Page 186 - DCAP311_DCAP607_WIRELESS_NETWORKS

Wireless Networks

Notes 11.4 Summary

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a communication network made up of computers that are non-
local to one another, exchanging data across a wide area or great distance.
Computers interoperate on a WAN network by using a set of standards or protocols for
communication.
Wireless WANs satisfy both mobile and stationary applications.
Packet radio WANs function much like a wired packet switching wide area network.
Packet radio WAN users connect to their computers a packet radio modem with an omnidirectional
antenna.
PCS is a fully digital version of cellular wireless that uses very small cells called microcells.
An antenna can increase the power of the radio signal so that it can travel farther.
Cellular phones currently transmit at about 14.4 Kbps but the technology, and speed is improving
rapidly.
Cellular technology was developed to overcome the problem of more and more people using
mobile phones.

Satellites that orbit the Earth at an altitude of 22,237 miles revolve around the Earth at the same
speed that the Earth rotates.
Meteor burst communications (MBC), also referred to as meteor scatter communications, is a
radio propagation mode that exploits the ionizedtrails of meteors during atmospheric entry to
establish brief communications paths between radio stations up to 2,250 kilometres (1,400 mi)
apart.
SMS is a technology that enables the sending and receiving of messages between mobile phones.

11.5 Keywords

Antennae: An antenna (or aerial) is an electrical device which converts electric power into radio
waves, and vice versa
Directional Antenna: A directional antenna concentrates its power in a certain direction and
therefore has higher gain.
Internet Protocol (IP) address: An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label
assigned to each device (e.g., computer, printer) participating in a computer network that uses
the Internet Protocol for communication.
Internetwork: When networks connect to form a bigger network (a bigger WAN), the resulting
network is called an internetwork.
Meteor burst communications: Meteor burst communications (MBC), also referred to
as meteor scatter communications, is a radio propagation mode that exploits the ionizedtrails
of meteors during atmospheric entry to establish brief communications paths between radio
stations up to 2,250 kilometres (1,400 mi) apart.
Omnidirectional Antenna: An omnidirectional antenna transmits radio waves in all directions.
Its gain is equal to one, also called unity gain.
Personal Area Network (PAN): A Personal Area Network (PAN) is created by Bluetooth
technology to wirelessly link personal devices together for interoperability.
Personal Communications Services (PCS): PCS (personal communications service) is
a wireless phone service similar to cellular telephone service but emphasizing personal service
and extended mobility.

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