Wireless Communication Tutorial

Wireless Communication Tutorial

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Wireless Communication Tutorial

Wireless Communication, simply referred to as wireless, is a type of communication method that allows for the exchange of information between two or more points without need for any physical connection like electric cable or wire. Instead, the wireless communication uses electromagnetic waves at radio or micro frequencies.

Wireless communication is serving as the backbone of today's Internet and mobile communication. It can be used to provide communication over a wide range of distances, from a few meters like in Bluetooth technology to several thousand kilometers like the Internet.

Wireless Communication Tutorial

This tutorial has been designed to explain the fundamental concepts of wireless communication and technologies based on it.

What is Wireless Communication?

The type of communication which involves the transfer of information from one point to another without using any physical connection or medium like wire, cable, optical fiber, etc. is referred to as wireless communication.

Instead of physical mediums, wireless communication makes the use of electromagnetic waves of radio frequency to transmit information. Due to no physical limitations, it allows for transmitting information over very large distance across globe.

Evolution of Wireless Communication

As a medium for information exchange, wireless communication has been around for more than a century. The key milestones in the evolution of wireless communication are highlighted in the following table −

Year Development
19th century Radio telegraphy was developed to transmit data using radio waves. The first radio message was sent on 13th May 1897.
1963 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) was established.
1971 ALOHAnet was incorporated to broadcast data packets using ultra-high frequency signals.
1985 FCC (Federal Communications Commission) opened 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz bands of frequencies for wireless purposes.
1991 Cellular services were shifted from first-generation analog technologies to 2G digital services.
1997 First 802.11 wireless standard supporting speeds of 2 Mbps was codified by the IEEE.
1998 To develop specification for 3G, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) was formed.
1999 802.11a with speeds up to 54 Mbps in 5 GHz band, 802.11b with speeds of 11 Mbps in 2.4 GHz band, and WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) were introduced.
2002 WECA changed its name to Wi-Fi Alliance.
2003 802.11g was introduced with speeds of 22 Mbps in 2.4 GHz band.
2009 802.11n was introduced with the concept of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
2009 to early 2010s 4G and 4G LTE technologies became popular for providing high cellular speeds.
2013 802.11ac standard was introduced with multi-user MIMO support and speeds up to 1 Gbps.
2017 Release 15 package was approved by 3GPP, which introduced 5G technology.
2019 802.11ax standard was introduced to provide higher efficiency and more device support.

Block Diagram of Wireless Communication

The block diagram of a typical wireless communication system is depicted here −

Block Diagram of Wireless Communication

It consists of the following key components −

  • Information Source − It is the device that generates information that has to be transmitted. Examples of information source in wireless communication can be a mobile phone, computer, POS device, etc.
  • Source Encoder − This component is responsible for encoding the information from the source into a form that can be transmitted through the channel.
  • Channel Coder − This component adds extra bits to the original information to protect it from errors during transmission.
  • Modulator − It transforms the information into a signal suitable for transmission over the wireless communication channel. It combines the information signal with a carrier signal of higher energy.
  • Multiplexer − This component combines multiple signals into one signal to improve transmission efficiency and resource utilization.
  • Propagation Channel − It is the wireless medium through which information signals travel to the destination. In wireless communication, air or free space is used as the propagation channel.
  • Equalizer − This component is employed for compensating the distortions in the information signal that might be caused during transmission through the propagation channel.
  • Demodulator − The demodulator is used in wireless communication to retrieve the original information from the received modulated signal. It separates the information signal from the carrier signal.
  • Channel Decoder − This component is provided to remove the extra bits added by the channel coder during transmission.
  • Source Decoder − This component performs reverse process of the source encoder and reconstructs the original information message sent by the information source.
  • Information Sink − It represents the destination of the transmitted information and is the device that receives the message.

Types of Wireless Communication Networks

Depending on the needs, there are several different types of wireless communication systems/networks present. Some major types of wireless communication networks are explained here in this section.

1. Wireless LAN

Wireless LAN (Local Area Network), also referred to as WLAN, is a wireless communication network that makes the use of radio waves to connect different nodes in the network. It is used within a limited area like in a home or office. Wi-Fi is a common example of wireless LAN.

2. Wireless WAN

Wireless WAN, also known as Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), is a large-scale wireless communication network that connects devices over wide areas like across cities or entire country. It is also known as mobile broadband. For wireless connectivity, it uses cellular technologies such as 3G, 4G, 5G, etc. Mobile internet and voice over internet protocol are common examples of wireless WAN.

3. Wireless MAN

Wireless MAN, also known as Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN), is a wireless communication network which is larger than WLAN but smaller than WWAN. This network is designed to provide wireless connectivity within a city or neighboring cities.

4. Fixed Wireless Networks

Fixed wireless networks are used to provide internet facilities to homes and businesses in rural areas or areas where physical connectivity becomes uneconomical. Fixed wireless networks are generally used as the alternatives of satellite communication in remote areas.

5. Wireless PAN

Wireless PAN or Wireless Personal Area Network is a type of wireless communication system that used to connect devices within a very short range. It is used in personal areas like within a room or house. Bluetooth is a common example of WPAN.

Advantages of Wireless Communication

  • Wireless communication is cost effective, as it requires small investment to setup and maintain due to fewer physical components.
  • Wireless communication offers higher flexibility in terms of scalability.
  • Wireless communication found compatible with new technologies.
  • Wireless communication encourages mobile connectivity by providing access to resources from any location.
  • Wireless communication enhances user experiences by eliminating the need for physical connections.

Disadvantages of Wireless Communication

  • Design and implementation of wireless communication requires extensive research and technical expertise.
  • Wireless communication is more vulnerable to security risks.
  • Advanced components of wireless communication systems consume more power.
  • Finding faults and issues in wireless communication networks is relatively a more difficult task.
  • Development of new wireless technologies and standards can result uncertainty in budgeting for individuals or organizations.

Applications of Wireless Communication

Wireless communication plays a vital role in providing connectivity across various fields. Some of the key applications of wireless communication are given here −

  • Wireless communication is serving as the backbone of cellular networks for transmitting voice, text, and internet data in mobile devices and networks.
  • Wi-Fi, which is a wireless local area network, provides wireless communication among devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.
  • Wireless communication is also used in Bluetooth or other wireless personal area networks to provide connectivity over a short-range between devices like smartphones, headphones, keyboard and mouse, smartwatches, etc.
  • Wireless communication is also used in home automation and office automation systems.
  • Satellite based wireless communication forms the basis of long-distance communication services such as GPS navigation, TV or radio broadcasting, internet access in remote areas, etc.
  • Wireless communication is also used to provide connectivity in the conditions of natural disaster or emergency.
  • Wireless communication is used in healthcare sector as well to provide services like telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and consulting, etc.

What You Will Learn in Wireless Communication?

The topics covered in this tutorial on Wireless Communication are highlighted in the following table −

Who Should Learn Wireless Communication?

This tutorial is mainly designed for beginner students and learners who aspire to learn about wireless communication. This tutorial can also be a valuable resource for any of the following audiences −

  • Engineering students of branches electrical, electronics, IT, and computer science having wireless communication as subject in their syllabus.
  • Engineers and professionals working in the field of wireless communication, cellular networks, etc.
  • Anyone who is interested in knowing how wireless communication works.
  • IT administrators involved in maintaining wireless networks in corporates.

Prerequisites to Learn Wireless Communication

This tutorial is written in a lucid and simple language, hence no prior knowledge of the subject is required. However, if the readers have a basic understanding of concepts like electronic circuits, components, analog and digital communication, electromagnetic waves, and signal processing, then grasping the concepts explained in this tutorial will become easier and smoother.

FAQs on Wireless Communication

In this section, we have collected some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Wireless Communication, followed by their answers −

1. What is meant by Wireless Communication?

Wireless communication is a way of exchanging information between two or more devices without using any physical connection.

2. What are the three types of Wireless Communication?

The following are the three main types of wireless communication −

  • Wireless PAN Communication − It is the smallest type of wireless communication used to provide connectivity between personal devices like smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, keyboard and mouse.
  • Wireless LAN Communication − This wireless communication is used to provide wireless connectivity between devices within a local area like home or office.
  • Wireless WAN Communication − This wireless communication provides a wireless connectivity among devices over a very large area, such as across cities or countries.

3. What is the need for Wireless Communication?

Wireless communication is needed for the following reasons −

  • Enable mobile communication
  • Provide access to resource from anywhere
  • Reduce the physical components and cost of communication infrastructure
  • Provide services to large audiences across the globe, etc.

4. What is an example of Wireless communication?

Connecting a smartphone or laptop to the internet using a Wi-Fi network is a common example of wireless communication.

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