[edit] Limitations

One IEEE 802.11 WAP can typically communicate with 30 client systems located within a radius of 100 m.[citation needed] However, the actual range of communication can vary significantly, depending on such variables as indoor or outdoor placement, height above ground, nearby obstructions, other electronic devices that might actively interfere with the signal by broadcasting on the same frequency, type of antenna, the current weather, operating radio frequency, and the power output of devices. Network designers can extend the range of WAPs through the use of repeaters and reflectors, which can bounce or amplify radio signals that ordinarily would go un-received. In experimental conditions, wireless networking has operated over distances of several kilometers.[citation needed] Most jurisdictions have only a limited number of frequencies legally available for use by wireless networks. Usually, adjacent WAPs will use different frequencies (Channels) to communicate with their clients in order to avoid interference between the two nearby systems. Wireless devices can "listen" for data traffic on other frequencies, and can rapidly switch from one frequency to another to achieve better reception. However, the limited number of frequencies becomes problematic in crowded downtown areas with tall buildings using multiple WAPs. In such an environment, signal overlap becomes an issue causing interference, which results in signal dropage and data errors. Wireless networking lags behind wired networking in terms of increasing bandwidth and throughput. While (as of 2004) typical wireless devices for the consumer market can reach speeds of 11 Mbit/s (megabits per second) (IEEE 802.11b) or 54 Mbit/s (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g), wired hardware of similar cost reaches 1000 Mbit/s (Gigabit Ethernet). One impediment to increasing the speed of wireless communications comes from Wi-Fi's use of a shared communications medium, so a WAP is only able to use somewhat less than half the actual over-the-air rate for data throughput. Thus a typical 54 MBit/s wireless connection actually carries TCP/IP data at 20 to 25 Mbit/s. Users of legacy wired networks expect faster speeds, and people using wireless connections keenly want to see the wireless networks catch up. As of 2007 a new standard for wireless, 802.11n is awaiting final certification from IEEE. This new standard operates at speeds up to 540 Mbit/s and at longer distances (~50 m) than 802.11g. Use of legacy wired networks (especially in consumer applications) is expected[by whom?] to decline sharply as the common 100 Mbit/s speed is surpassed and users no longer need to worry about running wires to attain high bandwidth.[citation needed] By the year 2008 draft 802.11n based access points and client devices have already taken a fair share of the market place but with inherent problems integrating products from different vendors.

[edit] Security
Main article: Wireless LAN Security

Wireless access has special security considerations. Many wired networks base the security on physical access control, trusting all the users on the local network, but if wireless access points are connected to the network, anyone on the street or in the neighboring office could connect. The most common solution is wireless traffic encryption. Modern access points come with built-in encryption. The first generation encryption scheme WEP proved easy to crack; the second and third generation schemes, WPA and WPA2, are considered secure if a strong enough password or passphrase is used. Some WAPs support hotspot style authentication using RADIUS and other authentication servers

EIRP Limitations for 802.11 WLANs

By Jim Geier
July 18, 2002

The spectrum regulatory body of each country restricts signal power levels of various frequencies to accommodate needs of users and avoid RF interference. Most countries deem 802.11 wireless LANs as license free. In order to qualify for license free operation, however, the radio devices must limit power levels to relatively low values. In many cases, installers would prefer to use comparatively high transmit power to increase the range of access points. The problem, however, is that RF interference with other nearby equipment would occur more often. The RF spectrum is limited, so we must control the amount of power must we use.

The FCC makes the rules

In the U.S., the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) defines power limitations for wireless LANs in FCC Part 15.247. Manufacturers of 802.11 products must comply with Part 15 to qualify for selling their products within the U.S. Regulatory bodies in other countries have similar rules. Part 15.247 provides details on limitations of EIRP (equivalent isotropically radiated power). EIRP represents the total effective transmit power of the radio, including gains that the antenna provides and losses from the antenna cable. You must take all of these into account when calculating the EIRP for a specific radio. The gain of an antenna represents how well it increases effective signal power in a particular direction, with dBi (decibels relative to an isotropic radiator) as the unit of measure. dBi represents the gain of an antenna as compared to an isotropic radiator, which transmits RF signals in all directions equally. More precisely, dBi equals 10 times the logarithm (base 10) of the electromagnet field intensity of the antennas favored direction

divided by the electromagnetic field intensity of an isotropic antenna (with measurements taken at the same distance). Manufacturers determine the antenna's dBi value, so it's a relief we don't have to calculate it. What we do need to know, however, is that every three dBi doubles the power of an RF signal. As a result, higher values of dBi extend the range of a wireless LAN.

FCC tighter on mobile WLANs

A typical indoor WLAN consists of enough access points to cover the facility to enable wireless mobility for users. Radio NICs in user devices and access points generally have omni-directional antennas that propagate RF energy in most directions, which maximizes connectivity for mobile applications. When using omni-directional antennas having less than 6 dB gain in this scenario, the FCC rules require EIRP to be 1 watt (1,000 milliwatts) or less. In most cases, you'll be within regulations using omni-directional antennas supplied by the vendor of your radio NICs and access points. For example, you can set the transmit power in an 802.11b access point or client to its highest level (generally 100 milliwatts) and use a typical 3 dB omni-directional antenna. This combination results in only 200 milliwatts EIRP, which is well within FCC regulations.

FCC loosens up
The FCC eases EIRP limitations for fixed, point-to-point systems that use higher gain directive antennas. If the antenna gain is at least 6 dBi, the FCC allows operation up to 4 watts EIRP. This is 1 watt (the earlier limitation) plus 6 dB of gain. The higher gain antennas have greater directivity, which propagate RF energy more in one direction than others. This reduces the possibility of causing RF interference with other nearby systems. Thus, the use of higher gain antennas, even if they result in higher EIRP, is acceptable. The users benefit by having greater range, and neighboring systems are much less likely to encounter RF interference. For antennas having gain greater than 6 dBi, the FCC requires you to reduce the transmitter output power if the transmitter is already at the maximum of 1 watt. The reduction, however, is only 1 dB for every 3 dB of additional antenna gain beyond the 6 dBi mentioned above. This means that as antenna gain goes up, you decrease the transmitter power by a smaller amount. As a result, the FCC allows EIRP greater than 4 watts for antennas having gains higher than 6 dBi. As you can see, the deployment of a wireless LAN for typical mobile applications using omni-directional antennas is fairly straightforward in terms of EIRP limitations. The problems come into play when installing systems to connect buildings within a metropolitan area. In this case, pay close attention to the FCC rules. You could find

yourself violating the rules if you don't calculate the EIRP and see if you're within limitations. Jim Geier provides independent consulting services to companies developing and deploying wireless network solutions. He is the author of the book, Wireless LANs (SAWIFI
technology supports two types, one is called infrastructure other one is Ad hoc In ad hoc Wi-Fi network can be connected without central device known as router or access point Ad hoc mode is always preferred over infrastructure mode, however ad hoc networks have following issues Wi-Fi devices configure on Ad hoc mode offers nominal security against network intruders. Ad hock WiFi configured devices cannot disable SSID broadcast in contrast to infrastructure mode. Network attackers will not required much of effort to prevail in Ad hoc Network

Using Ad hoc mode signals issues can experienced where as using alternative infrastructure mode will provide full strength singles. Wi-Fi networking standard including 802.11g requires ad hoc mode of communication supports which 11Mbps bandwidth Wi-Fi devices when configured to infrastructure mode can transfer data up to 54 Mbps, where as using ad hoc mode only 11 mbps can be achieved. Ad hoc mode is considered slower in comparison to infrastructure for this reason. Security concerns It is simple to set Wi-Fi network but keeping it secure takes much more effort, Access points of Wi-Fi do not deploy encryption methods. It is required to be done as network is enabled. Secure Wi-Fi network can be easily attacked by hackers to steal private information. Guests who are not potentially harmful can still utilize the network resources and minimize the performance. Interference from other devices Wi-Fi transmits data at 2.4 GHz making susceptible to interfere Bluetooth enabled devices, mobile phones, cordless, Microwaves and other communication devices, closer the interfering devices are the poor communication will be and vice versa. Lacking high-quality media streaming Todays fastest Wi-Fi standards are pushed beyond their limit when trying to view high end media.High definition video and audios cannot be viewed flawlessly because of lower transfer rate; things can be much more worst if other clients are accessing the same access points. Even the fastest current Wi-Fi standards are pushed beyond their limit when trying to handle some of today's high-end media. High-definition audio and video files are timely-delivery-intensive, and typical wireless networks have neither the transfer speeds nor the consistency to transfer them flawlessly. This problem is further compounded if there are multiple devices connected to the same because the bandwidth must be divided between all of the equipment.

How to improve Wi-Fi range ? Ever since Wi-Fi technology has started to take over most of the ways to connect to internet, boosting its signal improving connection performance has always been in discussions. Wireless routers are most commonly used devices when are used for wireless connection, millions of wireless devices are used in homes and offices to access wireless internet using Wi-Fi technology.

There are numerous ways which can be used to improve performance of wireless connection, and incase if you are not receiving full signal bar then there are numerous ways by which you can improve signals as well. There are following steps by which you can improve over all performance of Wireless networks and signal receiving. The first thing which should be done is to make sure that you are getting the most of your wireless

router. Wireless router/switch should be placed on height by mounting it on wall preferably. Mounting it on centre of premises can improve performance as well. Any electronic device ranging 2.4Ghz which can be baby monitors, phones, Bluetooth devices, etc can create interference in communication of router resulting in decreased performance of connection. There are possibilities that your neighbor is using Wi-Fi on same spectrum, this confliction can decrease performance as well, to avoid such a scenario use different channel from your neighbor connection, if your neighbor connection channel is 12, try to use channel 1 to avoid channel interference. If things are not improved even after all these measures, then it is recommend to update your wireless router / access point. Consider buying new router with Multiple input multiple output (MIMO), or draft-n technology. There routers are specially design for greater rang then normal 802.11g standard routers, and also improves speed up to ten times.

Note: You can also boost signals for your wi-fi connection by customized made antennas