2.2 Automatic Bandwidth Switching
Regarding Wi-Fi bandwidth, there are 2 options to choose from, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, with each having its own pros and cons as shown in Figure 5. Thus, it is ideal to switch between the 2, based on the situation. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidths are frequencies used by various wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The 2.4GHz band, as stated in the name, operates at a frequency range of between 2.4 to 2.5 GHz (Gizmodo, 2018). Due to the lower operating frequency of the 2.4GHz bandwidth, radio signals can travel further and penetrate obstacles better, providing a greater range in terms of Wi-Fi coverage, as well as better penetration through walls and any obstructions (CenturyLink, n.d.). Unfortunately, the low frequency of the 2.4 GHz band also means that data transmission is slower and that it is also more prone to external interference (Aguirre & Armstrong, 2022).
5GHz bandwidth, however, operates at a much higher frequency range of 5.15 GHz and 5.85 GHz (Hardesty, 2020). The 5GHz band provides a much faster data transfer rate, along with greater resistance to interference, culminating in swift Wi-Fi speeds with reduced latency (ScreenBeam, n.d.). The tradeoffs, however, are that the range of the 5GHz band is much shorter than the 2.4GHz band, with poorer reliability through walls and obstructions (CenturyLink, n.d.).
Although both bandwidths are supported, the bandwidths can only be used singly. Swapping between the two bandwidths would require manually changing the settings in the devices each time to fit the situation. The Si-Fi application will include automatic bandwidth swapping based on the information gathered by the Live Wi-Fi Heatmap feature, removing the need for human intervention to judge and swap bandwidth accordingly.
Figure 3
The difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi
Note. 5GHz will give you more signal strength and faster speed over a shorter range, compared to 2.4 GHz. From The difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi by CenturyLink, n.d. (https://www.centurylink.com/home/help/internet/wireless/which-frequency-should-you-use.html#:~:text=2.4%20GHz%20vs.%205%20GHz%3A%20Which%20frequency%20should%20you%20choose,use%20your%20 WiFi%20connection%20most). Copyright 2023 by CenturyLink.
2.4 Safety features
As multiple devices are connected through the mesh network, the safety and privacy of all users are of the utmost importance. To begin using Si-Fi, users will be required to log in with their SIT accounts to restrict usage by outsiders. Files shared through the network will be screened by network security software such as a packet sniffer to filter out malicious network packets. A network packet refers to “a basic unit of data that is grouped together and transferred over a computer network, typically a packet-switched network, such as the internet” (Yasar & Zola, 2022). Packet sniffer software scans the network and filters out and prevents transmission of malicious packet types and packets to and from IP addresses that were flagged to be suspicious (Keary, 2022).
Figure 5
Packet sniffer
Note. Packet sniffers work by intercepting and logging network traffic via the wired or wireless network interface on its host computer. From What Are Packet Sniffers and How Do They Work? by A. O’Donnell, 2021, Lifewire. (https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-packet-sniffer-2487312)
Another layer of protection for users will be the encryption of the mesh network. The encryption type to be used will be WPA2, being a modern encryption type that is the most secure and widely supported (Ghimiray, 2022). Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) is the 2nd generation wireless security protocol that uses the strongest encryption method, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), that is even used in government cyber security (Ghimiray, 2022; Jena, 2023).
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