Wireless network application and standards
Computer age came along with it quite a number of remarkable technologies some of which we are still working to understand. The vastness and efficiencies brought about by computer age, has seen the industry introduce new and better systems and networking applications all in a bid to make information technology better and much efficient. With the development in technology, wireless system is fast becoming the most sought after option in connectivity.
The big question is what type of wireless technologies is available and how applicable are they to our everyday life ?
Many of the wireless products in the market today conform to specific standards majorly known as the WiFi technology. Development of Bluetooth and other non Wi-Fi technologies have also provided the much needed diversification in the market but note that each of the stated are designed with a specific networking application in mind. Learn the WiFi technology and relating to their pros and cons in order to make informed network building decisions.
The Wi-Fi standards are as follows :
- 802.11 : The use of this technology was short lived as it only supported 2Mbps of network bandwidth and thereby making it too slow for use in most applications.
- 802.11b : 802.11 were further developed to produce this model which supported bandwidth speed of up to 11Mbps. This was a much cost effective model as it used unregulated radio signaling frequency. Its unregulated nature later became a major disadvantage as it could incur interference from microwave ovens, cordless phones and any electronic that used similar 2.4 GHz range. This model had its fair share of technicalities other than its good price and good signal range and hence need for a better feature.
- 802.11a : this is a refined model of 802.11 which was able to support bandwidth of up to 54 Mbps while also signaling at regular frequency of about 5GHz. High frequency rates means that 802.11a had short range networks and its signals couldn’t penetrate obstructions. Due to high cost, the model was only used in businesses. 802.11a and 802.11b used differentiated frequencies hence the two are not compatible in any way. In a nut shell, 802.11a had fast maximum speed, regulated frequencies, without signal interference but cost high and suffered short range signal making it easily obstructed.
- 802.11g : this product supports bandwidth of up to 54Mbps using 2.4 GHz frequency for perfect range. Surprisingly, this model is backwards compatible with 802.11b. Therefore, the access points of 802.11g will effectively work with 802.11b wireless network adaptors and vice versa.
- 802.11n : this design aimed at improving 802.11g in quantity of bandwidth supported by using multiple wireless signals and antennas. In completion, this advanced Wi-Fi standard should supported data rate of up to 100 Mbps while also offering better range over all the other standards. It is equally backward compatible with 802.11g gear.
Other Non Wi-Fi wireless systems such as Bluetooth are also in the market. Consider for instance 802.11h and 802.11j which are known to serve a more specific purpose. Bluetooth is characterized by short range and relatively low bandwidth. It is also affordable thus used in cell phones, PCs and PDAs. Bluetooth is never used for general purpose WLAN networking coz of the range and speed factors. WiMax, is specially designed for long range networking e.g. many kilometers /miles.