Delivery: Online
Estimated Length: 22 seat hours
Price: $560
Wireless connectivity to a network has evolved from being a novel concept to an expectation in customer premises, businesses, retail outlets, community centers, airports, stadiums and arenas, etc. Consequently, in addition to knowing and understanding the operation of broadband cable, the technician is also expected to understand all the different possibilities for wireless network connectivity. This study of wireless networking technology combines radio frequency (RF) and local area networking (LAN) fundamentals to explain the basic concepts and building blocks of wireless LANs. The student is introduced to wireless LAN infrastructure devices, antennas, access points, the 802.11 network architecture, Bluetooth, spread spectrum technology, governing bodies, troubleshooting, RF behavior, installation and security measures. This course targets both novice and experienced technicians who wish to gain a solid understanding of wireless networking to complement their knowledge of legacy connected networks. NCTI® recommends that the student taking this course should have an understanding of electricity and electronics or have completed Installer, Installer Technician and Service Technician. The student should also be familiar with computer networks or have completed the NCTI course Introduction to Networking: Home and Peer-to-Peer Networks and/or Introduction to Networking: Local Area Networks.
Completion Time:
The estimated completion time for this course is 22 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Benefits:
- gain a solid understanding of wireless networking to complement their knowledge of traditional wired networking in both home and business applications
- understand the different modes of wireless access
- learn the fundamentals of RF, as well as the features and functions of wireless LAN components
- gain the skills needed to install, configure and troubleshoot wireless LAN hardware, peripherals and protocols
- earn three hours of college credit
- receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- define and apply the basic concepts of RF technology, including how spread spectrum technologies apply to wireless LANs
- explain the fundamental principles and concepts behind installing, configuring and maintaining wireless LANs
- describe the organizations and regulations that govern wireless LANs
- list the different Wi-Fi standards through 802.11ac
- demonstrate the necessary knowledge for complying with regulations that apply to setting up and maintaining a wireless LAN
- install, set up and maintain a wireless network using various hardware devices, such as access points, bridges, gateways and antennas
- analyze and troubleshoot the problems that can occur with wireless LAN data transmission, including multipath, hidden nodes and interference
- secure the transmission of data over a wireless LAN and identify the different types of attacks that can occur from hackers
Outline:
Introduction to Wireless LANs
The wireless LAN market and applications
RF Fundamentals
RF, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio(VSWR), principles of antennas and RF mathematics
Spread Spectrum Technology
Introducing spread spectrum, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and comparing FHSS and DSSS
Wireless LAN Infrastructure Devices|
Access points, wireless bridges, wireless workgroup bridges, wireless LAN client devices, wireless residential gateways and enterprise wireless gateways
Antennas and Accessories
RF antennas, Point of Entry (PoE) devices and wireless LAN accessories
Wireless LAN Organizations and Standards
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), major organizations and competing technologies
The 802.11 Network Architecture
Locating a wireless LAN, authentication and association, service sets and power management features
Physical Layers
How wireless LANs communicate, interframe spacing, Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/ CTS) and modulation
Troubleshooting Wireless LAN Installations
Multipath, hidden node, near/far, system throughput, types of interference and range considerations
Wireless LAN Security
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2), attacks on wireless LANs, emerging security solutions, corporate security policy and security recommendations
Site Survey Fundamentals
RF site surveys, preparing a site survey, site survey equipment, conducting a site survey and site survey reporting