WiFi Lab C

[pikachu4919]

2022 Question Marathon Thread for WiFi Lab C.

Question Marathons Explained

[RasmitDevkota]

Well, let's get this started with something simple and essential then: what are the two most commonly-used frequency bands for WiFi communications, in gigahertz?

[Nydauron]

Well, let's get this started with something simple and essential then: what are the two most commonly-used frequency bands for WiFi communications, in gigahertz?

Click to Show Answer

2.4 and 5 GHz

[RasmitDevkota]

Well, let's get this started with something simple and essential then: what are the two most commonly-used frequency bands for WiFi communications, in gigahertz?

Click to Show Answer

2.4 and 5 GHz

Yep

[Nydauron]

My turn then!

I have 2 access points to keep signal strength strong throughout my apartment. However, I am hitting some deadspots when I am between the access points. However, when I remove one of them, no packets get lost. What is likely to be the cause?

[melaniaaachen]

Well, let's get this started with something simple and essential then: what are the two most commonly-used frequency bands for WiFi communications, in gigahertz?

Click to Show Answer

2.4 and 5 GHz

Ahaha I recently bought a router and already knew the answer to this question.

[RasmitDevkota]

My turn then!

I have 2 access points to keep signal strength strong throughout my apartment. However, I am hitting some deadspots when I am between the access points. However, when I remove one of them, no packets get lost. What is likely to be the cause?

Could it be... (Click to Show Hidden Text)

Interference between the two access points causing information to get lost in certain locations where they destructively coincide?

[Nydauron]

Could it be... (Click to Show Hidden Text)

Interference between the two access points causing information to get lost in certain locations where they destructively coincide?

At a low level, yes, this is exactly what's happening.

Higher level and more in-depth answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

What I was sorta looking for is that the access points were on the same channels. Even though we say 2.4 and 5GHz are the frequencies for wifi, it is still pretty generic since the FCC usually allocates a range of frequencies for certain technologies. Disregarding location, for the main types of wifi, there are 14 channels for 2.4GHz (of 5MHz width) and about 70 channels for 5GHz (ranging from 10-80Mhz wide).

[RasmitDevkota]

Could it be... (Click to Show Hidden Text)

Interference between the two access points causing information to get lost in certain locations where they destructively coincide?

At a low level, yes, this is exactly what's happening.

Higher level and more in-depth answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

What I was sorta looking for is that the access points were on the same channels. Even though we say 2.4 and 5GHz are the frequencies for wifi, it is still pretty generic since the FCC usually allocates a range of frequencies for certain technologies. Disregarding location, for the main types of wifi, there are 14 channels for 2.4GHz (of 5MHz width) and about 70 channels for 5GHz (ranging from 10-80Mhz wide).

Ah, that definitely would be reasonable (Click to Show Hidden Text)

I was thinking more in general since interference happens regardless of the wave properties.

Onto the next question then: You noticed your neighbor has recently installed a half-wave dipole antenna on their roof. Being the curious antenna geek you are, you sneakily climb onto their roof with a plastic ruler and measure the dipole to have a total length of 3.1 meters. (a) What frequency does this correspond to in hertz and (b) what bandwidth designation (HF, UHF, VHF, etc.) would this fall into?

[ThomasL]

... I feel like I'm in legal danger >.< (Click to Show Hidden Text)

(a) 48 MHz (half-wave dipole antenna has length 1/2 the wavelength, and frequency is speed of light divided by wavelength)
(b) VHF (which is 30 MHz - 300 MHz)