Appendix B: Wireless Standards

There are more wireless standards than just the big three (802.11a, b, and g). Here is a more complete list of the standards that relate to WLANs. You don’t need to memorize any of these, although you will be able to amaze your friends, coworkers, and the guy at the computer store by dropping a few of these names when conversations turn to wireless.

802.11b

Also known by the consumer-friendly name Wi-Fi (which also includes 802.11a and 802.11g) 802.11b arrived in 1999 and rose to dominate the home, small office, and home office markets. In the process 802.11b sent the competing HomeRF standard to an early grave.

Because it uses the unregulated 2.4 GHz radio band, consumers do not have to worry about licensing to use 802.11b gear, and due to its market dominance, there is an abundance of inexpensive 802.11b equipment available. 802.11b shares the 2.4 GHz band with other electronic devices (such as cordless phones) and these can sometimes interfere with its normal operation. The maximum data rate of 802.11b devices is 11 Mbps, although actual throughput seldom exceeds 6 Mbps.