WiFi

Common Specification and Regulation

Have you ever wondered why your WiFi at home, at school, or in a coffee shop works differently? Or why you can't use the same kind of WiFi in an airplane as in your living room? That's because WiFi has rules it needs to follow, just like players in a game.These rules are called 'regulations' and 'specifications'. They are like the instruction manual for WiFi that tells it how to behave no matter where it is. Every country has its own set of rules for WiFi to make sure it's safe and works well without causing problems for other electronic devices.

When discussing WiFi network specifications, several common elements are vital to its operation, performance, and compliance with regulatory standards. These specifications are critical to the design, deployment, and management of WiFi networks, whether for personal, business, or public use. Understanding and optimizing these factors can greatly enhance the performance and reliability of a WiFi network.

Here are the key specifications you would typically consider:

RF Coverage and Signal Strength:

Coverage Area: The physical area covered by the WiFi network.

Indoor Environments: Typically, a single AP can cover about 100 to 150 meters (328 to 492 feet) in open space. In homes or offices with walls and other obstacles, coverage might be reduced to 30 to 50 meters (98 to 164 feet).
Outdoor Environments: With line-of-sight and higher power output, coverage can extend several hundred meters or more.

Signal Strength: Measured in dBm, indicating the power level received by a device.

Excellent Signal: -30 to -50 dBm
Good Signal: -50 to -60 dBm
Fair Signal: -60 to -70 dBm
Weak Signal: Below -70 dBm

Frequency Bands: Commonly 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, with newer standards like WiFi 6 (802.11ax) offering 6 GHz.

Channels and Bandwidth:

Channels: WiFi operates on different channels within the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 Ghz bands.

2.4 GHz band typically offers 14 channels, with channels 1, 6, and 11 being non-overlapping in most countries.
5 GHz band has over 20 non-overlapping channels
6 GHz band adds an additional 59 channels for devices that support WiFi 6E.

Channel Width: This can be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and even 160 MHz in some cases, affecting throughput and susceptibility to interference.

Data Rates and Throughput:

Data Rate: The speed at which data can be transferred over the network, typically measured in Mbps (Megabits per second) or Gbps (Gigabits per second).
Throughput: The actual speed achieved, which is often lower than the data rate due to various factors such as interference, distance, and network load.

Security Protocols:

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): An outdated and insecure protocol.
WPA (WiFi Protected Access): Improved security over WEP, with WPA2 and WPA3 offering even stronger protections.
WPA3: The latest security standard that provides cutting-edge security protocols.

Authentication and Encryption:

PSK (Pre-shared Key): Used in home and small business networks.
EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol): Used in enterprise networks for more secure authentication.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard): A strong encryption standard used with WPA2 and WPA3.

Network Architecture:

SSID (Service Set Identifier): The name of the WiFi network.
MAC Address Filtering: Restricts access to the network to only those devices with specific MAC addresses.
Guest Networks: Separate access for guests to protect the main network.

Quality of Service (QoS):

Traffic Prioritization: Ensures important data (like VoIP or streaming) gets priority over other types.
Band Steering: Directs devices to the less congested 5 GHz band from the 2.4 GHz band.

Interference Management:

Co-channel Interference: Occurs when multiple access points are on the same channel.
Adjacent-channel Interference: When access points on nearby channels interfere with each other.

Regulatory Compliance:

Output Power: Limited by regulations like the FCC’s Part 15 in the US.

FCC's Part 15 (United States) : For indoor operations, the maximum permitted output power for WiFi devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band is generally 1 watt (30 dBm), and in the 5 GHz band, it varies from 250 milliwatts (24 dBm) to 1 watt (30 dBm), depending on the specific sub-band and whether the operation is indoor or outdoor. The rules also specify limits on the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), which takes into account the gain of the antenna being used.
ETSI (Europe): In Europe, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) sets the output power limits for WiFi devices. The ETSI typically allows up to 20 dBm (100 milliwatts) of output power for 2.4 GHz WiFi devices. For 5 GHz devices, the allowed power levels can range up to 30 dBm, depending on the band and application, with similar considerations for EIRP.

Frequency Use: Must comply with local regulations on frequency band usage. The use of frequency bands for WiFi is also regulated to avoid interference with other spectrum users. Different parts of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands are allocated for WiFi use under different conditions.

2.4 GHz Band: This band is almost universally available for unlicensed WiFi use, with certain restrictions on output power and requirements for dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and transmit power control (TPC) in some countries.
5 GHz Band: The availability of this band for WiFi use varies significantly by country, with certain portions requiring DFS and TPC to avoid interference with radar and satellite services.
6 GHz Band (WiFi 6E): The 6 GHz band is a recent addition for WiFi use, offering more bandwidth and channels for WiFi 6E devices. Its availability is subject to regulatory approval in each country, with the FCC in the US, Ofcom in the UK, and other national regulators opening parts of the band for unlicensed WiFi use.

Physical and Environmental Considerations:

Device Placement: Affects coverage and performance, with optimal placement reducing dead spots.
Environmental Factors: Materials like metal, concrete, and water bodies can interfere with signal propagation.

Regulation in Different Regions

Regulations for wireless communication, including WiFi, can vary significantly from country to country. However, here are some of the key regulatory agencies and some of the regulations they enforce:

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - United States

Title 47 CFR Part 15 - Regulates the operation of wireless devices to minimize interference with other devices.
Open Internet Order - Outlines net neutrality rules that can impact how WiFi networks are managed.

European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) - Europe

EN 300 328 - Covers the standard for Wideband transmission systems operating in the 2.4 GHz band.
EN 301 893 - Applies to 5 GHz high-performance RLANs.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) - Canada

RSS-210 - Sets out the requirements for low-power license-exempt radio communication devices, including WiFi.

Ofcom - United Kingdom

IR 2006 - Framework for the provision of wireless telegraphy licenses.
UK Interface Requirement 2030 (UK IR 2030) - Details the technical requirements for WiFi devices.

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) - Australia

Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class License 2015 - Governs the operation of WiFi and other devices.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) - India

Regulations on the use of wireless frequency spectrum and licensing.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) - Japan

Radio Law - Governs the use of radio frequencies and the operation of radio equipment.

National Communications Commission (NCC) - Taiwan

Telecommunications Act - Regulates radio frequency spectrum and licensing.

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) - China

Regulations on radio frequency management.

Korean Communications Commission (KCC) - South Korea

Radio Waves Act - Governs the management of radio wave resources.