# Computer Networks/Wireless

This lesson introduces wireless networking concepts.

## Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the wireless networking portion of Network+ certification include:
* Given a scenario, deploy the appropriate wireless standard
** 802.11a
** 802.11b
** 802.11g
** 802.11n
** 802.11ac
* Install and configure wireless LAN infrastructure and implement the appropriate technologies in support of wireless capable devices
** Small office/home office wireless router
** Wireless access points
*** Device density
*** Roaming
*** Wireless controllers
**** VLAN pooling
**** LWAPP
** Wireless bridge
** Site surveys
*** Heat maps
** Frequencies
*** 2.4 Ghz
*** 5.0 Ghz
** Channels
** Goodput
** Connection types
*** 802.11a-ht
*** 802.11g-ht
** Antenna placement
** Antenna types
*** Omnidirectional
*** Unidirectional
** MIMO/MUMIMO
** Signal strength
*** Coverage
*** Differences between device antennas
** SSID broadcast
** Topologies
*** Adhoc
*** Mesh
*** Infrastructure
** Mobile devices
*** Cell phones
*** Laptops
*** Tablets
*** Gaming devices
*** Media devices
* Given a scenario, troubleshoot and resolve common wireless issues
** Signal loss
** Interference
** Overlapping channels
*** Mismatched channels
** Signal-to-noise ratio
** Device saturation
** Bandwidth saturation
** Untested updates
** Wrong SSID
** Power levels
** Open networks
** Rogue access point
** Wrong antenna type
** Incompatibilities
** Wrong encryption
** Bounce
** MIMO
** AP placement
** AP configurations
*** LWAPP
*** Thin vs thick
** Environmental factors
*** Concrete walls
*** Window film
*** Metal studs
** Wireless standard related issues
*** Throughput
*** Frequency
*** Distance
*** Channels

## Readings

* Wikipedia: Wireless network
* Wikipedia: Wi-Fi
* Wikipedia: Wireless router
* Wikipedia: Wireless access point
* Wikipedia: Wireless LAN controller

## Multimedia

* YouTube: 802.11 Wireless Standards - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 5.3
* YouTube: Wireless Network Devices - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
* YouTube: Wireless LAN Controllers - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 1.2
* YouTube: Wireless Connections - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
* YouTube: Wireless Antenna Technologies - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
* YouTube: Using Wireless Networks - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 2.7
* YouTube: Troubleshooting Wireless Signals - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 4.3
* YouTube: Troubleshooting Wireless Configurations - CompTIA Network+ N10-006 - 4.3

## Activities

* Set up and configure a basic wireless router using either a router emulator or your home router:
** Use a SOHO router emulator to set up and configure a basic wireless router:
*** Change the default administrator password for the device.
*** Configure wireless security by setting a new SSID name and setting the security mode to WPA2 with a strong password.
*** Research current firmware releases for the device. Locate the router's firmware upgrade page and review instructions from the router's Help page on how to update the firmware.
** Review settings for your home router:
*** Verify that the administrator password has been changed from the default.
*** Verify that the SSID security mode is set to WPA2 with a strong password.
*** Research current firmware releases for the device and determine whether a firmware update is required.
* Set up and configure a wireless access point using either an access point emulator or an available access point:
** Use an Cisco: Wireless Access Point Emulator or your own device to set up and configure a wireless access point.
*** Change the default administrator password for the device.
*** Configure wireless security by setting a new SSID name and setting the security mode to WPA2 with a strong password.
*** Research current firmware releases for the device. Locate the router's firmware upgrade page and review instructions from the router's Help page on how to update the firmware.
*** Compare options and interface settings with the wireless router configuration above.
* Review Wikipedia: Wardriving. Use a free wireless scanner and scan your environment for wireless networks:
** Windows:
*** Review Archive: BitDreamers: Improve WLAN Signal Without Additional Tools on Windows.and Wikipedia: NetSpot.
*** Use the netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid command or download and install NetSpot and scan for wireless networks.
** macOS:
*** Review AppStorm: How to Discover Any Network with iStumbler and Wikipedia: NetSpot.
*** Download and install iStumbler or NetSpot and scan for wireless networks.
** Linux:
*** Review TuxMobil.org: Linux Wireless Sniffer.
*** Download and install a wireless scanner and scan for wireless networks.
** Android:
*** Review Google: farproc Wifi Analyzer.
*** Download and install Wifi Analyzer and scan for wireless networks.
** iOS:
*** Review WLANBook: Free WiFi Scanner for iPhone and iPad Without Jailbreak.
*** Download and install the Apple AirPort Utility and scan for wireless networks.
* Review Wikipedia: Wireless ad hoc network. Set up a wireless ad hoc network.
** Windows:
*** Review Microsoft: Set up a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Network.
*** Set up an ad hoc network.
** macOS:
*** Review MacObserver: How to Create and Use an Ad Hoc Network on Your Mac.
*** Set up an ad hoc network.
** Linux:
*** Review ArchLinux: Ad Hoc Networking.
*** Search the Internet for specific ad hoc networking instructions for your Linux distribution.
*** Set up an ad hoc network.