Chapter 16 - Mobile Networking Flashcards
What is GSM?
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is a pivotal digital cellular technology, widely deployed for second-generation (2G) mobile networks. It facilitates voice calls, text messaging, and basic data services. GSM employs digital transmission for improved voice quality and spectrum efficiency. Key to its operation are SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards, enabling seamless device switching while preserving user data. GSM’s international roaming capabilities revolutionized global communication. Despite rudimentary data services compared to modern standards, GSM remains foundational in mobile networks, laying the groundwork for subsequent generations like 4G and 5G. GSM uses TDMA.
What is EDGE?
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) is a digital mobile communication technology that enhances the data transmission capabilities of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks. It represents an evolution of 2G GSM networks, offering higher data transfer rates and improved spectral efficiency. EDGE achieves this by employing more advanced modulation techniques and encoding schemes compared to traditional GSM. While EDGE does not match the speeds of later technologies like 3G or 4G, it significantly boosts data rates within existing GSM infrastructure, enabling faster web browsing, email access, and multimedia messaging on mobile devices. EDGE played a crucial role in bridging the gap between 2G and 3G technologies, providing users with improved data connectivity before the widespread adoption of faster mobile networks.
What is CDMA?
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is a digital cellular technology used for mobile communication, offering an alternative to GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Unlike GSM, which divides the radio spectrum into time slots for different users, CDMA assigns a unique code to each user, allowing multiple users to transmit simultaneously over the same frequency band. This “spread spectrum” technique enables CDMA networks to achieve higher capacity and improved call quality compared to traditional analog cellular systems. CDMA networks are known for their robustness in handling voice calls and data transmission, making them suitable for high-capacity applications. While CDMA has been widely used in certain regions, it has gradually been replaced by newer technologies like LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and 5G. However, CDMA remains in use in some legacy networks and niche applications.
What is HSPA+?
HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access Plus) is an evolution of the HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) technology used in mobile communication networks. It represents an intermediate step between 3G and 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) technologies, offering enhanced data speeds and improved performance compared to traditional 3G networks. HSPA+ achieves higher data rates by employing advanced modulation and coding techniques, as well as wider channel bandwidths, enabling theoretical peak download speeds of up to 42 Mbps. This technology also supports various features such as MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and higher-order modulation schemes to further boost data throughput. HSPA+ has been widely deployed by mobile operators globally as a cost-effective way to enhance network capacity and provide faster data services to users before the widespread adoption of LTE. While LTE and subsequent 4G technologies offer even higher data rates and efficiency, HSPA+ continues to serve as a crucial component of many mobile networks, particularly in areas where LTE coverage is limited.
What is LTE?
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a standard for wireless broadband communication, representing a major advancement in mobile network technology. It is designed to offer significantly higher data rates, lower latency, and improved spectral efficiency compared to previous generations of mobile networks. LTE achieves these improvements through the use of advanced radio access technologies, including Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) for the downlink and Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) for the uplink. These technologies enable LTE networks to support higher data rates and more simultaneous users, making them ideal for bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and cloud services. LTE is often referred to as a 4G (fourth-generation) technology, although the term “LTE-Advanced” is used to describe subsequent enhancements and releases of the LTE standard that further improve performance and capabilities.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology for mobile communication networks, succeeding LTE (Long-Term Evolution). It represents a significant leap forward in terms of speed, capacity, and connectivity compared to previous generations. 5G aims to deliver ultra-fast data rates, low latency, and massive connectivity to support a wide range of applications, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Key features of 5G include higher frequency bands (such as mmWave) for increased capacity, advanced antenna technologies like Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and network slicing for customized service delivery. With 5G, users can expect download speeds in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range, enabling seamless streaming of 4K and 8K video, real-time gaming, and instant downloads. Additionally, 5G promises to revolutionize industries by enabling new use cases and business models, driving innovation and economic growth.
What is NFC?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables data exchange between devices when they are brought close together, typically within a few centimeters. It operates at high frequencies (13.56 MHz) and allows for contactless communication between NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices. NFC is commonly used for various applications, including contactless payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay, transit ticketing, access control, and peer-to-peer data transfer. NFC tags, small passive devices containing data, can also be embedded in products or objects to provide additional information or enable specific actions when tapped by an NFC-enabled device. Due to its convenience, simplicity, and security features, NFC has become increasingly prevalent in modern mobile devices and is expected to continue driving innovations in areas such as mobile payments, smart retail, and IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity.
What is RFID?
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a technology that uses radio waves to wirelessly identify and track objects or individuals. It consists of two main components: RFID tags and RFID readers. RFID tags, also known as transponders, contain electronically stored information and are attached to or embedded in objects. RFID readers emit radio waves to communicate with RFID tags, capturing the stored information and transmitting it to a computer system for processing. RFID technology enables automated identification and tracking of items in various applications, such as inventory management, supply chain logistics, access control, and asset tracking. Unlike barcodes, RFID tags do not require line-of-sight scanning and can be read from a distance, allowing for faster and more efficient data capture. RFID systems can operate at different frequencies, including low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and ultra-high frequency (UHF), each with its own advantages and use cases. Overall, RFID technology offers improved visibility, accuracy, and efficiency in tracking and managing assets and inventory.
What is ANT+?
ANT+ is a wireless communication protocol primarily used in the fitness and health industry to connect sensors and devices such as heart rate monitors, fitness trackers, and bike sensors to compatible displays or smartphones. Developed by Dynastream Innovations, ANT+ operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency band and offers low power consumption, high data transfer rates, and robust communication in crowded wireless environments. ANT+ enables interoperability between different brands of sensors and devices, allowing users to track and analyze their fitness data across various platforms and applications. It is commonly used in sports performance monitoring, health tracking, and fitness training applications, providing users with real-time feedback and insights into their workouts. With its wide adoption in the fitness industry, ANT+ has become a standard for wireless connectivity in sports and fitness devices, promoting seamless integration and compatibility among different products and ecosystems.
What is Z-Wave?
Z-Wave is a wireless communication protocol designed for home automation and smart home devices. It operates on the sub-1 GHz frequency band and offers low power consumption, long range, and robust communication, making it ideal for residential environments. Z-Wave enables interoperability between various smart devices, such as smart lights, thermostats, door locks, and sensors, allowing users to control and monitor their home remotely through a centralized hub or smartphone app. Developed by Z-Wave Alliance, Z-Wave utilizes a mesh network topology, where each device acts as a repeater, extending the network’s range and reliability. This enables seamless communication between devices even if they are out of direct range of the hub. Z-Wave has a large ecosystem of certified products from different manufacturers, ensuring compatibility and ease of integration for consumers. With its focus on interoperability, reliability, and ease of use, Z-Wave has become a popular choice for home automation enthusiasts and smart home integrators.
What is Zigbee?
Zigbee is a wireless communication protocol widely used in low-power, low-data-rate applications such as home automation, smart lighting, and industrial control systems. It operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency band (and other frequencies in some regions) and is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. Zigbee offers features like mesh networking, which allows devices to communicate with each other through intermediate nodes, extending the network’s range and reliability. This enables Zigbee networks to cover larger areas and penetrate obstacles more effectively than traditional point-to-point communication. Zigbee devices are typically organized into networks with one coordinator (such as a hub or gateway) and multiple end devices (such as sensors or actuators). Zigbee networks can support thousands of devices, making them suitable for large-scale deployments in smart homes and buildings. With its focus on low power consumption, robustness, and interoperability, Zigbee has become a popular choice for building scalable and reliable wireless IoT (Internet of Things) solutions.
Which cellular technology introduced the concept of SIM card?
GSM.
GSM, EDGE and LTE all use which multiplexing technique?
TDMA and SIM.
You can reduce the vulnerability of your cellphone when automatically connecting to an SSID by ___.
Requiring HTTPS.
A hotspot requires what technologies to work?
802.11 and cellular WAN.
