Wireless Network Standards and Home Router Recommendations

Data Communications1
Data Communications
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Data Communications2
Wireless network standards
Being a standard developed by what is termed to be the Institute of Electrical and
Electronic Engineers, IEEE 802.11 is, therefore, the original specification of wireless. What
many people know as the extensions of 802.11 were given issued the same number in addition
with a letter suffix. The numbers 802.11 were therefore set by the IEEE for the sake of
describing the connections that exist in the wireless networking [1]. For instance, 802.11 is used
to provide a transmission of up to 2Mbs in a band of 2.4GHz. 802.11b is said to have the
capability of providing up to 11Mbs data transmission and in the band of 2.4GHz. Another one is
the 802.11a that on the other hand with the band of 5GHz, it is able to transmit 54Mbs of data
[2]. Just like 802.11a, 802.11g also with the band of 2.4GHz, it also has the capability of
transmitting 54Mbs of data. 802.11n is seen to be most powerful than the last four that I have
mentioned. With the band of 2.4/5GHz, it is able to transmit up to 450Mbs of data. In general,
IEEE 802.11 is a set of guidelines that were set technologically to help in the process of
implementing WI-FI.
802.11b came by as an expansion of the 802.11 which was on that case the original
standard in the year 1999. To what is said to be traditional Ethernet, IEEE.11b as earlier stated
has the capability to support up to 11Mbs of bandwidth [3]. Most of the venders prefer the
services of this standard with a target of lowering their cost of production. The best reason for all
this is that it is unregulated and has the advantage of incurring more interfaces like of cordless
phones, microwave ovens among others with just the same 2.4GHz. It has the advantage of low
cost and a good signal that cannot be easily obstructed but the negative side is that it possesses
the lowest maximum speed and there is an interference on the side of home appliances as a result
of regulated frequency.

Data Communications3
802.11a was also created as an extension on the original 802.11 just the same time
802.11b was still in the development stage. It is not true that 802.11a came after 802.11b but the
fact is that they were both created at the same time only that 802.11b was cheaper hence it
gained more popularity than 802.11a. This is the reason as to why 802.11b is more in use in
homes while 802.11a is still in the market due to its high cost. The range of 802.11a is shorted by
its high frequency when you compare to 802.11b which is 5GHz and a bandwidth of 54Mbs.
There is also a negative result of having high frequency when it comes to penetrating obstacles
like walls. But as a result of the 802.11a and 802.11b having frequencies that are different, they
are incompatible and can come as a package of 802.11a/b only that the two standards can’t be
implemented side by side [4]. The connection has to be on only one standard.
802.11g was brought into the market in the year 2002 2003. This came by as an attempt
to combine 802.11b and 802.11a and it is set to use a frequency of 2.4GHz at the same time
supporting a bandwidth of up to 54Mbs. It has an access point that is capable of working with
802.11b network adaptors. It has an advantage of a faster maximum speed with a good signal at
the same time which cannot be obstructed easily [5]. It on the other hand is more costly
compared to 802.11b. You may also find appliances that at one point may interfere on its signal
that is unregulated.
802.11n came as an improvement on 802.11g due to the amount of bandwidth that can be
utilized by multiple users with multiple antennas and wireless signals (MIMO technology). Due
to this capabilities, it is also being called by many people as Wireless N. as a result of its
increased intensity in terms of signal, it is seen to offer better range unlike the earlier standards
of WI-FI. Its compatibility with 802.11b/gear is backward [6]. It has the advantage of a fastest
maximum speed and a signal range that is one of the best. Its cost is a little higher than 802.11g.