Wireless Networks

Lecture 3 Introduction to Wireless Communication Dr. Ghalib A. Shah

Outlines
Review of previous lecture #2 Multiplexing Transmission Mediums Propagation modes Multi-path propagation Fading Summary of todays lecture

Last Lecture Review

Wireless Transmission
Digital data analog signal Baseband/bandpass signal Encoding techniques/Modulation Receiver synchronization / Demodulation Thermal noise Intermodulation noise Crosstalk Impulse Noise Manmade noise / Natural noise

Noises

Losses / Gain
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Multiplexing
Capacity of transmission medium usually exceeds capacity required for transmission of a single signal Multiplexing - carrying multiple signals on a single medium
More efficient use of transmission medium

Multiplexing

Reasons for Widespread Use of Multiplexing

Cost per kbps of transmission facility declines with an increase in the data rate Cost of transmission and receiving equipment declines with increased data rate Most individual data communicating devices require relatively modest data rate support

Multiplexing Techniques
Frequency-division multiplexing (FDM)
Takes advantage of the fact that the useful bandwidth of the medium exceeds the required bandwidth of a given signal

Time-division multiplexing (TDM)

Takes advantage of the fact that the achievable bit rate of the medium exceeds the required data rate of a digital signal

Frequency-division Multiplexing

Time-division Multiplexing

Classifications of Transmission Media

Transmission Medium
Physical path between transmitter and receiver

Guided Media
Waves are guided along a solid medium E.g., copper twisted pair, copper coaxial cable, optical fiber

Unguided Media
Provides means of transmission but does not guide electromagnetic signals Usually referred to as wireless transmission E.g., atmosphere, outer space

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Unguided Media
Transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna Configurations for wireless transmission
Directional Omnidirectional

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General Frequency Ranges

Microwave frequency range
1 GHz to 40 GHz Directional beams possible Suitable for point-to-point transmission Used for satellite communications

Radio frequency range

30 MHz to 1 GHz Suitable for omnidirectional applications

Infrared frequency range

Roughly, 3x1011 to 2x1014 Hz Useful in local point-to-point multipoint applications within confined areas

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Terrestrial Microwave
Description of common microwave antenna
Parabolic "dish", 3 m in diameter Fixed rigidly and focuses a narrow beam Achieves line-of-sight transmission to receiving antenna Located at substantial heights above ground level Due to attenuation particularly rainfall, requires repeaters/amplifiers placed farther apart 10-100 km.

Applications
Long haul telecommunications service
4 6 GHz band is common But due to increased congestion 11 GHz is coming into use now Microwave links provide TV signals to local CATV and then distributed to subscribers via coaxial cable.
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Short point-to-point links between buildings

Enterprise offices, university campuses

Satellite Microwave
Description of communication satellite
Communication satellite is Microwave relay station Used to link two or more ground-based microwave transmitter/receivers Receives transmissions on one frequency band (uplink), amplifies or repeats the signal, and transmits it on another frequency (downlink) Broadcast in nature

Applications
Television distribution Long-distance telephone transmission
Used for point-to-point trunks between telephone exchange offices.

Private business networks

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Satellite microwave
Transmission characteristics
Optimum range is 1-10 GHz Below 1 GHz, significant natural noise (solar, galactic, atmospheric) and manmade Above 10 GHz, higher attenuation due to atmospheric absorption Mostly use 5.925-6.425 for uplink and 3.7-4.2 GHz for downlink referred as 4/6 GHz band Due to saturation, 12/14 GHz band has been developed. Uplink: 14-14.5, downlink: 11.7-12.2 GHz In Future, 20/30GHz. Uplink: 27.5-30.0, downlink: 17.7-20.2 GHz Long propagation delay of about 250 ms, which is noticeabe in telephone conversation. Broadcast in nature and suitable for TV broadcast service.
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Broadcast Radio
Description of broadcast radio antennas
Omnidirectional Antennas not required to be dish-shaped Antennas need not be rigidly mounted to a precise alignment

Applications
Broadcast radio
VHF and part of the UHF band; 30 MHZ to 1GHz Covers FM radio and UHF and VHF television

Characteristics
Because of longer wavelength, radio waves relatively suffer less attenuation. Prime source of impairments is multi-path interference. Reflection from land water and human made objects can create multiple paths. Less sensitive to rainfall
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Propagation Modes
Ground-wave propagation Sky-wave propagation Line-of-sight propagation

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Ground Wave Propagation

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Ground Wave Propagation

Follows contour of the earth Can Propagate considerable distances Frequencies up to 2 MHz, which are low frequencies and have tendency to tilt downwards EM waves of low frequency are scattered by the atmosphere such that they do not penetrate the upper atmosphere. Example
AM radio
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Sky Wave Propagation

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Sky Wave Propagation

Signal reflected from ionized layer of atmosphere back down to earth Signal can travel a number of hops, back and forth between ionosphere and earths surface Reflection effect caused by refraction Examples
Amateur radio CB radio

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Line-of-Sight Propagation

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Line-of-Sight Propagation
Transmitting and receiving antennas must be within line of sight
Satellite communication signal above 30 MHz not reflected by ionosphere Ground communication antennas within effective line of site due to refraction

Refraction bending of microwaves by the atmosphere

Velocity of electromagnetic wave is a function of the density of the medium When wave changes medium, speed changes Wave bends at the boundary between mediums

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Line-of-Sight Equations
Optical line of sight

d 3.57 h

Effective, or radio, line of sight

d 3.57 h
d = distance between antenna and horizon (km) h = antenna height (m) K = adjustment factor to account for refraction, rule of thumb K = 4/3

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Line-of-Sight Equations
Maximum distance between two antennas for LOS propagation:

3.57 h1 h2
h1 = height of antenna one h2 = height of antenna two

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Example
Let h1 = 100 m, h2 = 0 or the second antenna is at ground level. D = 3.57 ( 4/3x100)^1/2 + 0 = 41 km. Now suppose that h2 = 10m. To achieve same distance, what must be h1? 41 = 3.57(Kh1)^1/2+(13.3)^1/2 h1 = 46.2m

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Propagation Factors
The transmitters power output The frequency being transmitted The effect of the Earths shape in between the points The conductivity of the Earth along the transmission path The microclimate through which the signal passes

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Multipath Propagation
Reflection - occurs when signal encounters a surface that is large relative to the wavelength of the signal Diffraction - occurs at the edge of an impenetrable body that is large compared to wavelength of radio wave Scattering occurs when incoming signal hits an object whose size in the order of the wavelength of the signal or less

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Multipath Propagation

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The Effects of Multipath Propagation

Multiple copies of a signal may arrive at different phases
If phases add destructively, the signal level relative to noise declines, making detection more difficult

Intersymbol interference (ISI)

One or more delayed copies of a pulse may arrive at the same time as the primary pulse for a subsequent bit

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Types of Fading
Fast fading
Rapid variation in signal strength occurs over distance about one-half of wavelength. At 900 Mhz cellular badn, lambda is 0.33 m.

Slow fading
Users cover distance well in excess of a wavelength as it passes buildings of different heights, vacant lots and so on A slow variation in signal strength.

Flat fading Selective fading

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Fading channel
Additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel
Signal is degraded only by thermal noise Accurate for space communication and some wire communication such as coaxial cable.

Rayleigh fading
Fading occurs when there are multiple indirect paths but no direct LOS path Suitable for Outdoor environment

Rician fading
When there exist a direct LOS path in addition to multiple paths. Suitable for smaller cells and indoor environment

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Summary of todays lecture

Multiplexing
FDM, TDM Guided media Unguided media
Microwave Radio waves Infra red

Transmission Mediums

Propagation modes
Ground wave propagation Sky-wave propagation LOS propagation

Multi-path propagation Fading Next lecture

Error detecting and correcting techniques
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