White Papers
To learn more about our Information Systems Support and Records Management service practice areas, be sure to read the whitepapers in our library.
The Linux Challenge
What can Linux do for your organization? This paper describes the history and application of a versatile Open Source solution.
Disaster Recovery
What steps are you taking to prepare for the possibility of a disaster? Read about the basics of disaster recovery – definitions and goals.
Radio Frequency Primer
For people who have no Radio Frequency (RF) experience, it can be difficult to visualize how radio waves travel. Even for those with experience, RF concepts can be challenging! This paper uses light as an analogy to explain microwave radio and line-of-site issues. Read our primer.
Wireless Internet Using 2.4 GHz
Wireless Internet access is available almost everywhere using digital cell phone and Personal Communication Service (PCS) radio channel technologies. However, these technologies are not practical for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) who may consider using them to establish Internet access for clients for two reasons: large companies own the licenses for these radio channels, and the throughput on these channels is very slow (less than 10 Kbps). So, while PCS technologies are ideal for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and other slow-speed Internet applications, they are not practical for establishing high-speed Internet access. Using the 2.4 GHz band has proven to be an effective and profitable alternative to PCS for offering high-speed wireless Internet access to customers at fixed locations. The 2.4 GHz band offers three main advantages: it is license free, it supports high data rates, and it requires affordable equipment. The primary disadvantage of the 2.4 GHz band is that clear, unobstructed line-of-sight must exist between the base antenna and the client antenna. This paper provides detailed information about the 2.4 GHz band and wireless Internet.
IEEE 802.11 Tutorial
Approval of the IEEE 802.11 standard for Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) and rapid progress made toward higher data rates have put the promise of truly mobile computing within reach. While wired Local Area Networks (LAN’s) have been a mainstream technology for at least fifteen years, WLAN’s are uncharted territory for most networking professionals. Some obvious questions come to mind when considering wireless networking. Read this paper to learn the basics about IEEE 802.11. IEEE 802.11 Tutorial
IEEE 802.11 DSSS
The Path to High Speed Wireless Data Networking: The 1997 completion of the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless LANs (WLAN’s) was a first important step in the evolutionary development of wireless networking technologies. The standard was developed to maximize interoperability between differing brands of wireless LANs as well as to introduce a variety of performance improvements and benefits. This paper offers a useful perspective on the impact of IEEE 802.11.
A Comparison of Frequency Hopping and Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum Modulation for IEEE 802.11 Applications at 2.4 GHz: This is a technical paper that details an approach to determining performance trade-offs so that a network engineer can make an informed decision. Non-engineers will also appreciate an explanation of basic concepts. The decision-making approach is based on determining the maximum data flow per acre or the maximum number of networks per acre. The analyses done to date show that up to 13 co-located Frequency Hopping (FH) networks can be placed before network throughput peaks. Only 3 or 4 Direct Sequence (DS) networks following the 802.11 standards can be co-located before the spectrum is filled. Does this mean that FH is the right choice? Not necessarily. Which type spread spectrum is best for time bounded traffic? These questions and other questions are examined and some conclusions proposed.
Indoor WLAN Performance -- Range Performance in a Dense Office Environment
A must read technical paper for those who want to deploy a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) in an office. It discusses indoor WLAN Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio range testing relating antenna type, radiated power, and transmitter/receiver separation to the IEEE 802.11 compliance range at the 2.4 GHz ISM band frequencies. Indoor range performance is shown to depend not only on transmit power and transmission rate, but on the product’s response to multi-path and obstructions in the environment along the radio propagation path. A comparison of the effects of propagation with respect to a WLAN built-in printed circuit board antenna and a dipole are investigated in the dense office environment.