IEEE 802.11 protocal question

Chaos-Engine · 21-01-2003 04:48PM #1

Hey
This question belongs here because its pure and simply a protocal question.

What is the difference between all the 802.11 standards?
802.11/a/b/d/g??

Which ones are legal in this country?

And also
Which protocal would be considered WiFi and which would be considered the protocal that a company like Irish Broadband would use???

Rew · 21-01-2003 06:02PM

the diferance between a, b and g is the MAC layer and the radio frequency used

a is ofdm, 5 Ghz, max 54mbit, expensive
b is dsss, 2.4 ghz, max 11 mbits, reasonable
g is ofdm, 2.4 ghz, max 54 mbits, moderately priced

they are all legal but "a" is is only legal indoors, outdoors it needs a licence...

po0k · 21-01-2003 06:37PM

Dunno about a and g but B is perfectly legal to use outdoors as long as the power output doesn't go above ~100mW (~19.8dB)

davej · 21-01-2003 06:45PM

802.11b is the most popular one at the moment, it allows for up to 11mbps with a range of up to 100 m.

802.11a for example has a shorter range but has up to 54mbps bandwidth.

Most of the other 802.11x's don't really impact on the ordinary punter.

AFAIK both 802.11b and 802.11a are currently "unlicensed" which means they are perfectly legal, but you have no comeback if you are suffering from interference etc..

802.11b is certainly considered to be WiFi, in fact the standards body has tried to get people to use this term instead.

Companies like Irish Broadband use MMDS (I think), someone out there can correct me if i'm wrong. This is a the same technology that wireless cable uses.

davej

mayhem# · 22-01-2003 01:40AM

Have a lookie here:

http://80211-planet.webopedia.com/

E.

po0k · 22-01-2003 02:43PM

http://www.irishwan.org/

IEEE 802.11 protocal question

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