electric poles, trees, and walls.

The core location is the Computer Center building, which has the highest connection speeds. From this building, connectivity will be distributed to surrounding buildings located within a 500–1,000 meter range. Establishing the network requires five Wireless Access Points (WAPs) with Omni antennas (A, B, C, D, E) and two directional antennas (X and Y). A Wireless Access Point will be installed at the Computer Center building and will carry two antennas — one Omni and one directional. Directional antenna X will communicate with directional antenna Y, and Omni antenna B will be supported between them (Deep, Kush & Kumar, 2010).

Communication will be facilitated through the antennas by the corresponding WAP. The line of sight between the antennas will be kept clear. All antennas in the network will communicate through one another, with Access Points at A, B, C, D, and E operating in repeater mode. As illustrated in the network diagrams, every access point provides signals to laptops, computers, and other nearby devices. Weaker access points will be supported by stronger ones (Deep, Kush & Kumar, 2010).

Once the area is fully understood and Wi-Fi locations are identified, a market survey will be conducted to determine which products offer the best cost-benefit ratios. An alternative strategy involves maintaining a wired network as the backbone for the WAPs. Although laying wired networks can be expensive, fiber optics may be incorporated to increase bandwidth. Additionally, a collection of low-gain antenna WAPs can be positioned to cover clusters of two to four neighboring buildings (Deep, Kush & Kumar, 2010).

Review of Wireless Access Technologies

Several Radio Access Technologies (RATs) are currently in use, including GSM/GPRS, UMTS, IEEE 802.11-based wireless LAN (e.g., Wi-Fi), and IEEE 802.16-based Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (e.g., WiMAX). Future mobile communication systems anticipate a heterogeneous wireless communication environment that enables seamless communication, adaptive service quality, and joint service management. In a multi-technology environment, making Radio Access Networks (RANs) cooperate with one another presents significant challenges. Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) offers recommendations to support standardization bodies and manufacturers in achieving cost-effective integrated mobile communication systems. There are three recommendation groups: functional recommendations targeting service providers' ability to deliver flexible services; recommendations related to cost efficiency; and guidance for evaluating deployment suitability. NGMN expects integrated networks to maximize resource exploitation, with terminals supporting multiple RATs. A Session Initiation Protocol-based subsystem may also be implemented to control access and manage network and service functions (Luo & Bodanese, 2008).

Numerous access points and wireless-capable laptops are found in homes today, and the number of wireless devices is expected to continue growing as costs decline. Because only three non-interfering channels exist in 802.11, performance will suffer due to interference from a growing number of wireless devices. Spectrum scarcity may become a significant issue in the future. One solution involves actively monitoring spectrum usage in a specific location and allocating spectrum efficiently as wireless devices require it (Li & Liu, 2005).

Infrastructure Mode

A wireless LAN can operate in infrastructure mode by means of a wireless access point. This mode enables wireless connections to devices within a covered area. The access point carries at least one antenna to facilitate interaction with wireless nodes. In infrastructure mode, the wireless access point converts airwave data into wired Ethernet data, connecting wireless clients to the LAN. Network coverage can be extended by connecting several access points through a wired Ethernet backbone. When a mobile device moves out of one access point's range, it enters the range of another, allowing wireless clients to roam seamlessly without dropping their connection.

IEEE 802.11g/b wireless nodes communicate with one another via radio frequency signals in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band ranging from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz. Surrounding channels are separated by 5 MHz. However, because of the spread spectrum effect, a transmitting node uses a frequency spectrum extending 12.5 MHz above and below the center channel frequency, causing interference due to channel proximity. Using two optimally separated channels significantly improves performance by reducing channel cross-talk. The wireless nature of the connection also introduces vulnerability and the risk of information theft and eavesdropping (Chapter 2 Wireless Networking Basics, 2005).

The most widely used WLAN protocol is the 802.11b IEEE standard, operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency range with a maximum data link rate of 54 Mbps and a throughput of approximately 26 Mbps. Higher frequency generally corresponds to higher bandwidth, though range decreases accordingly. The more recently developed 802.11g protocol is an IEEE specification extending 802.11b, also operating in the 2.4 GHz band but using improved modulation to increase bandwidth, with a 54 Mbps data ceiling and throughput of up to 22 Mbps. The 802.11g standard captures benefits of both 802.11b and 802.11a. Radio signal propagation for all three protocols is influenced by environmental factors including barriers such as glass, metal, and wood, meaning manufacturer performance claims may be misleading in real-world settings (Sohal & Dowdy, 2004).

Project Rationale and Scope

Wireless technology has enabled several cost-effective and popular solutions for educational and business purposes. This proposal seeks to implement an affordable wireless local area network for Davis Networks Inc. Based on the organization's budget and timeline, the proposal has been found to be workable and well-suited. Wireless technology is increasingly prevalent in both computing and everyday life, appearing in television remotes, car key fobs, radio, Wi-Fi, and mobile phones. Wireless adoption has enhanced worker mobility, enabling employees to travel globally while accessing information through electronic media. The past several years have seen widespread adoption of wireless networking and mobile telephony, with these devices increasingly integrated into networks such as the Internet.

Common reasons cited for avoiding wired networks include delays, high expense, and installation hassles. Both homeowners and enterprises are increasingly forgoing wired installations. Wireless networks are less expensive and can achieve higher throughput, driving the exponential growth of wireless networks in communities, homes, businesses, and public spaces. High-speed Internet is no longer considered a luxury and is accessible to travelers worldwide. Two variants of mobile wireless networks exist: infrastructure networks and infrastructure-less mobile networks, also known as ad-hoc networks.

The wireless networking market is rapidly growing as various organizations discover the advantages of wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi affords users greater mobility, which is crucial in fields such as warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, airports, hotels, colleges, and convention centers. Within businesses, public areas, conference rooms, and branch offices are among the spaces that benefit from WLANs (TSi-Global, n.d.).

The project involves a structured set of competencies, including the following phases:

Requirements Analysis

This involves defining the technical requirements and specifications that form the basis upon which the wireless network is designed (TSi-Global, n.d.).

System Design

This involves defining the optimal system architecture, wireless technologies, configurations, and products that ensure requirements are met (TSi-Global, n.d.).

Site Surveys

Surveying the sites entails identifying the most suitable locations for installing wireless access points and/or nodes, analyzing existing RF interference, and assessing assets for equipment mounting as well as current wired distribution systems (TSi-Global, n.d.).

System Testing

This entails verifying the installed wireless network through a developed test plan and carrying out tests to ensure that all requirements — including signal coverage, security, supportability, and performance — are met (TSi-Global, n.d.).

System Installation

This entails planning the installation, training installers, and supervising the wireless network installation. Reputable installers may also be recommended if outsourcing is necessary (TSi-Global, n.d.).

Security Assessments

This involves assessing the security of the existing wireless network by reviewing network configurations and conducting penetration testing (TSi-Global, n.d.).

Expert Troubleshooting

This entails identifying the root cause of problems affecting wireless networks through observation of system behavior and by conducting protocol analysis and RF tests (TSi-Global, n.d.).

Operational Support Planning

This involves developing support plans for wireless networks, including assessing current support methods and organizational structure, creating decision trees for support staff to follow during troubleshooting, identifying required tools, and recommending the best approach for ongoing network support (TSi-Global, n.d.).

Project Management

This involves planning the deployment of the enterprise wireless network and managing the various project operations — defining requirements, completing design, performing installation, testing the network, and putting the support plan in place (TSi-Global, n.d.).