What Happens on the Wireless LAN?

About this interactive

From the lesson: - **The AP acts like a hub:** devices talk through the access point, and while it is talking to one, others cannot talk. A far-away device at 1 Mb/s makes a 300 Mb/s device wait for its slow frames. - **Out of earshot:** two devices on opposite sides of the AP may not hear each other, so both send and their frames clash at the AP. - **CSMA/CA:** a device listens, may announce that it is about to send, and sends if all is clear. After a collision both wait a random time. - **SSID:** the service set identifier, the network name an AP broadcasts. One AP can broadcast several SSIDs. - **Encryption:** the signal goes out in all directions, so anyone nearby can capture it. Encrypt the traffic between clients and the AP, or user names and passwords in clear text can be read.

What you'll learn

Predict how devices share an access point: one talks at a time, slow clients hold up fast ones, devices out of earshot of each other can collide, and CSMA/CA with a random backoff manages access
Recognize the SSID as the network name an access point broadcasts, and why wireless traffic must be encrypted

Aligned to

CompTIA Network+

2.3 Given a scenario, select and configure wireless devices and technologies.

Cisco CCNA

1.11 Describe wireless principles

Cisco CCST Networking

3.2 Differentiate between Wi-Fi, cellular, and wired network technologies

Key terms

Wireless Local Area Network: A local area network that uses wireless radio signals instead of physical cables to connect devices within a limited geographic area. WLANs are based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards and are the standard wireless networking technology in homes, offices, and public spaces.
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance: A network access method used in wireless half-duplex environments where devices listen before transmitting and announce intent to transmit in order to avoid collisions before they occur.
Service Set Identifier: The network name broadcast by a wireless access point that clients use to identify and connect to a specific Wi-Fi network. SSIDs can be up to 32 characters long and are transmitted in beacon frames; networks may be configured to suppress SSID broadcasting for limited obscurity.
Encryption: The process of converting readable data into an unreadable format using an algorithm and key to prevent unauthorized access.
Wireless Access Point: A device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi.
Half Duplex: A communication mode that allows data to be transmitted in both directions but only one direction at a time.

Topics

Wireless Wlan Csma Ca Ssid Encryption Access Point Interactive Predict

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