Standards groups such as the IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance are working to bring order to the wireless world. However, with so many radio frequencies and data transmission methods available, it's hard to explain what's going on in the airwaves. Here's a cheat sheet to help you talk the talk.
- 802.11a: An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 5 GHz with rates up to 54Mbps
- 802.11b: An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 2.4 GHz with rates up to 11Mbps
- 802.11g: An IEEE standard for a wireless network that operates at 2.4 GHz WiFi with rates up to 54Mbps
- 802.11h: Supports Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) and Transmit Power Control (TPC) requirements to ensure coexistence between WiFi and other types of radio frequency devices in the 5-GHz band
- 802.11n: A task group of the IEEE 802.11 committee whose goal is to define a standard for high-throughput speeds of at least 100Mbps on wireless networks. The standard is expected to be ratified this year. The task group is fielding design proposals for up to 540Mbps. Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology, using multiple receivers and multiple transmitters in both the client and access points to achieve improved performance, is expected to form the basis of the final specification.
- Bluetooth wireless technology: A technology designed for short-range, wireless communications among computing devices and mobile products, including PCs, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, printers, and mobile phones. Designed as a cable replacement, Bluetooth enables short-range transmission of voice and data in the 2.4-GHz frequency spectrum within a range of about 30 feet.
- Mesh network: A communications network with least two pathways to each node, forming a net-like organization. When each node is connected to every other node, the network is said to be fully meshed. When only some of the nodes are linked, switching is required to make all the connections, and the network is said to be partially meshed, or partially connected.
- RFID: Radio frequency identification. An electronic identification technology that uses radio frequency signals to read identifying data contained in tags on equipment and merchandise. An alternative to bar codes.
- Voice-over-WiFi: VoIP services delivered over wireless networks; sometimes referred to as wireless voice-over-IP
- VoIP: Voice-over-Internet Protocol. A technology for transmitting ordinary telephone calls over the Internet using packet-based networks instead of standard public switched telephone networks or Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).
- WiFi: A term developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11 standards.
- WiMAX: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. Refers to the 802.16 standard being developed by the IEEE to provide wireless coverage of up to 31 miles. It operates in the 2- to 11-GHz bands and enables connectivity without a direct line of sight to a base station, although line of site is probably required to achieve connectivity at a distance of 31 miles. It provides shared data rates up to 70Mbps, which, according to WiMAX proponents, is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 60 businesses and hundreds of homes.
Source:
Wi-Fi Alliance