Wireless 101

This web site is hosted FREE by Servin Mervin

WiFi or wireless networks work very well to transfer data from one place to another over radio without using network cables. There are three different Standards of Wifi that are commonly available, these standards are known as 802.11A, 802.11B, and 802.11G. Each standard has a valid use and the charactaristics and uses are as follows

802.11A

Frequency 5.8 GHz

Speed 56/108 MBPS

Range The best performer as far as range goes by far

Cost The most expensive by far as well with equipment starting above the AUS $350.00 mark

802.11B

Frequency 2.4 GHz

Speed 11 MBPS

Range 802.11B is excellent for long range links

Cost Equipment starts at around $150.00

802.11G

Frequency 2.4 GHz

Speed 56/108 MBPS

Range G likes good clean signals. It's not good for long or weak links but it is still good over a few Km.

Cost Equipment starts at around $150.00 but tends to be more costly than B overall

Consumer WiFi equipment is designed for very short range use - typically within a building, however wireless data links are possible over many tens of kilometers. The wireless community utilises consumer wireless to the extremes of it's capabilities by using highly efficient antenna systems and well located access points to extend the range of WiFi equipment as much as possible. By linking WiFi access points together, it is the aim of the community wireless movement to achieve