802.11n: A Survival Guide

Wireless has finally come of age. With a significant jump in throughput over previous standards, 802.11n is the first wireless technology that doesn’t trade speed for mobility, and users have stormed onto wireless networks with a passion. In this concise guide, Matthew Gast—chair of the IEEE group that produced revision 802.11-2012—shows you why wireless has become the default method of connecting to a network, and provides technical details you need to plan, design, and deploy 802.11n today.

Building a network for the multitude of new devices is now a strategic decision for network engineers everywhere. This book gives you an in-depth look at key parts of 802.11n, and shows you how to achieve an Ethernet-free wireless office.

• Learn how MIMO’s multiple data streams greatly increase wireless speed
• Discover how 802.11n modifications improve MAC efficiency
• Examine advanced PHY features such as beanforming and space-time code block
• Use advanced MAC features to maintain interoperability with older devices
• Plan an 802.11n network by determining traffic demand, key applications, power requirements, and security
• Choose the architecture, select hardware, and plan coverage to design and build your network