Date of Award

9-2005

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Engineering (Research)

Department

Department of Engineering

First Advisor

Dr James Prendergast

Abstract

This research thesis examines the area of wireless communication and its use in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). It examines the Spread Spectrum methods of Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) and Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) used in WLANs. The International Governing body, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) have devised standards and protocols called 802.11 to be used as guidelines for semiconductor chip and WLAN equipment manufacturers. These protocols have been adopted in implementing WLANs. Their specifications, which address data rates, bandwidth, power requirements, quality of service, spectrum management and security, are discussed in this thesis.

This thesis also examines the characteristics of the Radio Frequency (RF) signal used in WLANs. A number of factors influence the propagation of a radio signal from transmitter to receiver including Path Loss, Attenuation, Shadowing, Fading, Multi-path Ef ects and Equalisation. The RF signal can be modulated in numerous ways depending on the channel being used. One modulation technique, called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), is emerging as the most versatile modulation technique for WLANs. This thesis discusses this technique and explains why emerging wireless applications are beginning to use OFDM.

This thesis also investigates antenna characteristics, chipsets used as the building blocks of WLANs, software development and application tools used in the design of WLANs, how the WLAN equipment is deployed and describes a billing system used for a public WLAN. Chipsets and Antenna characteristics are discussed and results of practical experiments on WLAN implementation, configuration and security are presented.

The thesis concludes with an investigation into a convergence of existing and emerging global markets for wireless technology with emphasis on WLAN.

Access Level

info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

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