NETW 563 Discussions Week 1-8 Wireless Networks

NETW 563 Discussions Week 1-8 Wireless Networks 

NETW 563 Discussions Week 1:

Wireless Basics – Discussion 1

Standards (Graded)

Wireless technology has relied on standards since its outset. How has this assisted in the widespread acceptance of standards, and how do standards make it easier for us to purchase and use a wide variety of products?

Wireless Basics – Discussion 2

Antennas and RF (Graded)

All forms of electromagnetic energy, from gamma rays to radio waves, travel through space in waves. How are radio waves generated, and how do they propagate? Discuss the physical differences between radio waves and light or heat waves.

NETW 563 Discussions Week 2:

 OSI – Discussion 1

Wireless Modulation (Graded)

What are the four primary wireless modulation schemes? Which ones are used for WLANs, and what are their relative advantages and disadvantages?

OSI – Discussion 2

Access Control (Graded)

The MAC layer has the primary responsibility of controlling access to the wireless medium. What are the two procedures for transmitting on a WLAN specified by the IEEE 802.11 standard? 

NETW 563 Discussions Week 3:

Planning the WLAN – Discussion 1

Designing the WLAN (Graded)

Explain the steps in designing a WLAN. How do you determine the network type, access point management strategy, and location of the APs?

Planning the WLAN – Discussion 2

Site Survey Analyzers (Graded)

What is the purpose of the analyzers? How can the information be used for configuration or troubleshooting purposes?

NETW 563 Discussions Week 4:

WLAN Security – Discussion 1

Security Organizations (Graded)

Discuss some of the organizations dedicated to information security. Explain these organizations’ missions and goals. Is there an organization dedicated to wireless security? If so, please describe the organization and its goals.

WLAN Security – Discussion 2

Securing the WLAN (Graded)

How have the IEEE 802.11 security mechanisms for wireless networks fallen far short of their goal? What are the vulnerabilities? 

NETW 563 Discussions Week 5:

 Wireless Management – Discussion 1

SNMP (Graded)

SNMP is a protocol that allows computers and network equipment to gather data about network performance. It is part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. Discuss the role of a software agent in SNMP, and explain the purpose of the MIB.

Wireless Management – Discussion 2

Troubleshooting (Graded)

Define the term troubleshooting. What does it mean to you? Discuss why troubleshooting wireless networks can be more challenging than troubleshooting wired networks. Please back up your posts with supporting evidence.

NETW 563 Discussions Week 6:

 WPAN, WMAN – Discussion 1

Getting to 4G (Graded)

Is the United States on track for 4G deployment? What barriers do you foresee preventing widespread acceptance and deployment?

WPAN, WMAN – Discussion 2

The Future of Satellite Radio (Graded)

In 2008, XM and Sirius Radio were allowed to merge. Why did the FCC allow this merger? What is the future of this technology?

NETW 563 Discussions Week 7:

Traffic Management – Discussion 1

Traffic Shaping (Graded)

What is traffic shaping? Why is traffic shaping a controversial topic?

Traffic Management – Discussion 2

Wireless Network Planning (Graded)

In a cellular or PCS network, what are some of the areas where traffic engineering comes into play? For example, one could use traffic engineering to determine the number of trunks needed to backhaul wireless traffic from the MSC to the PSTN. What are some other points in the network that should be sized?

NETW 563 Discussions Week 8:

 Final Discussion

Looking Ahead (not Graded)

Class, looking back over the Terminal Course Objectives for this course, what are you looking forward to learning more about throughout your education and career?