Words Have Meanings?
Many decades ago I lived in Taiwan for a couple of years and learned Mandarin Chinese. Of all the tens of thousands of possible Chinese characters, there are only some 400 or so different sounds in the language. So many of the same characters (words) end up having the exact same sound. To counteract this obvious chance for confusion, sometimes Chinese people write out an imaginary copy of the character in question on the palm of their hand. A bit awkward, but it helps to convey which character goes with which sound.
In the English language, we too have difficulties at times with words having the same sound, but entirely different meanings. Some even represent a noun, and a verb with the exact same sound. For example, take the word Shift.
- Shift – to change gears on a car
- Shift – a type of woman’s apparel
- Shift – a time period for work
- Shift – what a Defense does in American Football
- Shift – an improvised knife used as a weapon
Thus we need context around the word to help us determine which version we are referring to.
As another example – the word Braces:
“You wouldn’t want to confuse the Braces holding up Larry King’s pants, with the Braces straightening his teeth, with the guest who Braces for the next question.”
In our world of Wireless LANs we too have to be careful in the use of various terms and words that can have different possible meanings.
We banter about the term ‘Spectrum Analyzer’ but which version might we be referring to:
- A $30,000 Spectrum Analyzer used in electronics labs?
- A $4,000 Cognio Spectrum Analyzer with custom ASICs?
- A $2,000 AirMagnet Spectrum Analyzer with software to share with WiFi NIC data?
- A $400 MetaGeek Spectrum Analyzer?
- An Atheros chipset with WiFi mode turned off and listening as a Spectrum Analyzer?
- Or finally what Xirrus calls a Spectrum Analyzer – but is just WiFi data in tabular format?
All are referred to as a Spectrum Analyzer – but they all have far different resolutions, and capabilities. Not that the most expensive is best – you’ll need to use the one that can show you the raw (non-Modulated) RF at the resolution you need to solve your current problem.
Set SoapBox = ON
Xirrus – just calling something a Spectrum Analyzer doesn’t make it one. No more than calling me a Marathon Runner makes me one. (I have ‘run’ (managed) the electronic timers at a Marathon – that doesn’t mean I actually competed) If your device cannot ‘see’ raw non-modulated RF – don’t call it something it isn’t. It might fool your customers – but not anyone who actually knows what a Spectrum Analyzer is!
Set SoapBox = OFF
Other words we use in the pursuit of our Wireless LAN systems that can be confusing include the word Interference.
We have:
- Raw RF Interference – non-802.11 modulated
- Co-Channel Interference – 802.11 packets on the same frequency
- Adjacent Channel Interference – 802.11 packets on nearby frequencies
- Interference because AP’s and Clients are sharing the same frequency with all neighboring devices on the same channel. (Like a hub has interference from all connected devices)
Each of these effects on our data throughput differently, and each need different tools to help troubleshoot and solve the “Interference”.
Or how about the simple term Noise that gets thrown around all the time. Which version of Noise are you referring to:
- Thermal Noise?
- Non-802.11 Modulated RF signals?
- 801.11 RF on the same channel?
- 802.11 RF on nearby channels?
- Ambient RF noise floor?
- Broken Packets on the same frequency?
Which of these above is what you are thinking of for the ‘N’ in SNR? Which version of “Noise” is used in your Wi-Fi NIC?
Spectrum Analyzers can tell some of these, a Wi-Fi NIC that is in promiscuous mode can see others. Knowing when to use which tool is very important.
In conclusion – remember just like the words Shift and Braces – we need to be very precise in the use of confusing Wireless LAN terms. It will help clear up any confusion if you can be very precise when communicating terms like Spectrum Analyzer, Interference, and Noise.
Mobile Surveys Made Easy
A guest post from Jared Griffith of Cinergy WiFi on his Mobile Site Survey Kit.
Jared Griffith
Cinergy Wi-Fi, Inc
845 West 1025 South
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Office 877-782-5879
Mobile 801-808-7720
Fax 866-861-2133
Jared.Griffith@cinergywifi.com
http://cinergywifi.com
http://twitter.com/cinergywifi
Spectrum Analysis Primer – Part 1 – Fundamentals
Today’s post, instead of your weekly Podcast on some Wireless LAN topic, will be the first of a three part series on Spectrum Analysis. This is a highly graphical topic, and though important to the working of a Wireless LAN Professional, is hard to do in an audio format. Thus no podcast, but instead I’ll be sharing slides, graphics, and concepts that I’ve been sharing with my students for the last decade… all in PDF format so we can visualize the concepts.
This week is Part 1 – Fundamentals.
In the attached PDF white paper we’ll cover the basics and vocabulary needed to get started with Spectrum Analysis. Including talking a bit on how regular WiFi NIC’s operate. We need to know what spectrum analysis is NOT as well as what it is.
In subsequent weeks we’ll continue talking about basics of Spectrum Analysis and then how to intepret the results of using a SpecAn.
In the final week, I’ll talk about the various options available from $50 to $20,000. And the costs and benefits of choosing your Spectrum Analysis tools wisely.
I’m no longer teaching WLAN technologies full-time, I’ve taken a position with Ruckus Wireless to head up the professional services group, so I thought it would be appropriate to share these concepts and slides freely to the Wireless LAN Professionals community.
Enjoy!
Keith Parsons
Comments and questions are always welcome.
