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Wireless network capabilities
Silete Bertrand EDORH
New York City School of Technology (CUNY)
Course: Networking Fundamentals CST2307-D34
Dr. Allan Greenberg, PhD.
03/23/2025
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Wireless network capabilities
In today's world, Wi-Fi has become unavoidable regarding internet connectivity.
Introduced to us decades ago, it has managed to take us from a period where few people still
needed cable or wire to connect to an era ruled by wireless connectivity and the use of all
through smart devices. Wi-Fi is a technology that also uses radio waves to transmit data such as
TV or radio broadcasting but this time, it is between devices and a router which then permits
internet access. As such, the purpose of Wi-Fi is to provide wireless networking technology
without a cable. In this paper, I will be deepening my understanding of Wi-fi through various
targeted questions.
Upon using my device to scan the Wi-Fi networks in my immediate environment, I
detected at least 26 distinct networks. These networks seem to operate primarily on the 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz frequencies and of course with some variation in signal strengths. I came to realize
that networks with 2.4 GHz frequency band tend to be broader in coverage with less speed
(around -80 to -90dBm of signal) and more interferences, while networks with 5 GHz frequency
band tend to offer higher speed (around -30 to 64dBm of signal) with short range. The signal
strengths that range from around -80 to -90 dBm tend to be associated with networks located
farther away, while stronger signals around -30 to 64 dBm seem to be generally associated with
networks located closer to my device.
The SSID is an acronym for Service Set Identifier and my network is “SpectrumSetupDF”. The SSID allows devices to recognize and connect to specific networks. There is also the
fact that the SSID can be hidden from the public which hides in return the network Wi-Fi from
other devices if the user wishes so. Of course, more security measures of the same caliber exist
on the parameters.
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When I moved to a different area of my house, like the basement, I noticed there were
fewer available networks, and the signal strengths were weaker. For example, the dBm values of
some networks, such as -30 dBm, increased significantly as I moved to another part of my home,
about 30 feet away, indicating that the signals had weakened. This is likely due to physical
barriers like walls and the distance, which can reduce Wi-Fi signal strength.
During the scan, I detected several access points, such as “Michael” (AP). Based on my
experience, access points like those on smartphones or laptops enable other wireless devices to
connect to Wi-Fi through a broadcast signal. Before providing internet access to these devices,
they must first be connected to the internet themselves, either through mobile data, another Wi-Fi
network (router), or a switch, all within a certain range.
Wi-Fi operates on different frequency bands, 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz. Each one of them
offers a specific number of channels that devices us to communicate with no interference. The
2.4 Ghz band has a total of 14 channels, but only the channels 1 to 11 are to use. Each of these
channels is 20 MHz wide, and each channel is spaced 5 Mhz apart, which means that adjacent
channels overlap with each other. Because of these overlaps, only 3 non-overlapping channels
such as 1,6,11 remain and are used to minimize interference. 5 Ghz band on the other hand
provide a much larger range of channels typically up to 45 in total. These channels are 20 Mhz
apart, with some that support 40 Mhz or 80 Mhz wide channels for higher data hold. Unlike 2.4
Ghz band, the 5 Ghz band has more non overlapping channels, which improve performance and
minimize clogging between channels.
There are multiple Wi-Fi scanning tools available, and both Wireshark and inSSIDer
stand out as valuable options. Compared to other tools, they offer precise features focused on
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optimization, troubleshooting and helping users enhance their wireless connections effectively.
Wireshark from what was seen and experienced seems to be a packet analyzer that captures
network traffic and gives users the ability to inspect/monitor data while also potentially helping
identify potential issues with network performance or security. InSSIDer, on the other hand, is a
tool that scans nearby Wi-Fi networks and provides various detailed information about them
such as signal strength, encryption methods and even channel usage. InSSIDer because what it
can do, enable users to choose the best channels and avoid interference.
Standard
Range
Frequency
Throughput
Security
Features
802.11a
35-120
5
54
WEP, WPA
802.11b
35-150
2.4
11
WEP, WPA
802.11g
35-140
2.4
54
WEP, WPA2
802.11n
70-250
2.4/5
600
WPA2
802.11ac
35-100
5
1300
WPA2, WPA3
802.11ad
10-30
60
7000
WPA3
Explanation :
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Range (m): Represents the typical effective range of the Wi-Fi standard in meters.
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Throughput (Mbps): The maximum data transfer rate supported by the standard.
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Security Features: Highlights the security protocols available for each standard, such as
WEP, WPA, WPA2, or WPA3.
This research has provided me with a valuable, new and interesting view into the
functioning of Wi-Fi networks such as the difference between network frequency bands, signal
strength, and something like channel selection. While I mostly use smartphone applications to
get the information, I also got to discover more of the computer tools/applications that exist out
there and they allowed me to understand a little bit the behavior of networks in different
environments. As the wireless connectivity become more essential to most people daily life,
getting to understand these element are becoming increasingly crucial for optimization and
securitization of connections.
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Bibliography :
Cooney, Michael, et al. “What Is Wi-Fi and Why Is It so Important?” Network World, 14
Feb. 2025, www.networkworld.com/article/968819/what-is-wi-fi-and-why-is-it-soimportant.html.
“Different Wi-Fi Protocols and Data Rates.” Intel,
www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005725/wireless/legacy-intelwireless-products.html. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Robb, Drew. “WIFI Testing Tools: Free & Paid Wireless Security Tools.” eSecurity
Planet, 22 Mar. 2023, www.esecurityplanet.com/products/wifi-security-testing-tools/.
“How to Pick the Best Wi-Fi Channels and Improve Your Speeds.” BroadbandNow, 7 Feb.
2025, broadbandnow.com/guides/best-wi-fi-channels.