Radio Spectrum The Achilles’ Heel of Wireless Computing Fred L. Strickland COMP 7970 Persuasive Computing Fall 2002 Directed by Dr Richard Chapman Auburn University, Auburn Alabama
Abstract • Wireless devices are everywhere. • Communicate while moving • Work outside of the desk • Are there any draw backs?
Outline • What radio bands may be used? • What are the behaviors of these bands? • What are in those bands? • What problems exist today? • What problems may happen tomorrow? • Is there an answer?
What radio bands may be used? • Wireless devices are really radios.
5.650-5.925 GHz (SHF) 24.000-24.250 GHz (SHF) 59.00-64.00 GHz (EHF) 120.02-126.00 GHz (EHF) 241.00-248.00 GHz (EHF) The License Free Radio Bands - Industry Scientific and Medical (ISM) • 6,765-7,000 kHz (HF) • 13,410-13,570 kHz (HF) • 26,950-27,410 kHz (HF) • 40-40.98 MHz (VHF) • 902-928 MHz (UHF) • 2.450-2.500 GHz (UHF)
- Unlicensed National Informational Infrastructure (UNII) • 5.1250-5.2500 GHz (SHF) • 5.2500-5.3500 GHz (SHF) • 5.5250-5.8250 GHz (SHF)
- Unallocated bands • Below 9 kHz • Above 400 GHz (EHF)
So what does this all mean?
What are these bands and their behaviors? • ELF(Extremely Low Frequency): • 30 to 300 Hz • 300 to 3,000 Hz • VLF (Very Low frequency): • 3,000 Hz or 3 kHz to 30 kHz) • LF (Low Frequency): • 30 to 300 kHz
Behavior, continue • MF (Medium Frequency) • 300 to 3,000 kHz • HF (High Frequency) • 3,000 kHz to 30,000 kHz • Or • 3 to 30 MHz
Behavior, continue • VHF (Very High Frequency) • 30 to 300 MHz • FM Broadcast band (88 to 108) FM Broadcast band • Air Traffic Control (108 to 138) • Television (begins here) • UHF (Ultra High Frequency) • 300 to 3,000 MHz • Same as above, plus radar.
Behavior, continue • SHF (Super High Frequency) • 3,000 to 30,000 MHz • OR • 3 to 30 GHz • EHF (Extremely High Frequency) • 30 to 300 GHz
What activities are in those bands?
What problems exist today? • In general • What will the FCC do? • Between a licensed user and a non-licensed user: • The non-licensed user must • Reduce power • Change operations • Shut down • Between two or more non-licensed users • For the most part, the FCC does not oversee the conflict.
Current Problems, continue • Do systems co-exist peacefully?
Current Problems, continue • Radars and the Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) System • The DSRC could live near a radar with 1 meter separation and the right combination of frequency usage and antennas. • If the DSRC was on the same frequency with a regular antenna, then it would need 7.1 kilometers of separation! • Guess what band these systems operate in? • Guess what is the placement of these systems?
Current Problems, continue • Cordless telephones • Operate in • 900 MHz • 2.4 GHz • 5.8 GHz
Cordless telephones do receive interference from other devices, such as Microwave ovens Wireless computer networks And other devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band Current Problems, continue • Cordless telephones do cause interference to other wireless devices: • To baby monitors • To headphones • To audio products • To video products
Current Problems, continue: • In the context of wireless computer users, how well do these wireless computer devices work? • Bandwidth or data rate • Transmission range • Still need wires to somewhere • Limited support to wireless users • Performance • Security
Current Problems, continue • Bandwidth or data rate • IEEE 802.11a • 6 to 54 Megabits per second in the 5 GHz band • IEEE 802.11b • 2 to 11 Megabits per second in the 2.8 GHz band
Current Problems, continue • Transmission range • IEEE 801.11a • 15 feet for 54 Megabits per second • Lower the rate and the distance increases • IEEE 801.11b • Roughly 300 feet • Thick concrete walls will cut down the range even more or stop it completely.
Current Problems, continue • The cord cannot be completed cut. • Access points are needed. • Wires must run from each access point device to a network hub, bridge, or router. • Running wires has it challenges too.
Roughly, how many access points does Dartmouth College use to cover the campus?
Over 500 access points!
Current Problems, continue • How many users? • IEEE 802.11a can support 8 channels • IEEE 802.11b can support 3 channels • Hard to tell • How many users can a single access point support? • How many access points can you have in a large lecture hall?
Current Problems, continue • Another weakness is the area of performance. • Wireless connections will never approach the reliability and performance of wired networks. • Wireless connections are subject to noise, weak signals, and other communications problems. • The current best data rate is below the best telephone modem rate of 56 kilobits per second.
Current Problems, continue • The point is security. • Not on par with wired security systems. • Some system administrators turn it off. • Dartmouth College did this so that any one on campus could access the network. • Once a signal is in the air, anyone can listen to it.
What problems may happen tomorrow? • The demands for more radio spectrum keeps growing. A 1995 study* determined that 204 MHz of bandwidth (radio spectrum) is needed for new... • Cellular users • Personal communications services • Mobile satellites • Intelligent transportation system sectors • *NTIA Report 98-349: A Technological Rational to Use Higher Wireless Frequencies, February 1998
Future Problems, continued • Some want to increase the 5 GHz band. • Some want 5.470-5.725 GHz. • This band is important to the Department of Defense. • High power radars and low power wireless computer devices cannot live together
Future Problems, continued • As more devices appear in an area, then the overall throughput will decrease. • IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b are still evolving • Some companies (Intel and Microsoft) are planning to sell products in 2003 with the current evolving standard in wireless products. • Open wireless networks can be hacked. • Any illegal activities could be charged to the network owner.
Is there an answer? • Try doing something else. • Talk face to face instead of using Instant Messenger. • Use wires instead of going wireless.
Answer, continued • Think about your needs • Do you really need a wireless connection from the local cemetery? (Dartmouth College thinks so, but that seems to be a bit extreme.)
Answer, continued • There are things that companies should be doing. • Do not oversell the benefits of being wireless. • Try other ISM radio bands. • Fix the receiver problems.
What now? The end or the beginning. • This presentation was • To touch upon the radio spectrum side of wireless computing. • To make you aware of some of the hidden problems. • To ask you to change your lifestyle a bit. • To join your voice with others to ask for companies to fix their equipment.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? • Your turn.
Added material • Satellite radio is in 2332.5 to 2345 MHz • Global Positioning Satellites are in 1575 MHz • The satellite radio groups want more frequencies around the GPS radio bands.