4 Type Wi-Fi Standards in Common Use Today

Wi-Fi has become a modern way to access the Internet and other network based services. So many companies using wi-fi in their network connections. It helps home users to share broadband with minimum cost. Wi-Fi have  four wireless standards in common use today.

4 Main Types of 802.11x Wi-Fi

802.11a

802.11a is a 54mbps standard that operates in the 5GHz range. Its range is about half that of b and g. Top speed is similar to 802.11g. The main attractions of 802.11a are that it provides more channels to allow for a greater number of users in a small area and it is less susceptible to interference from other equipment, including cordless phones, microwaves and Bluetooth devices.  Mostly useing in office environments.

802.11b

802.11b Operates in the 2.4GHz band with a theoretical top speed of 11Mbps. Offering a longer operational range than 802.11a, 802.11b’s operational range varies from 120-300 feet, depending on obstructions and the ground plane you are working in. This standard is only capable of broadcasting on 1 of 11 channels at a time.

802.11g

802.11g  is now the most popular version of the 802.11x series. g operates in the 2.4GHz band and has a similar 120-foot indoor. The theoretical top speed all the way up to 54Mbps but getting closer to 20Mbps in real use. All wireless cards advertised today as 802.11g compatible are also 802.11b compatible.

802.11n

802.11n, the latest standard. Wireless n provides increased signal strength, speed and range (up to 200 feet, in indoor) . 802.11n offers full backwards compatibility with 802.11g/b, with increased data rates of up to 150mbps for 802.11n clients. 802.11n  have the option of using 40 MHz. . 802.11n operates in the 2.4GHz band and 5 GHz.

	802.11a	802.11b	802.11g	802.11n
Standard Approved	July 1999	July 1999	June 2003	Sep 2009
Maximum Data Rate	54 Mbit/s	11 Mbit/s	54 Mbit/s	600 Mbit/s
Modulation	OFDM	DSSS or CCK	DSSS or CCK or OFDM	DSSS or CCK or OFDM
RF Band	5 GHz	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
Number of Spatial Streams	1	1	1	1, 2, 3, or 4
Channel Width	20 MHz	20 MHz	20 MHz	20 MHz or 40 MHz

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