Summary Of Guglielmo Marconis Wireless Radio Innovation

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Propagation and Aerial Design

Wireless Communication

Abukar Ali

Contents

1.0 Introduction

The majority of communications systems tend to fall into three categories, which are, efficient in bandwidth, efficient in power, or efficient in cost. Bandwidth efficiency is seen as the ability of a modulation scheme to house data within a limited bandwidth. The likes of power efficiency is the ability of a system to be dependant in sending information at the deepest practical power level. In the majority of systems, there tends to be a high priority on bandwidth efficiency. Parameters that need to be enhanced is dependent on the demands of the system in question. [1]

For example, digital terrestrial microwave radios and their designers, their priority is obtaining the best bandwidth efficiency possible with minimal bit-error-rate. These have a lot of power and do not take into account power efficiency, as well as not being concerned with the receiver costs or complexity due to the fact that not many need to be made as a result of their good durability. However, designers of the likes of mobile phones place their priority on power efficiency as these devices need to run on a battery. Costs are the priority as mobile phones must be low-cost to persuade more users to purchase this technology. Accordingly, mobile phones are said to sacrifice bandwidth efficiency in order to acquire more power and cost efficiency. [1]

In light of all this, the report will focus on a particular topic that concerns communications systems, this is propagation and aerial design. Specifically, the report will focus on the likes of wireless technologies and how they came about in today’s technological era, as well as looking at modern wireless technologies that drive our modern communication devices. Lastly, recommendations will be made as to how wireless technologies can be improved for the safety and well-being of wireless users.

2.0 Summary of Guglielmo Marconi’s Wireless Radio Innovation

2.1 Marconi’s Innovation Background

During the late 19th century, 1894 to be exact, Guglielmo Marconi had started to experiment with radio waves and called it the "Hertzian Waves". In 1895 Marconi started his early experiments was in Pontecchio, where his father’s estate was situated. How he started was though manufacturing his own equipment and transmitting electronic based signals by the air from each end of his father’s house. From there Marconi found a way to transmit these signals from the house to the garden. Eventually, Marconi was successful in distributing wireless signals over a distance of over one and a half miles. Therefore, as a result of these experiments saw the birth of wireless telegraphy or radio technologies. Despite Marconi’s effort in trying to persuade the Italian Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs to have an interest in his work and did not get much reassurance for his new innovation and invention in Italy. [2]

By the late 19th century, Marconi had already discovered a way to establish a wireless link between Britain (who recognised Marconi’s work) and France across the English Channel. In 1900, Marconi clinched his prominent patent 7777 for "tuned or systonic telegraphy" and in 1901, he demonstrated that the curvature of the earth was not reason for wireless signals being affected in the air. In addition, Marconi had conducted the very first wireless signal across the Atlantic between places such as Poldhu, Cornwall and St. Johns, New Foundland, over a distance of around 2100 miles. [3]

What is known as the "daylight effect" relative to wireless communication was demonstrated by Maroni in 1902 and he had also patented his magnetic detector that was considered the standard wireless receiver during the early 1900s. Marconi had even successfully transmitted his first whole message to Poldhu from stations situated in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and Cape Cod Massachusetts over a distance of 3000 nautical miles [3]. By 1903, it became the norm for Marconi’s Wireless Company to transmit transatlantic news and by 1905 Marconi had patented his very own horizontal directional Ariel [2].

2.2 Propagation of Radio Waves

How Marconi’s propagation of radio waves over vast distances were made possible by the F layer of the ionosphere that reflects short waves and the D layer that absorbs long waves throughout daylight hours, which is the time that signals are received [4]. The atmosphere plays a significant part in the HF propagation of radio waves. With the various layers expanding to over 400km above the surface of the earth, there are numerous effects that can bend and reflect signals so that they can be heard over long distances. Some layers have a significant effect on radio waves where others have none. The troposphere is considered to be the closest to the earth, which mainly affects signals above roughly 30MHz, and being closer to the earth’s surface, weather conditions have a substantial effect [4].

2.3 Marconi’s Awards and Achievements

For all of Marconi’s efforts he was rewarded various awards and prizes for his contributions to physics such as the Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as the John Fritz medal and the Kelvin Medal, and various other awards. Above all, in 1907 Marconi was given the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physics, which was shared by Professor Karl Ferdinand Braun. The two innovators were both awarded the prize for their contributions to the advancement and innovation of wireless telegraphy. [3]

3.0 4G Technology and Long Term Evolution (LTE)

4G Technology is a new and up and coming technology. 4G stands for the fourth generation data download speeds. [5]

3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of 4G

Advantages

Disadvantages

4G Technology

Files can be quickly downloaded over a wireless network

New frequencies means new components in cell towers

Tremendous high voice quality

Higher data prices for consumers

Easily access Internet, IM, Social Networks, streaming media, video calling, etc.

Consumer is forced to purchase a new device to support the 4G

Higher bandwidth

It is impossible to make your current equipment compatible with the 4G network

WiMAX, LTE, and HSPA+ are all versions of 4G, WiMAX is used by Sprint, LTE is used by Verizon and AT&T, HSPA+ is used by AT&T and TMobile

4G is only currently available in certain countries and cities such as the US and UK

4G is 10 times faster than 3G

Table 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of 4G Technology (CITE [5])

3.2 LTE and its Operating Principals

According to Chan [6], "LTE is a standard for wireless data communications technology and an evolution of the GSM/UMTS standard". The primary objective of LTE is to increase capacity and rates of data of wireless data networks, enhance spectrum efficiency, improve coverage, condensed latency and packet optimised systems that support multiple radio access. Hence, in order to fulfil these objectives, the network’s architecture has to be different from the prior data transfer network, GPRS [6].

Fig.1: LTE and its Evolution (Cite [7])

In a nutshell, the LTE standard can only support packet switching with its all IP network. The reason for this is that it aims to give unified Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity amongst user equipment (UE) and packet data network (PDN), minus any interference to the end users’ applications throughout mobility. [7]

In LTE architecture, evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) is a highly important attribute that is the air interface of LTE upgrade paths for mobile networks and in the meantime it is supplemented by an evolution of the non-radio elements under the term "System Architecture Evolution" (SAE), which involves the "Evolved Packet Core" (EPC) network. Both LTE and SAE combined makes up the "Evolved Pack System" (EPS). [6]

As well as this, the LTE network adopts an eNobeB (evolved node B is basically an LTE base station), a MME (Mobile Management Entity), a HSS (Home Subscriber Server), a SGW (Serving Gateway), and a PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway). All of these are seen a part of the EPC with the exception of eNodeB. [6]http://lteworld.org/sites/default/files/lte-architecture-s.png

Fig.1: LTE Network Architecture Diagram (Chan [6])

In LTE, the primary function of EPS is to give the user IP connectivity to a PDN for Internet access, besides running a service for Voice over IP (VoIP). As the bearer of EPS, it is usually associated with QoS. This is where numerous carriers are established for a user so that different QoS streams or being able to connect to different PDNs can be provided. Fig.2 illustrates the entire network architecture, including elements of the network and the standardized interfaces. [7]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_4Hh2FvXA8/T26W99zcTYI/AAAAAAAAAA0/Xn-K98Otj-4/s400/Untitled.png

Fig.2: Elements of an LTE EPS Network (Chan [6])

At high levels, the network consists of the CN (EPC) and access to the E-UTRAN network. While the CN comprises of many logical nodes, network that requires access comprises of basically just one node, which is the evolved NodeB (eNodeB) that connects to the UEs. All of these individual network elements are interconnected via standardises interfaces to enable multi-vendor interoperability. [6]

Other operational functionality is related to bearer management, which consists of establishing, maintaining and the release of the bearers and is controlled via the management of sessions’ layer in the NAS protocol. Functions linked to connection management consist of the establishment of the connection and security amongst the network and UE, and is controlled via the connection or management of mobility layer in the NAS protocol layer [7]. Therefore, in reflection, network operators are given the ability to source different elements of the network from different vendors, thus network operators may select their own physical implementations in order split or merge these logical network elements in the condition of commercial considerations [6].

4.0 Mobile Technology Safety Improvements

A safety improvement in mobile technology is the encouragement of Bluetooth connectivity in hospitals. The reason being is that Bluetooth signals compared to mobile phone signals poses less of a health risk as a result of the signals being weaker, hence the user is less exposed to the radiation; weaker signals give off less radiation [8]. According to Roberts [9], Bluetooth signals give off 0.001 units of radiation compared to mobile signals that give off around 1.6 units of radiation. Therefore, hospitals are using Bluetooth for a number of purposes such as communication, wireless connectivity and a means of accessing patient records electronically via mobile tablet devices such as PDAs. In addition, Igbokwe [8] mentions that hospitals in Germany use similar methods with Bluetooth and have proven effective due to the technology being a tool that improves efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Moreover, if more hospitals adopt Bluetooth connectivity, it would prove a much safer alternative, but the problem is that Bluetooth emits very weak signals, thus only should be used for local devices that are close to the Bluetooth source.

5.0 Conclusions and Final Thoughts

Overall, a wireless communication systems design needs the immediate preservation of bandwidth, power, and cost. Previously, there was the possibility in making a low cost radio by sacrificing parameters such as power and bandwidth efficiency. [1]

In reflection to early wireless technologies designed by the so called father of wireless Guglielmo Marconi such as the antenna, there have been massive leaps in the technology. For example, the creation of modern 4G networks that support wide amounts of bandwidth and fast connection speeds on the go via mobile devices [5]. Despite the benefits of modern wireless technology, it seems there are health risks involved such as the technology giving off radiation that can lead to cancers and other related diseases. However, with new innovations and technological enhancements can contribute to the future eradication of the technology posing as a health risk. For example, the likes of Bluetooth technology proving less of a health risk as a result of it emitting less radiation still needs development due to its limitations such as being able to only produce signals of short distances [8]. Thus, if Bluetooth technology was to be improved so that it acts like mobile signals that can reach long distances without the mass radiation it emits, would prove effective as you are killing two bird with one stone.

Moreover, this report has covered various aspects that concern wireless technology such as its inception and the types of wireless technology to recommendations as to how the technology can be improved to ensure the safety of well-being of wireless technology users.