My Journey in Wireless Networking: From Foundations to Expertise

In the world of wireless networking, collision avoidance is a critical challenge. Unlike wired networks where collisions can be detected, wireless networks must employ mechanisms to prevent collisions before they happen. One of the most important mechanisms in IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) networks is the Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) protocol. Let's dive into how this solution works and why it's essential for efficient wireless communications. The Hidden Node Problem Before understanding RTS/CTS, we need to understand the problem it solves: the hidden node problem. Imagine three wireless stations (STAs) - A, B, and C. Station-B can communicate with both A and C, but A and C are out of range of each other. If station A is transmitting to B, station C has no way of knowing this and might also try to transmit to B simultaneously, causing a collision at B. This is the "hidden node" problem - where some nodes in a network are invisible to each other but can still interfere...

 In the rapidly increasing adaption of Internet of Things (IoT), understanding  the basics network performance metrics is crucial for building reliable and efficient systems. Two fundamental metrics that play a n important role in the IOT Device communication are the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Link Quality Indication (LQI). Let's dive deep into what these metrics mean and why they matter for IoT implementations. Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) RSSI serves as a fundamental measurement of RF power received by a wireless device. What makes RSSI particularly interesting is that it measures all RF power in a channel, regardless of the source. This means it captures: Signals from IEEE802.15.4 transmitters Interference from Bluetooth devices WiFi signals Background radiations This comprehensive measurement makes RSSI an essential tool for Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), helping devices determine if a channel is free befo...

 The ZigBee device onboarding process represents a critical workflow in IoT device management, facilitating secure and reliable connection establishment between end devices and the network infrastructure. This document outlines the systematic approach to ZigBee device onboarding:  Lets understand the Key Component of an IOT infrastructure:  End Node/End Device Represents any ZigBee-compliant IoT device, sensor, or actuator Includes various device types such as: Smart lighting systems Security devices (door locks) Environmental sensors Access Point (AP)/Gateway Comprises an embedded IoT chipset integrated into the AP Alternatively implemented as a USB module Co-ordinator (IoT Controller) Implemented as Ruckus IoT Control Manages device onboarding operations Co-ordinates MQTT traffic flow between the End notes and 3rd Party Integrations IOT Device Onboarding Process Flow Phase 1: Discovery Initiation Device Discovery State Activation Implementation varies ...

In the world of wireless network security, hiding your SSID might seem like an easy way to protect your WiFi network from unauthorized access. This approach of hiding an SSID provides a little more than a false sense of security. In my recent experience of debugging an issue with where random users could see these Hidden SSID’s, lead me to write a blog about why I personally believe it is not a great approach and I am open to opinions. Let’s explore how Hidden SSIDs Works and understand with a real world example!  When you configure your Access Points to hide the SSID/WLAN, you are essentially telling it to stop broadcasting the SSID name in the beacon frames. Under normal circumstances, An AP would periodically broadcast beacon frames containing, SSID Name, Channel, Security Capabilities etc. that helps a STA to choose among the broadcast SSID and associate to it. With Hidden SSID enabled, the AP continues to broadcast beacon frames but removes the network/SSID filed for the resp...