Speed of Wifi at Cet Ndmu
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
Wireless networks – and in particular, Wi-Fi – has become a buzzword for the 21st century. They have proliferated across the globe and they are being used today for a much wider range of applications. In point of fact, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots is growing at an extremely rapid rate and has expanded from its initial commercial focus to personal use and beyond (Walsh-Flaherty, 2007).
Wi-Fi or WiFi, is a mechanism that allows electronic devices to exchange data wirelessly over a computer network using the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player, can connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 20 meters (65 ft) indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio signals or a large area, as much as many square miles, covered by multiple overlapping access points (http://en.wikipedia.org,2007).
In wireless networking, there are two important aspects to consider which are the throughput and delay. These two aspects, most commonly termed as the speed of the network, are usually affected by the following factors: Number Of Users Distance Number of Access Points Interference Shared Bandwidth Signal Blocking Mixed Networks
In the global context, colleges and universities have been perhaps the earliest and most aggressive adopters of Wi-Fi technology over the past five years. Wi-Fi offers a simple way to provide network connections in hundreds of campus locations that could not be reached cost-effectively with wired Ethernet: classrooms, libraries, administrative offices, and even outdoor areas and athletic facilities.
With the increase in technology use by students, higher education institutions are investing money
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
Wireless networks – and in particular, Wi-Fi – has become a buzzword for the 21st century. They have proliferated across the globe and they are being used today for a much wider range of applications. In point of fact, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots is growing at an extremely rapid rate and has expanded from its initial commercial focus to personal use and beyond (Walsh-Flaherty, 2007).
Wi-Fi or WiFi, is a mechanism that allows electronic devices to exchange data wirelessly over a computer network using the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player, can connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 20 meters (65 ft) indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio signals or a large area, as much as many square miles, covered by multiple overlapping access points (http://en.wikipedia.org,2007).
In wireless networking, there are two important aspects to consider which are the throughput and delay. These two aspects, most commonly termed as the speed of the network, are usually affected by the following factors: Number Of Users Distance Number of Access Points Interference Shared Bandwidth Signal Blocking Mixed Networks
In the global context, colleges and universities have been perhaps the earliest and most aggressive adopters of Wi-Fi technology over the past five years. Wi-Fi offers a simple way to provide network connections in hundreds of campus locations that could not be reached cost-effectively with wired Ethernet: classrooms, libraries, administrative offices, and even outdoor areas and athletic facilities.
With the increase in technology use by students, higher education institutions are investing money