Wednesday, January 9, 2013

What is 802.11 b/g/n in Wi-Fi?

What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. A common misconception is that the term Wi-Fi is short for "wireless fidelity," however this is not the case. Wi-Fi is simply a trademarked term meaning IEEE 802.11x.


What is IEEE?
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the well-being of our members."

What is 802.11?
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee (IEEE 802). The base version of the standard was released in 1997 and has had subsequent amendments. These standards provide the basis for wireless network products using the Wi-Fi brand.


What is is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?
802.11n, which once Apple confusingly dubbed "AirPort Extreme" -- the same name the company gave to the earlier 802.11g specification -- is a wireless networking standard first supported by the original Apple TV. Starting on July 20, 2011, Apple quietly started refering to this standard just as 802.11n "Wi-Fi" for simplicity.


USEFUL LINKS:-
  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11
  2. http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/apple-tv/apple-tv-faq/what-is-802.11n-differences-between-802.11n-802.11a-802.11b-802.11g.html
  3. http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wireless80211/a/aa80211standard.htm

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