802.x standards used to specify wireless networks.

The list of 802.x standards used to specify wireless networks and what to look for in wireless frequency ranges and 802.11 speeds.

What to Look For in Wireless Network Range, Speed and Standards

If you have doubts about your wireless networking card shopping and choices, there are three key issues you need to consider: range, speed, and standards.

A Typical Wireless Networking Equipment Specification

The following text is an example of a specification for a Linksys wireless PCMCIA laptop card:

"11 Mbps high-speed transfer rate; interoperable with IEEE 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4Ghz-compliant equipment; plug-and-play operation provides easy set up; long operating range (up to 120m indoor); advanced power management features conserve valuable notebook PC battery life; rugged metal design with integrated antenna; compatible with virtually all major operating systems; works with all standard Internet applications; automatic load balancing and scale back; model no. WPC11. (source: amazon.com)".

Surely enough, some of these aspects are often overlooked. So, let's go through the issues that are truly significant for your wireless card shopping.

What Frequency Range Is Wireless?

When the example says 'up to 120m indoor' it actually refers to the maximum wireless frequency ranges of wireless cards if nothing went wrong. Practically, this number might be decreased by as much as 90% by solid walls and interference.

Without sufficient range, your wireless network will probably be of no use. Why would you have wireless networks when you have to keep all the computers in the same room to make their connection possible?

Generally, it's advisable to buy approximately four times the strength you'd think you will require, unless your walls are made of drywall or wood. Even under ideal conditions, try to buy twice as much, to be sure. If you have to switch from metric to imperial units, keep in mind that 1 foot is made up of 30 centimeters (0.3 meters), while an inch is made up of 2.5 centimeters.

802.11 Speeds

Remember where 'Mbps' appeared in that text? This stands for the speed of the wireless connection. 11 Mbps corresponds to about one and a half megabytes per second. If you want to convert megabits (Mb) to megabytes (MB), simply divide by eight. All 802.11b wireless cards operate at a speed of 11Mbps, while 802.11g ones have a speed of 54Mbps (in the future this speed is expected to grow even further).

Speed is an extremely important aspect of wireless networking as it has a direct impact on the time you need to wait for information to be transmitted from one computer to another. Nevertheless, it is less significant for Internet use, as there are few Internet connections operating at speeds that exceed 11Mbps.

Wireless Networking Standards

Look for the number '802.11' in your specification. This should be followed by either an 'a', 'b' or 'g'. This number tells you the standard your wireless device is set to, and is therefore an important indicator of whether it will be compatible with all your wireless hardware and software.

Actually, while 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible with each other, 802.11a is not compatible with either so you shouldn't buy 802.11a. If we compare b with g, g is more expensive but faster as well. Therefore, adding a b-speed device to a g-speed device can often cause the whole network to slow down to b-speed, making the g-devices useless.

Make sure to check your device's standards before you make your purchase. Buy only wireless networking devices that are compatible with your existing equipment and remember that a bad choice can make your system extremely slow.

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And for more information on wireless networking, go to Intro to Wireless Networking -- What is an Infrared Wireless LAN?