Types and Standards for Microwave RF Links
With the advent and now proliferation of wireless RF links, you are almost never in a place where you cannot connect to the Internet. There are three main types of wireless RF links, not including radio stations and television networks. These are divided into the types of equipment that can be connected to them and include cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Transmission methods can include tower-mounted antennas, microwave dishes, and small desktop transceivers.
Types of wireless RF links
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular are the three main types of radio-frequency-based wireless link systems. Cellular systems are obviously for cell phones and cell-based adapters. Wi-Fi, whether part of a local area, metropolitan, or wireless network, supports Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as laptops, some personal digital assistants, and high-end cell phones. RF links based on Bluetooth technology allow Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, and laptops, to connect to an intranet or the Internet. Many cities provide Internet access through a Wi-Fi-based metropolitan area network for anyone in a location where the Wi-Fi signal can be received with sufficient strength.
Standards involved
Wireless RF links are based on international standards that govern various aspects of the link structure. For example, most Wi-Fi enabled devices use equipment designed to work with the 802.11 G or N standards. This standard governs specifications such as the frequency used for transmission and reception, communication protocols, security, and communication. transmitter signal strength. Most cellular systems are Third or Fourth Generation based networks, operating on the Global System for Mobile Communications standard. With the right antennas, these two types of systems can operate over fairly long distances. Bluetooth is a short-range technology that is great for keeping portable devices in sync with home or office computers.
Types of antennas used in wireless RF links
Basically almost anything that conducts electricity can be used as an antenna. However, the actual antennas are optimized for better transmission and reception results. Cellular systems operating over greater distances typically use specially constructed honeycomb antennas mounted on tall towers to achieve the greatest range. However, there are also cellular repeater antennas designed for use inside buildings that are mounted on the roof and are not much larger than a computer mouse. The Wi-Fi antennas used in access points and routers inside buildings are made of rubber with a cable inside and are between 6 and 8 inches long and about a third of an inch in diameter. Wi-Fi antennas used outdoors are tall tower-mounted masts for wide signal distribution or microwave antennas for line-of-sight transmission and reception of signals. They are often used to allow the networks of two buildings to communicate with each other without interference and in a semi-secure manner. Bluetooth USB adapters are typically no larger than a miniature.
Keeping RF Wireless Links Secure
If your business uses RF links on your network, data security should be an important consideration. Each of the types of systems used has built-in security. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use security protocols such as Wireless Access Protocol, Wireless Encryption Protocol, and password authentication. With WAP and WEP-based security, users need to know the name of the wireless network they are connecting to, as well as an access code or encryption key. The name of the network must be known before the end user can attempt to connect to it. The access code or encryption key is sent during the negotiation and authentication process. With Bluetooth, once two devices “discover” each other, the device initiating the connection must send the appropriate passcode (usually a four-digit number) to the device it is connecting to.
A properly configured and used wireless RF link can provide seamless integration for corporate networks, providing connections between portable and desktop devices.