Chapter 2. Wireless System Architecture: How Wireless Works

What You Will Learn

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Understand the components of a wireless network

• Discover general wireless network architectural elements

• Understand how information flows through a wireless network

Wireless networks utilize components similar to wired networks; however, wireless networks must convert information signals into a form suitable for transmission through the air medium. Even though wireless networks directly contribute only to a portion of the overall network infrastructure, attention to all network functions is necessary to counter impairments resulting from the wireless medium. This chapter discusses concepts common to all types of wireless networks, with emphasis on components and information signals.