Wireless Technologies In The Home The Invisible Cable Plant

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Wireless Technologies In The Home The Invisible
Cable Plant

• Sandy Teger and David J. WaksSystem Dynamics
  Inc.dave_at_system-dynamics.com

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Many Wireless Opportunities
To the home
Public places Hotels Airports Restaurants
In the home
Outside
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In the Home

• Technologies
• Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11x
• UWB IEEE 802.15.3a
• Issues
• Applications data, voice, video
• Useful range
• Speed
• Security
• Robustness QoS, reliability

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Current Wi-Fi Status

• Three flavors of Wi-Fi
• 802.11b 11 Mbps in 2.4 GHz
• 802.11a 54 Mbps in 5 GHz
• 802.11g 54 Mbps in 2.4 GHz
• Effective maximum speed 20 Mbps
• Range comparatively limited at maximum speed,
  improving
• Security improving WPA and WPA2
• QoS improving - WMM
• Wi-Fi certification will become even more
  important
• Product complexity is rising
• More chip sets and MAC implementations increase
  probability of interoperability failure
• Cost pressures will impact product quality
• Different brands increase interoperability
  challenge

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New Developments

• Focus on 100 Mbps throughput many contending
  technologies including existing wiring and
  wireless (802.11n, UWB)
• Move to whole home networking
• Video becoming part of the mix ? higher speed
  QoS
• HDTV and flat screens taking off new
  entertainment PCs emerging ? better use of
  spectrum
• Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA, formerly
  DHWG) developing interoperability standards for
  integrated networks

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Networked Entertainment Issues

• Requirements
• Support all media audio, video, data
• Audio and video need QoS
• HD video needs high bandwidth
• Premium digital content needs DRM
• What media formats supported?
• Who supplies what to end user?

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Spectrum 2.4 GHz

• Most consumer products use 2.4 GHz
• Shared by 802.11b and 11g
• Interference from microwaves, portable phones,
  and neighbors
• Most products default to channel 6
• One of three non-overlapping channels
• Most products default to maximum transmit power
• Maximize potential for interference with
  neighbors

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Spectrum 5 GHz

• Why not use 802.11a/5GHz?
• 12 non-overlapping channels now, 23 soon
• BOM cost differential less than 5
• Vendors getting high margins on SME products
• Microsoft promoting 11a for Media Center 2005
• Use Media Center Extender to carry video from MC
  PC to large-screen TV

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Microsoft Supports 11.a for Video

• How do I connect my Media Center Extender to my
  Media Center PC?
• There are two main waysvia an Ethernet wired or
  a wireless connection. The wireless connection
  works best on 802.11a home networks.
• Microsoft FAQs

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Speed 802.11n

• Next generation of Wi-Fi
• 100 Mbps throughput at MAC_SAP layer
• 4x-5x faster than 11a and 11g
• Protocol improvements
• MIMO antennas
• Multiple Input/Multiple Output
• Projected completion March 2007
• Pre-11n turbo mode products appearing
• Wi-Fi Alliance discourages reference to pre-11n

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Range

• All wireless systems trade range for speed
• Multiple modulation schemes (like DOCSIS)
• Loss budget depends on distance and obstacles
• Most consumer products operate at much lower
  transmit power than allowed by FCC
• Range is improving
• New chips enable higher power and better receiver
  sensitivity at consumer pricing

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Security 802.11i and WPA

• Original WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
• Easy to crack, confusing to set up
• Most consumer networks operate open
• IEEE 802.11i is new standard for security
• Took more than 4 years, published July 2004
• Two encryption mechanisms
• WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
• Simpler encryption mechanism
• Added to Wi-Fi certification in 2003
• In most current products
• Download for many earlier WEP products

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Security WPA2

• WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2)
• More complex encryption CPU intensive
• Generally requires newest chips
• Added to Wi-Fi certification in September 2004
• Already included in many products
• Consumer and Enterprise versions
• Different authentication methods
• Consumer user-selected secret text string
• Enterprise server-based 802.1x/RADIUS
• Products can include both

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QoS 802.11e and WMM

• QoS needed for audio, voice, video
• Original Wi-Fi didnt have QoS
• IEEE 802.11e is new QoS standard
• Still in process after more than 4 years
• Both prioritized and guaranteed QoS
• WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia)
• Prioritized QoS subset of 802.11e draft
• Widely accepted by 802.11e members
• Added to Wi-Fi certification in September 2004
• Already included in some products

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WMM for Video
Source Wi-Fi Alliance
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QoS HCCA

• Hybrid Coordination Function Controlled Channel
  Access
• Guaranteed QoS subset of 802.11e draft
• Probably needed for HD video
• Ongoing debate in 802.11e dominated by PC guys
• Planned for 2005 if standard completed

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UWB 802.15.3a and W-USB

• Ultra wideband is coming
• FCC approved underlying approach
• Chips and products coming to market in 2005
• Standards are uncertain (competing camps)
• Complements 802.11
• Short range technology 10 meters, single room
• Wireless USB is most likely initial application
• Replaces wired USB, 480 Mbps goal
• Intel, TI and others behind it
• Wireless 1394 is possible follow-on
• Replaces existing A/V wiring

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Concluding Thoughts

• 100 Mbps is coming soon
• 802.11n, UWB, HomePlug AV, etc.
• Need a heterogeneous home network
• Wireless is not a complete whole home solution,
  except maybe in MDUs
• End-to-end QoS is a major challenge
• Service providers want it
• All QoS efforts appear to be in silos
• DLNA is most likely place for resolution

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This Home Network of the FutureIs Now
Video/Audio Source
Gateway / Router Multimedia Server
Ethernet Cat5 Cable and/or Home Plug
Internet
DSL or Cable
Game Console
UWB
Desktop PC or MAC
HD/SD Tuners, DVD, DVR, Etc.
11g11e 2.4 GHz
11a11e 5 GHz
High Definition Display
VoWLAN Handset / PDA
Standard Definition Display
Computer
Printer
Computer
Source Bermai