Computer Networking › Section G · Wireless and mobile networks › Topic G.2

Wireless LANs: 802.11

Wi-Fi, the IEEE 802.11 family, is how most laptops and phones reach the internet indoors. This topic follows a station as it finds an access point, takes turns on a shared radio channel and gets its frames safely to a router.

In this topic

  • One family, many generations
  • Access points, BSSs and SSIDs
  • Finding and joining an access point
  • No collision detection, so acknowledge everything
  • CSMA/CA step by step
  • Worked example: two stations back off
  • RTS and CTS for hidden terminals
  • The 802.11 frame
  • Worked example: addresses through an AP
  • Roaming, rate adaptation and sleep
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • Key takeaways

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