Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications.
The 802.11 family define a Wireless Local Area Network [WLAN]
using the Ethernet protocol, using Carrier Sense, Multiple Access with
Collision Avoidance(CSMA/CA). The 802.11 wireless LAN standards
provide a number of channels within each frequency band, and a number of
data rates. The highest data rate is listed below. The 802.11 standard
also specified infrared [IR], but I think the IrDA standard was more widely used.
Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum [FHSS], or direct sequence Spread
Spectrum [DSSS] are specified. 802.11 specifies a LAN with a minimum of
two stations.
802.11n transmit at a frequency of 2.4GHz or 5 GHz with data rates
of 600Mbps. IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible, devices can coexist
in the same network. The Wireless-n standard is in draft form and has not
yet been released as an open specification yet.
Products that conform to the draft release of 802.11n may be purchased,
but many people advise against using devices produced to an un-released
specification. Others contend that a simple firmware up-grade will solve
any compatibility issues once the specification is released.
802.11a [Wi-Fi] transmit at a frequency of 5 GHz with data
rates of 54 Mbps using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
[OFDM].
802.11b [Wi-Fi]
transmit at a frequency of 2.4 GHz with data rates of 11 Mbps using
direct sequence spread spectrum modulation [DSSS].
802.11g transmit at a
frequency of 2.4 GHz with data rates of 54Mbps {OFDM, DSSS]. IEEE 802.11b
and 802.11g are compatible, devices can coexist in the same network. IEEE
802.11g was released in 2003.
802.11h transmit at a frequency of 5GHz with data rates of
100Mbps. IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible so devices can coexist
in the same network.
The 2.4GHz band is part of the ISM [Industrial, Scientific, and Medical] license-free radio bands [see below]. Both 802.11 and Bluetooth operate with in the band. Additional frequencies of the ISM band include the 900MHz band, and 5.8GHz band. Look below for a full list of ISM bands.
Companies which manufacture Wireless ICs or related devices;
RF component manufacturers page.
IEEE802.11 Working Group, and WiMAX Forum
For reference the IEEE 802.xx Family of standards are listed below:
IEEE 802.1 Higher layer LAN protocols
IEEE 802.2 Logical link control
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet.
IEEE 802.4 Token bus
IEEE 802.5 Token Ring, used FDDI.
IEEE 802.6 metropolitan area networks
IEEE 802.7 broadband
IEEE 802.8 fiber optic
IEEE 802.9 isochronous LAN
IEEE 802.10 Security
IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN [ISO/IEC 8802-11]
IEEE 802.12 demand priority
IEEE 802.13 (not used)
IEEE 802.14 Cable modems (Not active)
IEEE 802.15 Wireless PAN [Personal Area Networks]
IEEE 802.16 Broadband wireless access
IEEE 802.17 Resilient packet ring
IEEE 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access
[Industrial, Scientific, and Medical], license-free radio bands
6780 kHz ±15.0 kHz
13560 kHz ±17.0 kHz
27120 kHz ±163.0 kHz
40.68 MHz ±20.0 kHz
915 MHz ±13.0 MHz
2450 MHz ±50.0 MHz
5800 MHz ±75.0 MHz
24.125 GHz ±125.0 MHz
61.25 GHz ±250.0 MHz
122.5 GHz ±500.0 MHz
245 GHz ±1.0 GHz
BWA: Broadband wireless access
LOS: Line-of-Sight
NLOS: Non-Line-of-Sight
WEP: Wired equivalent Privacy
WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access
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