Wireless technology provides our customers with
flexibility, scalability and mobile solutions beyond
that of conventional network applications. The
following is a list of networking and wireless terms, definitions and
information to assist you with this growing technology.
Wireless Info 101:
Ad-hoc Network
A self-configuring network of mobile routers (and
associated hosts) connected
by wireless links-the union
of which form an arbitrary topology. The routers are
free to move randomly and organize themselves
arbitrarily; thus, the network's
wireless topology may
change rapidly and unpredictably. Such a network may
operate in a standalone fashion, or may be connected to
the larger Internet.
Average Internet Speeds
Cable - 768 KBps Upload speed/ 5 MBps download
speed
Dial-up - 56k (56,000 KBps) maximum
DSL - 768 KBps Upload speed/ 3 MBps
download speed
BSU
Base Station Unit
-
Used in a Point to Multipoint configuration, it is the
main
radio that all SUs (Subscriber Units) point to.
Fresnel Zone
(pronounced as FRA-nel Zone) One of a (theoretically
infinite) number of
concentric ellipsoids of revolution
which define volumes in the radiation pattern
of a
(usually) circular aperture. Fresnel zones are
used to analyze interference
by obstacles near the path
of a radio beam.
Hotspot
A Wi-Fi access point or area, in particular for
connecting to the Internet or
local network
Internet Protocol (IP)
A data-oriented protocol used by source and destination
hosts for
communicating data across a packet-switched
internetwork.
IP Address
A unique number, akin to a telephone number, used by
machines (usually
computers) to refer to each other when
sending information through the
Internet using the
Internet Protocol
LAN
Local Area Network - is a computer network covering a
local area, like a home,
office or small group of
buildings such as a college.
LoS
Line of sight -
Commonly used to refer to telecommunication links that
rely on a
line of sight between the transmitting antenna
and the receiving antenna.
MAC Address
Media Access Control Address - A unique code embedded in
a network device
from its manufacturer. No 2 MAC addresses
are ever the same.
MAN
Metropolitan Area Networks are large computer networks
usually spanning a
campus or a city.
NOC
Network Operations Center - An office or location
dedicated to monitoring a
network
NLoS
Non-Line of Site -
Not able to view target with a straight line due to
environmental or man-made obstructions.
OC-3
High speed data line equivalent to 3.5 T-3 lines up to
155.52MBps
POP
Point of Presence - The point of physical connection
between
telecommunications networks. Can be wired
or wireless.
RF
Radio Frequency - refers to that portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum in
which electromagnetic waves
can be generated by alternating current fed to an
antenna.
SU
Subscriber Unit - Used in a Point to Multipoint
configuration, it is the client radio
that talks to the BSU.
Upload/Download speed
Theoretical speed at which a network device connects to
its network.
VLAN
Virtual Local Area Network - A logically segmented
network mapped over physical hardware.
VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol - aka IP Telephony is
technology that enables
routing of voice conversations
over the Internet or a dedicated Internet
Protocol (IP)
network instead of dedicated voice transmission lines.
WAN
Wide Area Network - A computer network covering a wide
geographical area,
involving vast array of computers. The best example of a WAN is the Internet.
WiFi
Wireless Fidelity - aka 802.11 (a,b,g,& n) A set of
standards for wireless local
area networks (WLAN)
currently based on the IEEE 802.11 specifications.
WiMAX
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access - WiMAX
is often referred to as
"Wi-Fi on steroids".
WAP or AP
Wireless Access Point - A device that "connects"
wireless communication
devices together to create a
wireless network. The AP is usually connected to
a wired network,
and can relay data between devices on each side.
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network uses radio waves as its
carrier: the last link with
the users is wireless, to
give a network connection to all users in a building or
campus. The backbone network usually uses cables. |
