Wi-Fi Technology Fundamentals

Module-2
WLAN Physical Layer
Session-2a
Frequency Allocation and Modulation Basics
Recap …..
Module 1: Introduction and History of WiFi

• Evolution of WiFi
• WiFi Generations, Residential WiFi Applications, Enterprise WiFi Applications, Business Evolution
• WiFi Network Topologies
• Infrastructure/Mesh/Bridge/Adhoc Modes, Various Backhaul Mechanisms, Various Deployment Use cases
• WLAN Standards and Amendments Alphabet Soup
• IEEE Standards Bodies, WiFi Alliance, Standards and their extensions
• Basic Functional building blocks of a WiFi AP/Router
• PHY, Baseband, Lower MAC, Upper MAC, various Interfaces, key functional blocks
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Module 2: WLAN Physical Layer

• Frequency Allocation and Modulation Basics

• ISM and UNII Bands, unlicensed spectrum allocation, channels, Channel BW, Spread spectrum, OFDM
• Modulation/Coding, MIMO Basics
• Modulation and Coding Rates, Multipath, MIMO, OFDMA, Spectral Efficiency
• MCS Table, PHY Data Rates
• PHY Data rates, MCS Table, Theoretical Throughput
• PHY Headers and key functions
• PHY Headers, PCLP and PMD Sub Layers, Key PHY later functions
 Module-2
WLAN Physical Layer
Session-2a
Frequency Allocation and Modulation Basics
Frequency Spectrum
Wi-Fi Unlicensed Frequencies

2.4GHz ISM Bands

5GHz UNII Bands

Parameter 2.4GHz 5GHz 6GHz

5.925-7.125 GHz (~1.2 GHz) Available Spectrum Lowest Higher Highest

Range Highest Lower Lowest

Crowded Spectrum Highest Lower Lowest

Data Rates Lowest Higher Highest

6GHz Channel Allocation
UNII Bands Power Restrictions
1 Gigahertz is 1 billion cycles/second
What is a WAVE?

Crest

Trough
Signal/Energy Propagation

A wave is generated from a periodic shift of energy

from potential energy to kinetic energy. The faster
this shift happens the higher the frequency of the
wave.
Basics of an Oscillator

An oscillator is a circuit that generates a repetitive waveform, typically a sine wave. There are different types of
oscillators, but the most common and basic ones use a resonant circuit, which consists of an inductor and a
capacitor. The inductor stores energy in the form of a magnetic field, while the capacitor stores energy in the form of
an electric field. These two components are connected in such a way that they exchange energy back and forth,
resulting in a waveform that oscillates between the maximum and minimum values. The sine wave is the natural
waveform that results from this type of circuit

Inductor – stores energy Capacitor – stores

as Magnetic Field energy as Electric Field
Properties of a Periodic Waveform

Wavelength
Wavelength is the physical length from one point
of a wave to the same point on the next wave.

Frequency
The frequency of a wave is the number of
waves that pass by each second, and is
measured in Hertz (Hz).

Amplitude
Amplitude is the height of the wave and often related to power.

Phase
Phase is not a property of just one RF signal but instead involves the relationship between two or more signals
that share the same frequency. The phase involves the relationship between the position of the amplitude crests
and troughs of two waveforms.

Phase can be measured in distance, time, or degrees. If the peaks of two signals with the same frequency are in
exact alignment at the same time, they are said to be in phase. Conversely, if the peaks of two signals with the
same frequency are not in exact alignment at the same time, they are said to be out of phase.”

Source: [Link]
What is Channel Bandwidth?
Wi-Fi Channels have 20MHz, 40MHz,
80MHz, 160MHz or 320 MHz of bandwidth

But what is Channel Bandwidth?

Frequency: 2427000000 Cycles/sec

or 2.427 GHz

2.447 GHz – 2.427 GHz = 20MHz

So 20MHz Bandwidth here means

that the transmitter can transmit
information on all these
frequencies between 2.427GHz and
2.447GHz with the center
frequency set to 2.437GHz

Frequency: 2447000000 Cycles/sec

or 2.447 GHz
How Radio Waves Carry Information
 Modulation
Modulation, is the process of varying one or properties of a periodic
waveform called a carrier wave in order to carry information.

There are various forms of modulation, each designed to alter a

particular characteristic of the carrier wave. The most commonly
altered characteristics include amplitude, frequency, phase, pulse
sequence, and pulse duration.

• FSK: Frequency of the carrier signal is varied to represent

binary 1 and 0
• ASK: Amplitude of the carrier signal is varied to represent
binary 1 and 0
• PSK: Phase of the carrier signal is varied to represent
binary 1 and 0
• QAM: Amplitude and Phase of the carrier signal is varied
to represent binary 1 and 0

Parameter FSK ASK PSK QAM

Bandwidth Needed Higher Low Low Lowest

Noise Immunity Higher Low Higher Lowest

Complexity Low Low Higher Highest

Data Rates Low Higher Higher Highest

 Information Signals and Carrier Signals

Information

Digital Data

Information Signals

Carrier Signals Bandwidth is the frequency range

occupied by a modulated carrier signal.
 Different Multiple Access Techniques

Channel1 User1 User1 User1

Channel1 User1 User3 User2
Frequency

Frequency
Channel2 User2 User2 User2
Channel2 User2 User1 User3

User3 User3 User3

Channel3 User3 User2 User1
Channel3

Time Time
Frequency Division Multiplexing Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum

Channel1 Channel1

Frequency
Frequency

Channel2 User1 User2 User3 Channel2

Channel3 Channel3

Time Time
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
What is Spread Spectrum?
Spread spectrum designates techniques by which
a signal generated with a particular bandwidth is
deliberately spread in the frequency domain, resulting
in a signal with a wider bandwidth. (Source: Wikipedia)

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

DSSS Transmit and Receive

Transmitter Receiver
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
In OFDM, several bits can be sent in parallel, or at the same time, Standard Modulation Technique
in separate sub stream channels. This enables each sub stream's 802.11 FSSS, DSSS
data rate to be lower than would be required by a single stream of
802.11b DSSS, CCK
similar bandwidth. This makes the system less susceptible to
802.11a OFDM
interference and enables more efficient data bandwidth.
802.11g OFDM
802.11n (WiFi4) OFDM
802.11ac (WiFi5) OFDM
802.11ax (WiFi6) OFDMA
Basic OFDM Data Rates for 802.11a/b
References
WLAN Frequency Bands
[Link]

Unlicensed Spectrum Charts

[Link]

LC Oscillator Basics
[Link]

Introduction to Waves – Definition, Types, Properties

[Link]

Basics of Modulation
[Link]

FSSS, DSSS and ODFM Basics

[Link]
Quiz 1d Results

Number of participants - 228

Yury Soldatov
Russia