Wireless communications is the transmission of voice and data without cable or wires. In place of a physical connection, data travels through electromagnetic signals broadcast from sending facilities to intermediate and end-user devices.
The first wireless transmitters went on the air in the early 20th century using radiotelegraphy, which is radio communication using Morse code or other coded signals. Later, as modulation made it possible to transmit voice and music wirelessly, the medium became known as radio. Wireless transmitters use electromagnetic waves to carry voice, data, video or signals over a communication path.
The groundwork for modern wireless networking was laid in the early 1970s with the launch of ALOHAnet in Hawaii. The network, technically a wide area network (WAN), relied on ultra-high frequency signals to broadcast data among the islands. The technology underpinning ALOHAnet helped fuel the creation of Ethernet in 1973 and played an important role in the development of 802.11, the first wireless standard.
The evolution of wireless features
As a medium, wireless communications has been around for more than a century. But it's only been in the past 15 years -- particularly after the ratification of the 802.11ac and 4G standards -- that the technology evolved enough to permit the development of applications and services comprehensive enough for widespread enterprise and consumer adoption.
To that end, wireless features have evolved from simple data transfers -- at rates of only 54 Mbps -- to operations that require gigabits of data to complete.
Each new generation of wireless communications creates more sophisticated capabilities, giving users more flexibility in how they access the information and services they need. As a result, people can now connect to resources from almost anywhere. At the same time, mobile devices have become more powerful and versatile, giving users the opportunity to complete complex tasks. Advances in performance, capacity and coverage will only continue.
The maturation of the technology means that people with wireless networking skills continue to be in demand. Wireless certification programs, among them those offered by Cisco and the Computing Technology Industry Association, help give employees the skills they need to maintain and support wireless systems of the future.
Examples of wireless devices and equipment
A wide variety of wireless equipment enables users to stay connected without being tethered by wires. The Wireless Application Protocol, among other important standards, governs how these devices access the internet and other resources. Common examples of wireless equipment include the following:
●Cellular phones provide connectivity for portable and mobile applications, both personal and business.
●Cordless telephones are limited-range devices within a home that include a base tethered to a wall with cordless handsets.
●Global positioning systems enable car and truck drivers, boat and ship captains, and aircraft pilots to ascertain their location anywhere on Earth.
●Cordless computer peripherals include devices such as wireless mice, keyboards and printers, which can be linked via wireless protocols including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
●Wireless LANs (WLANs) enable users to access a network without requiring a wired connection.
●Wireless routers enable users to connect to the internet at home or in the office by using Wi-Fi. Wireless routers typically include a wired connection that ●enables connectivity to the internet, with antennas that provide wireless connectivity for users.
●Laptops and tablets are Wi-Fi-enabled mobile computing devices that provide wireless connectivity.
●Infrared (IR) wireless uses devices that convey data via IR radiation; it is used in certain limited-range communications and control systems.
Products and reference designs of Wireless communications
Wireless communication
Wireless communication modules for smart grid support a wide range of frequency bands and communications protocols used in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and local area networks. The module is built around the radio plus protocol MCU, which are often integrated into a single wireless MCU. A range extender may be required for regions which allow for higher output power and protection diodes may be desired to guard against damage from the interface to the host smart meter. Wireless communication includes Sub-1 GHz wireless MCUs、Wi-Fi products、Low-power 2.4-GHz products、Sub-1 GHz transceivers、Arm Cortex-M0+ MCUs、MSP430 microcontrollers、Linear & low-dropout (LDO) regulators、USB power switches & charging port controllers、eFuses & hot swap controllers、ESD protection diodes、TVS diodes、USB hubs & controllers, the corresponding products are CC1352P7、CC3300、CC2651R3、CC1200、MSPM0L1306、MSP430FR2355、TLV740P、TPS2553D、TPS2596、TPD2S017、TVS2700、TUSB320LAI
Power supply
Wireless communications modules sometimes need to integrate their own power supply rather than rely on power delivered from the host meter. Low power consumption is always crucial. A boost converter to efficienctly source higher current levels during transmission may be required dependent on output power requirements. Power supply includes Linear & low-dropout (LDO) regulators、Boost converters (integrated switch)、Buck converters (integrated switch)、Battery charger ICs、Buck-boost, inverting & split-rail converters (integrated switch)、SR & load share controllers、Battery fuel gauges、Boost controllers (external switch)、Buck controllers (external switch), the corresponding products are TLV758P、TPS7A24、TPS61022、TPS62932、TPS62826、BQ25176J、TPS631000、UCC24636、LM5122、LM25148
What is the difference between Wi-Fi and wireless networking?
Wi-Fi is a specific subset of wireless communications defined by a set of technical specifications outlined by the IEEE under the designation 802.11. The wireless industry has seen multiple Wi-Fi standards, among them 802.11a/b/c/g/n/ac/ax, each providing different performance characteristics. Wi-Fi networks have their own security protocols, which augment network control and access policies that might already be in place. These wireless security protocols work in different ways to help secure enterprise networks.
To make it easier for consumers to understand the different versions of Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry-backed promotional organization, no longer labels the technology by its IEEE designation. As a result, the most recent standard, 802.11ax, is now identified as Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 represented a significant technological upgrade from Wi-Fi 5, with throughput, modulation and performance standards that permitted organizations to accelerate their Wi-Fi.
A variation of Wi-Fi 6, dubbed Wi-Fi 6E, features capabilities enabled in part by its use of the 6 GHz spectrum. The next iteration of the standard, 802.11be, is also called Wi-Fi 7 and is expected to be released in 2024.
Wi-Fi is typically accessed through WLANs, which use radio technology instead of wiring to connect nodes. An AP or router broadcasts a service set identifier beacon. An endpoint device or user with a Wi-Fi-enabled network interface then connects with the AP to enable the Wi-Fi transmission.
The wireless industry and the future of the market
Wireless communications is now a fundamental part of enterprise networking. Advances in both the Wi-Fi and cellular markets have all but eliminated the performance gap between wired and wireless infrastructures, enabling organizations to go wireless-first and rely on their wired networks on an as-needed basis. Wi-Fi 7 will bring further performance benefits, including increased throughput, the ability to connect more devices and a reduction in latency. The standard will support a maximum throughput of at least 30 Gbps, more than three times the throughput of Wi-Fi 6.
At the same time, work is underway to develop 6G, the next cellular standard. Among 6G's benefits is low latency -- one microsecond -- with throughput and capacity capabilities engineered to surpass 5G.
As capacity and performance characteristics supported by these standards converge, wireless communications enables users to switch seamlessly between Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, affording consumers the ability to access the services, security protections and resources they need regardless of location.
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