Wireless Network Visualization using Radio Propagation Modelling

1
Wireless Network Visualization using Radio
Propagation Modelling

• Johanna Janse van Rensburg
• Supervisor Barry Irwin

2
Outline

• Problems associated with 802.11
• Security Risks
• Issues related to setting up WLAN
• What is Radio Propagation Modelling
• How it can solve 802.11 problems
• Methodology
• Conclusion
• Comments and Questions

3
Problems with 802.11

• Attenuation.
• Interference.
• Channels
• Multi-Path Propagation.
• Security features
• DOS attacks
• Access Points which havent been configured.
• Rogue Access Points and Clients that are
  unsecured.
• Signal Spill

4
Setting up a WLAN

• Antenna Selection
• Density of users
• AP location
• Roaming
• Security

5
Definition What it is?

• A model to visualize the coverage footprint of a
  wireless network in an environment.

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Why it is necessary?

• Wireless Network Planning.
• Predict Signal Spill.
• Predicted Performance.
• Predict Channel Overlap
• Predicted Coverage.
• Auditing.

7
Methodology

• Field Measurements Data acquisition in free
  space and office environment
• Comparisons
• Visualization
• Mathematical models
• Environment, Floorplan or Outside.

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Conclusion

• Administrator must have an understanding.
• Management Tool
• Wireless Network Performance Management eg.
• Low speed Transmission Rates
• Excessive Channel Noise (SNR)
• Access Points Overload Channel (rogue)