|
What is 802.11b?
Can I mix and match Wi-Fi® components, or is it better to stay with a single manufacturer?
Can I use Wi-Fi with my Apple Macintosh?
What is the range of a wireless network?
What is 802.11b?
802.11b, or IEEE 802.11b, is a standard that has been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), http://standards.ieee.org. The IEEE is an international organization that develops standards for hundreds of electronic and electrical technologies. The organization uses a series of numbers, like the Dewey Decimal system in libraries, to differentiate between the various technology families.
The 802 committee develops standards for local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs). For example, the 802.3 committee develops standards for Ethernet-based wired networks, the 802.15 group develops standards for personal area networks, and the 802.11 committee develops standards for wireless local area networks (LAN).
802.11 is then further divided: 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, is a standard for wireless LANs operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a is a different standard for wireless LANs operating in the 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Another draft standard, 802.11g, is for WLANs operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency but with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Other task groups are working on enhanced security (802.11i), spectrum and power control management (802.11h), quality of service (802.11e), etc.
Can I mix and match Wi-Fi components, or is it better to stay with a single manufacturer?
Yes; if the component is Wi-Fi CERTIFIED for the same frequency band (e.g. 2.4GHz) and features (e.g. WPA), you can mix and match wireless LAN products produced by different manufacturers. The Wi-Fi Alliance tests all products independently before they receive Wi-Fi Certification to ensure they are interoperable with all other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products of the same frequency band and features, regardless of manufacturer.
While a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11b (2.4 GHz) product will not interoperate with a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11a (5 GHz) product, a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED dual-band product will interoperate with all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products.
Can I use Wi-Fi with my Apple Macintosh?
Yes. You have two options. Most newer Macintosh Power PCs, G3s and G4s have a slot for an Apple AirPort Wi-Fi module. If you didn't order it when you bought your Apple computer, you can still buy the module and put it in yourself - installation is very simple. If you have an older Mac laptop with a PC Card slot, you can choose from among several different manufacturers who make Apple-compliant PC Card radios. USB adapters for Apple are also available.
What is the range of a wireless network?
Range varies in a Wi-Fi network depending on the type of Wi-Fi radio you have,
whether or not you use special antennas, and whether your network is in an open
environment or in a building with lots of walls and furniture. The composition
of your walls and floors can also have a major impact.
With Wi-Fi technology (802.11b or 802.11a), a "gradual degradation" in
range occurs. This means that, instead of stopping all together, your data transmission
rate just becomes slower as you move farther away from the access point. For
example, with Wi-Fi 802.11b technology, within 100 feet of the access point,
the Wi-Fi radio in your laptop computer will get about 11 Mbps data rate. As
you move farther away, that rate will drop down to 5.5 Mbps, then to 2 Mbps and
finally to 1 Mbps.
|
