Computer Engineering and Information Systems Case Study

it's the same with a Wi-Fi network, where the higher the frequency and the more data is communicated via the wave, the more the actual performance of the RF plane changes. And just like an RF plane that can take in very high frequencies of waves while others will bounce off the device or begin to have properties like light waves (meaning they refract and reverberate) the same holds true for Wi-Fi signals.

If you have ever flown an RF plane you can relate to this allegory and its implications on the distance a plane can travel, navigated by the signal from the control unit and the strength of the signal waves. The same is true of a Wi-Fi network. The stronger the frequency of a LAN as measured in kHz, the farther a signal can travel and the larger the potential LAN can be. And just as a signal being sent to an RF plane will dissipate over time, the same holds true for a Wi-Fi network. This property of a network signal losing speed is called attenuation. Many times companies such as yours will use repeaters or a device that allows the Wi-Fi signal to be strengthened and sent forward to other parts of the network.In addition to attenuation there is also the aspect of physical limitations of a network as well. In wireless networks, these physical limitations are defined more by the electrical power of the device. In wired networks it is the length of the cable and distance between repeaters or those devices that re-amplify and strengthen the signal.

One final consideration is the frequency you want to have the Wi-Fi network run at, keeping in mind the higher it is, the further the single will carry, yet the more expensive it will be to support. Just like having a state-of-the-art RF plane, the best one could be thousands of dollars just for the electronics. The same holds true with Wi-Fi networks, with the 200 kHz networks being mainstream and the microwave class having speeds of 200 THz or higher. As with many decisions "more power' may not always be the best idea, yet picking a solution that best fits your company's needs. Given the fact that so many of your employees are using laptops and are continually moving around the building, I highly suggest Wi-Fi for the mobility aspects alone.

References

Varshney, U., & Vetter, R. (2000). Emerging mobile and wireless….....