Frequently Asked Questions

The Institute’s campus-wide wireless network infrastructure is called Wireless@NIE. It provides Internet and Intranet access to mobile computers without the need to use connection cable. Instead, it uses radio communication between the computer and the wireless Access Points for connectivity and data transfers. Wireless@NIE supports both the newer high speed IEEE 802.11a and the matured IEEE 802.11b wireless standard.

Wireless@NIE complements the Institute’s high performance campus-wide wired network and offers high mobility to users because a wireless enabled portable computer does not need a network cable for any network service.

802.11a is a standard approved by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) which its specifications, in simple terms, state that the device supporting it operates at radio frequencies between 5.13 Gigahertz (GHz) to 5.35 GHz and uses a modulation scheme, known as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which makes data speed at 54Mbps (max) possible in an interference-free location.

802.11b is a standard approved by IEEE which states that the device supporting it operates at radio frequencies around 2.4 GHz and uses different flavours of modulation scheme. In Wireless@NIE, the deployed 802.11b standard uses the Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) modulation scheme to achieve a maximum data speed of 11Mbps.

802.11g is a standard approved by IEEE which states that the device supporting it operates at radio frequencies around 2.4 GHz and uses OFDM (same as 802.11a) which allows data speed of up to 54Mbps.

802.11n is the latest standard pending approval from IEEE. Most 11n wireless devices in the market supports this pre-standard called ‘Draft-N’ and it is capable of having bandwidth up to 600 Mbps provided that certain criterions are met. It rides on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio frequencies.

The wireless Access Points and client adapters are radio devices that are, inherently, susceptible to surrounding Radio Frequency (RF) interferences, Electromagnetic interferences (EMI) and structural obstructions. RF interference that operates in the same frequency range and EMI that are generated near the transmitters (e.g. AP, wireless card) will impede all wireless links between the users and the Access Points, in turn affecting the performance and coverage. Examples of RF interferences are microwave ovens, DECT cordless phones and wireless web-cams.

The density and type of the surrounding structural or building�s material will also affect how the radio waves behave. Paper, glass and plastic have very minimal effect on signal penetration whereas solid metal will cause the radio signal to reflect off, and trees and plants will absorb it.

Yes

The power emitted from these Access Points and client adapters is very minute compared to a mobile phone. All wireless hardware that is available locally has to be scrutinized and type-approved by Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) before being purchased by local consumers. Therefore, all wireless equipment deployed for Wireless@NIE is safe to use and it complies with all emission specifications laid down by the authority.