Wireless Standards and Settings: The Very Foundation of Wireless Device Communication
Wireless standards’ primary purpose is to ensure devices can communicate effectively. The wireless standards determine transmission protocols and data rates.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is responsible for developing wireless standards. The typical wireless standard is the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN(WLAN), which governs the WLAN environment.
Wireless standards use the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The wireless standards combined with the frequencies form the Wi-Fi technology.
So, how will you know that a device meets the wireless standards? Often, equipment with the Wi-Fi logo indicates the devices’ capacity to support specific wireless standards.
Wi-Fi Alliance has the mandate to test the wireless LAN devices from manufacturers. Currently released Wireless standards support both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.
Historical Overview of Wi-Fi Standards
Based on the image above, wireless standards have significantly improved the speed and WiFi network connectivity. Device manufacturers consistently implement new Wi-Fi standards in their products for consistent connectivity.
Wireless Settings
Wireless settings are configured accurately for effective communication. As we are configuring wireless devices and secure communication, it is critical to understand the wireless settings.
We will go through a step-by-step configuration. The following are the wireless routers’ settings using the 802.11 standards.
- Network Mode
Determines the wireless network standard that is supported. The Wi-Fi standards include the diverse IEEE 802.11 standards. In routers, the network mode is always set to default.
2. Network SSID
It is critical for identifying the WLAN. It is the network name. The network SSID should be similar for every device connecting to the specific WLAN.
3. Standard channel
It is a channel through which communication will occur. In most cases, the router sets this to Auto to allow the Access Point (AP) to identify the channel to use.
4. SSID Broadcast
It determines whether the SSID will broadcast to all devices within the wireless network range. It is always set to default.
Here is a detailed process of accessing the network settings of a wireless router in CISCO packet tracer.
a) We need to add a wireless router to our network topology. Go to the bottom left of our CISCO packet tracer and select the wireless router in the sub-categories labeled wireless in the bottom row
b) Add the wireless router to the network topology
c) Click on the network device in the topology. The device interface has four tabs: physical, Config, GUI, and Attributes. Click on the GUI to get an interface like the one shown below.
d) Finally, you click on the Wireless tab under the GUI to set the network mode that we will use
Network Mode
The IEEE 802.11 wireless standard provides an increased throughput. Thus, if all the end devices have the same Wi-Fi standards, they will operate at maximum speed. As stated earlier, connecting to the access point will only be possible if devices share a similar Wi-Fi standard.
In our case, where we will build a wireless network, the end devices must connect to the accurate WLAN. This is achieved through the use of SSID.
Important rules to follow when setting up the SSID(network name) include: SSID is case-sensitive, with a maximum of 32 characters, and the characters should be an alphanumeric string. The SSID enables the wireless devices to know the network they are in and the devices they can communicate with.
SSID ensures network discoverability — it is the network name. Wireless routers use the default name and can be altered to one’s choice. Through the SSID, wireless devices can detect and discover the wireless network automatically.
Check the SSID broadcast, and always ensure it is enabled if disabled. If disabled, finding the wireless network will be difficult for client devices.
When the SSID broadcast is disabled, manually enter the SSID on wireless devices. Turning off the SSID broadcast is not a feasible way to prevent unauthorized access and connecting to the wireless network. A noble course of action is using solid encryption to restrict unauthorized access.
Configuring a Wireless Router
The router’s wireless settings and the Wi-Fi standards are essential to configuring a wireless router. Routers usually come with Ethernet LAN ports to connect end devices. Configure the wireless client software in the end device for devices with no wired connection.
To connect a device to the router. Plug the Ethernet cable into the LAN port in the router and also into the port on the end device. Do not use the WLAN or internet port as it connects to the ISP cable modem. There is a coaxial terminal for the ISP cable modem, where you can input the coaxial cable.
After establishing the wireless connection and flashing LED lights on the RJ45 port on the end devices, the computer usually needs an IP address to communicate with the network successfully.
Most routers dynamically assign an IP address to an end device. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP) server automatically assigns IP addresses to end devices requesting to connect to the network.
DHCP is critical as it automates the configuration process, providing a unique address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS information.
Network Design
Some aspects to consider when designing the network include the network name, the connecting devices, and adding a new device.
i) Deciding on the device name
You should enable SSID for the wireless network to be discovered by other devices within range. Consider excluding the device model as part of the SSID.
ii) Deciding the devices that will attach to the network
Wireless devices such as phones and PCs have inbuilt radio transmitters/receivers. The radio transmitters function within a specific frequency range, either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
Wi-Fi standards are also essential to establish a connection — if devices have different wireless standards, a connection will not be established. The devices should have a similar Wi-Fi standard for the network to function at its optimum speed.
iii) How can I allow new devices to connect to the network
One can set a guest access where anyone can access the internet. However, the network has restrictions to only allow the guests to access the internet. Additionally, one can enable others to connect using the SSID using a password, and the network use will not be restricted.
