802.11n: A Survival Guide: Wi-Fi Above 100 Mbps

by Matthew Gast

Overview

Wireless has finally come of age. With a significant jump in throughput over previous standards, 802.11n is the first wireless technology that doesn’t trade speed for mobility, and users have stormed onto wireless networks with a passion. In this concise guide, Matthew Gast—chair of the IEEE group that produced revision 802.11-2012—shows you why wireless has become the default method of connecting to a network, and provides technical details you need to plan, design, and deploy 802.11n today.

Building a network for the multitude of new devices is now a strategic decision for network engineers everywhere. This book gives you an in-depth look at key parts of 802.11n, and shows you how to achieve an Ethernet-free wireless office.

• Learn how MIMO’s multiple data streams greatly increase wireless speed
• Discover how 802.11n modifications improve MAC efficiency
• Examine advanced PHY features such as beanforming and space-time code block
• Use advanced MAC features to maintain interoperability with older devices
• Plan an 802.11n network by determining traffic demand, key applications, power requirements, and security
• Choose the architecture, select hardware, and plan coverage to design and build your network

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449312046
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/13/2012
Pages:	141
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Matthew Gast is the director of product management at Aerohive Networks, responsible for the software that powers Aerohive's networking devices. He has been active within the Wi-Fi community, serving as the chair of both security task groups at the Wi-Fi Alliance, where he leads efforts to extend the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) certification to incorporate newly developed security technologies and drive adoption of the strongest forms of security by network administrators. He also led the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wireless Network Management marketing task group's investigation of certification requirements for new power-saving technologies. Matthew is also the past chair of the task group that produced the 802.11-2012 revision.

Table of Contents

Foreword; Preface; Audience; Conventions Used in This Book; Using Code Examples; Safari® Books Online; How to Contact Us; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: Introduction to 802.11n-2009; 1.1 History; 1.2 The Technology of 802.11n; 1.3 802.11n: First We Take the LAN, Then We Take the World; The PHY; Chapter 2: MIMO and the 802.11n PHY; 2.1 The Big Idea: MIMO and Data Streams; Chapter 3: Channels, Framing, and Coding; 3.1 Channel Structure and Layout; 3.2 Transmission: Modulation and Guard Interval; 3.3 PLCP Framing; 3.4 Transmission and Reception Process; 3.5 802.11n Speed; 3.6 Mandatory PHY Features; Chapter 4: Advanced PHY Features for Performance; 4.1 Beamforming; 4.2 Space-Time Block Code (STBC); 4.3 Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC); The MAC; Chapter 5: MAC Basics; 5.1 Frame Changes; 5.2 Airtime Efficiency Improvements; 5.3 Protection of Non-HT Transmissions; 5.4 Security; 5.5 Mandatory MAC Features; Chapter 6: Advanced MAC Features for Interoperability; 6.1 Radio Medium Coordination; 6.2 Power-Saving; Using 802.11n to Build a Network; Chapter 7: Planning an 802.11n Network; 7.1 What’s On Your Network?; 7.2 Network Integration; 7.3 Security; 7.4 Design Checklist; Chapter 8: Designing and Installing an 802.11n Network; 8.1 Network Architecture for 802.11n; 8.2 802.11n Hardware; 8.3 Coverage and Capacity Planning; 8.4 Network Management; 8.5 Implementation Checklist; Afterword; Glossary;