IEEE Standards (802.11a/b & 802.

16g)
The IEEE 802.11 standard was the first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard
devised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).93 This allowed
for devices to connect the Ethernet network via wireless access points without the need
for a physical connection. In its time, the original 802.11 standard offered a maximum
bandwidth of 2 Mbps, which was deemed too slow to meet the demands of most
applications.93 IEEE subsequently rolled out a slew of upgrades to the original standard
in the ensuing years, all of which would be affectionately referred to as Wi-Fi.
The first two improvements to the 802.11 standards, 802.1-la and 802.11b, both
spawned from the original standard around the same time. Let's look at them
separately93: 1. IEEE 802.11b — This improvement saw to an increase in the amount
of bandwidth over its predecessor (11 Mbps), which was similar to what Ethernet was
offering at the time. Due to its lower 2.4 GHz frequency, 302.11b allows for good signal
range which is not easily obstructed. Because the frequency is unregulated,
manufacturers preferred to implement it as it was cheaper. The unregulated nature of
the 2.4 GHz frequency however sees to it being prone to interference from other
devices such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, and other
appliances which operate in that frequency range. Interference can be mitigated by
using 802.11b equipment far from those devices.
2. IEEE 802.11a —This improvement saw to a more drastic increase in the amount of
bandwidth over its predecessor (54 Mbps) than its 802.11b brother. This higher
bandwidth coupled with the fact that the 5 GHz frequency range on which it operates
being regulated sees to 802.11a costing more, causing it to be used mostly by
businesses. The extra cost ensures that little interference occurs, which noticeably
increases network throughput (how much work can get done on the network). The
higher frequency of this standard sees to it have a shorter range than its brother as well
as being more easily obstructed by walls and other solid objects.
Seeing that 802.11a and 802.11b operate on different frequencies and therefore cannot
interfere with each other, they are oftentimes offered together in a hybrid product to
leverage the strengths of each; devices however can only connect to one of the
networks at a time.93 Since then, incremental improvements have been made
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235

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tcoomthpeatWiblie-F93i:suite, each being marked by a new standard which is
backwards
and reduced obstruction. mf ubpi nteod54thme bbpesstanfedautusirnegs tohfe80.2.11a
and 802.11b, supporting 2 4 GHz frequency for good range 8bandwidths ° 2 il g — c • •
802.3.3.n — improved on 802.11g by using MIMO technology to increase the amount of
bandwidth supported (300 Mbps) and also its signal strength and
einrtgeorfeitrsensciegnthaal nra8n0g2e.1.1Tgh. e standard was also more resistant to
signal • to offer simultaneous 802.ac — utilizes dual band wireless t echWnology n
connections on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz i-Fi bands. The network will intelligently
switch between the two bands based on network performance or some administrator
assigned rules. When connected to the 5 GHz band, users can enjoy up to 1300 Mbps
and when connected to the 2.4 GHz band, they can enjoy up to 450 Mbps.
There are two types of WLAN networks that can be set up94: 1. Infrastructure Network
— This is suited for permanent set-ups such as offices or to provide some form of
ongoing ihotspot' for persons to regularly connect to. While a backbone wired network is
still needed to connect to a server, using WLAN equipment drastically re.tsce5 the
aricimi.. of cabling needed, ergo providing considerable cost savings. The r!e.twork is
divided up into cells and each cell is serviced by a Wireless Access Point (WAP) or a
base station which acts as a controller for each cell. The Access Point is a networking
device, such as a router, which allows the wireless devices to the connect to the wired
network.
2. Ad-hoc Network — This network is formed when multiple computers and peripheral
devices connect directly together wirelessly. This sees devices on the ad-hoc network
having the ability to share information with each other without the need for an Access
Point. Special algorithms in the protocol even allow for one device on the ad-hoc
network to control the network and make the other devices its slaves. An ad-hoc WLAN
network can be formed between two computers by using their wireless cards to
communicate with each other. When designing an 802.11 network diagram, use the
diagram in the Routers section as a reference, using a lightning to represent the
wireless connection from the nodes to the Access Point (router) or between the nodes
themselves.