The document provides an overview of wireless technology, focusing on the transfer of information without wires, including Wi-Fi and WiMAX. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of Wi-Fi, such as higher power consumption and encryption vulnerabilities, while also highlighting licensed vs. unlicensed spectrum operations and cellular data technologies like CDMA and GSM. Additionally, it touches on regulatory aspects by the FCC regarding spectrum management and upcoming wireless auctions.

1. Casey Wagner St. Cloud State University

2. What is wireless? the transfer of information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or "wires".

3. Electromagnetic Spectrum Light, colors, AM and FM radio, and electronic devices In US, it is treated like a public resource and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 9 KHz to 300 GHz

4. Wi-Fi a wireless technology brand owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance intended to improve the interoperability of wireless local area network products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards sometimes called “Wireless Fidelity”

5. Wi-Fi Protocol Release Date Frequency Legacy 1997 2.4 GHz 802.11a 1999 5 GHz 802.11b 1999 2.4 GHz 802.11g 2003 2.4 GHz 802.11n Estimated: 2008 2.4 GHz 5 GHz 802.11y Estimated: 2008 3.7 GHz

6. Wi-Fi Advantages No cabling Price of wireless cards continue to drop Global set of standards (unlike cell phones) widely available in more than 250,000 public hotspots and tens of millions of homes, corporate offices and university campuses worldwide Encryption not easily broken

7. Wi-Fi Disadvantages Wireless power consumption is higher than Bluetooth WEP encryption is easily breakable Unencrypted network connections can be monitored and used to read and copy data transmitted over the network Limited range Typical home router – 120 feet indoors or 300 feet outdoors Performance decreases as range increases “ Wi-Fi pollution”

8. Wi-Max W orldwide I nteroperability for M icrowave Acc ess a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access Based on 802.16 standard “Last mile” technology

9. Wi-Max 30 mile range for fixed stations 5-10 mile range for mobile stations more efficient bandwidth use, interference avoidance, and is intended to allow higher data rates over longer distances

10. Licensed vs. Unlicensed Services and Applications Generally Offered Over Licensed Spectrum: Carrier-grade, wide-area services (e.g., mobile and fixed telephony, paging, GPRS, EV-DO) Services and Applications Generally Offered Over Unlicensed Spectrum: Low-power/low-range services and consumer and enterprise applications (e.g., Wi-Fi Internet Access , cordless phones, garage door openers, baby monitors)

11. What is Licensed? Operation of a wireless transmitter over particular frequencies pursuant to an FCC authorization Commercial spectrum licenses generally come with a frequency assignment; protection from harmful interference; a fixed, renewable term and flexibility in terms of network deployment and the services that can be provided to the public Most commercial spectrum licenses are now auctioned by geographic area

12. What is Unlicensed? Operation of a wireless transmitter at particular frequencies without an FCC spectrum authorization on a non-harmful interference and unprotected basis covers 902-928 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Unlicensed bands have been optimized for unlicensed use 1 watt peak transmit power little or no licensed services in band or vicinity

13. Why Licensed? Manage Interference Issues Protect Investment Better Defined Performance Parameters Higher availability Defined Market for Vendors to Develop Products

14. Why Unlicensed? 2.4GHz to 22GHz Significantly lower cost Relatively high reliability Promotes a better model of spectrum sharing Why not? Potential Interference Problems Reduction in available bandwidth

15. Cellular Data CDMA : Code division multiple access Examples: Verizon & Sprint EV-DO : Evolution-Data Optimized GSM: Global System for Mobile communications Examples : Cingular & T-Mobile HSDPA : High-Speed Downlink Packet Access GPRS : General Packet Radio Service

16. Cellular Data Between 800 MHz and 1900 MHz Sometimes slower upload speeds Connectivity anywhere a cell phone has reception Cell Phone data rates can sometimes be high

17. 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration Mandated by Federal Government Can be digitally encoded, so it’s more secure (from scanners) Changes the radio cost from $300 – 500 to $1500 for each handheld or vehicle radio Example: a small department has 15 handhelds & 6 vehicle radios – not feasible to replace all units Once there is competition between other companies, this cost might lower

18. Upcoming Auction 700 MHz Band – D Block January 24, 2008 Expected to bring $10 to 30 billion Reception similar to cell phone Can do wi-fi or wi-max, but not standard has been ratified for wi-max yet

19. More information… http:// wireless.fcc.gov / US Frequency Allocation Chart http:// www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf