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Smart WiFi Basics: Understanding WLAN Networks

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This page covers the fundamentals of Smart WiFi networks. The term “WiFi” refers to the wireless internet service provided by a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

In a WLAN, we have two key components: the Access Point (AP) and the Station (STA).

  • AP (Access Point): This is also known as a router. It provides the connection to the broader internet.

  • STA (Station): This is the client device (like your phone or laptop) that uses the services of the WLAN router or AP to access the internet.

Evolution of WLAN Standards

The initial WLAN networks were built upon the IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards. Later, devices using IEEE 802.11n were introduced. Nowadays, you’ll find WLAN devices based on IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11ad.

The network made up of these standards-based WiFi devices is what we call a Smart WiFi network, and the devices themselves are referred to as smart WiFi devices.

Smart WiFi Network Architecture

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Figure 1: Typical Smart WiFi Network

The figure above illustrates a typical Smart WiFi network. Smart WiFi has connectivity with both cellular and WiFi network devices. This setup helps offload cellular traffic onto the WiFi network, which is facilitated by WiFi hotspots.

Key Features of Smart WiFi Networks

Here are some of the defining features of smart WiFi networks:

  • Increased Device Support: They can handle a larger number of connected WiFi devices.
  • Voice over WiFi: Support voice calls over WiFi connections.
  • Modern WLAN Standards: Support newer IEEE WLAN standards like 802.11ac and 802.11ad.
  • Cellular Integration: Offer connectivity with cellular networks such as LTE and LTE-Advanced.
  • Advanced Antenna Systems: Incorporate multi-antenna technologies such as AAS (Adaptive Antenna Scheme).
  • Enhanced Quality of Service (QoS): Provide a higher quality of service as defined in IEEE 802.11e.
  • High-Speed Mesh Networking: Create high-speed mesh networks using the latest RF routing concepts.
  • Advanced Security: Implement advanced security features.
  • Intelligent Channel Selection: Utilize new techniques for channel selection.