Frequency hopping spread spectrum

In FHSS the total frequency band is split into a number of channels. The broadcast data is
spread
across the entire frequency band by hopping between the channels in a pseudo random
fashion.
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) is a spread-spectrum method of transmitting
radio
signals by rapidly switching a carrier among many frequency channels, using a
pseudorandom
sequence known to both transmitter and receiver.
A spread-spectrum transmission offers three main advantages over a fixed-frequency
transmission:
Spread-spectrum signals are highly resistant to noise and interference. The process of re-
collecting a spread signal spreads out noise and interference, causing them to recede into
the
background.
Spread-spectrum signals are difficult to intercept. A Frequency-Hop spread-spectrum
signal
sounds like a momentary noise burst or simply an increase in the background noise for
short
Frequency-Hop codes on any narrowband receiver except a Frequency-Hop spread-
spectrum
receiver using the exact same channel sequence as was used by the transmitter.
Spread-spectrum transmissions can share a frequency band with many types of
conventional
transmissions with minimal interference. The spread-spectrum signals add minimal noise to
the
narrow-frequency communications, and vice versa. As a result, bandwidth can be utilized
more
efficiently.

Frequency Hopping utilizes a set of narrow channels and "hops" through all of them in a
predetermined sequence. For example, the 2.4 GHz frequency band is divided into 70
channels
of 1 MHz each. Every 20 to 400 msec the system "hops" to a new channel following a
predetermined cyclic pattern.
The 802.11 Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) PHY uses the 2.4 GHz radio
frequency band, operating with at 1 or 2 Mbps data rate.
FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) uses 79 channels, each 1- MHz wide,
starting at
the low end of the 2.4-GHz ISM band. A pseudorandom number generator is used to
produce the
sequence of frequencies hopped to. As long as all stations use the same seed to the
pseudorandom number generator and stay synchronized in time, they will hop to the same
frequencies simultaneously. The amount of time spent at each frequency, the dwell time,
is an
adjustable parameter, but must be less than 400 msec. FHSS’ randomization provides a
fair way
to allocate spectrum in the unregulated ISM band. It also provides a modicum of security
since
an intruder who does not know the hopping sequence or dwell time cannot eavesdrop on
transmissions. Over longer distances, multipath fading can be an issue, and FHSS offers
good
resistance to it. It is also relatively insensitive to radio interference, which makes it
popular for
building-to-building links. Its main disadvantage is its low bandwidth. The third
modulation
method.
Frequency hopping relies on frequency diversity to combat interference. This is
accomplished
by multiple frequency, code selected, FSK. Basically, the incoming digital stream is
shifted in
frequency by an amount determined by a code that spreads the signal power over a wide
bandwidth. In comparison to binary FSK, which has only two possible frequencies, FHSS
may
have 2*10^20 or more.
The FHSS transmitter is a pseudo-noise PN code controlled frequency synthesizer. The
instantaneous frequency output of the transmitter jumps from one value to another based
on the

pseudo-random input from the code generator. Varying the instantaneous frequency
results in an
output spectrum that is effectively spread over the range of frequencies generated.

Fig.1 FHSS Spectrum

In this system, the number of discrete frequencies determines the bandwidth of the
system. Hence, the process gain is directly dependent on the number of available
frequency
choices for a given information rate.
Another important factor in FHSS systems is the rate at which the hops occur. The
minimum
time required to change frequencies is dependent on the information bit rate, the amount
of
redundancy used, and the distance to the nearest interference source.

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum is based on the multiplying of the baseband signal data
with a
broadband spreading code. The result is termed the chip rate. The characteristics of the
broadband spreading code are that of pseudorandom noise. Consequently the receiver
synchronized to the code will obtain the narrowband signal. All other receivers will see
the
spread signal as white or colored noise.
In contrast, frequency-hopping spread spectrum pseudo-randomly retunes the carrier,
instead of
adding pseudo-random noise to the data, which results in a uniform frequency
distribution whose
width is determined by the output range of the pseudo-random number generator.
In telecommunications, direct-sequence spread spectrum is a modulation technique where
the
transmitted signal takes up more bandwidth than the information signal that is being
modulated,
which is the reason that it is called spread spectrum. DSSS has the following features:
for generating spread-spectrum transmissions by phase-modulating a sine wave pseudo
randomly
with a continuous string of pseudo noise code symbols, each of duration much smaller
than a bit.
A signal structuring technique utilizing a digital code sequence (PN Sequences) having a
chip
rate much higher than the information signal bit rate. Each information bit of a digital
signal is
transmitted as a pseudorandom sequence of chips.

The principle of Direct Sequence is to spread a signal on a larger frequency band by

multiplexing
it with a signature or code to minimize localized interference and background noise. To
spread
the signal, each bit is modulated by a code. In the receiver, the original signal is
recovered by

receiving the whole spread channel and demodulating with the same code used by the
transmitter. The 802.11 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) PHY also uses the 2.4
GHz
radio frequency band.
It is also a part of the 802.11 b and g standards. Note that in the original 802.11 standard,
either
FHSS or DSSS may be used.
DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) is also restricted to 1 or 2 Mbps. The scheme
used has
some similarities to the CDMA system, but differs in other ways. Each bit is transmitted
as 11
chips, using what is called a Barker sequence. It uses phase shift modulation at 1 Mbaud,
transmitting 1 bit per baud when operating at 1 Mbps and 2 bits per baud when operating
at 2
Mbps. 802.11b uses DSSS to disperse the data frame signal over a relatively wide
(approximately 30MHz) portion of the 2.4GHz frequency band. This results in greater
immunity
to radio frequency (RF) interference as compared to narrowband signaling, which is why
the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (define) deems the operation of spread
spectrum