Generally, higher frequencies are coupled with faster speeds but shorter range. Rather than using the 2.4 GHz band, it opted into using the 5 GHz frequency band. IEEE 802.11a (WiFi 2)Ĩ02.11a was one of the first standards issued under the 802.11 umbrella in 1999. The 802.11 standard became the “umbrella” for the standards that followed. Compared to the speeds we have now, it would take longer to download files and cause challenges with group video calls, online gaming, and streaming. It was developed to operate on the 2.4 GHz ISM band and supported speeds of 1 Mbps - 2 Mbps.

In 1997, the first WLAN standard was released - IEEE 802.11. The following list of WiFi standers consists of the most well-known standards in the market for wireless local area networks (WLAN). New standards can be developed to improve speeds, range, security, or establish new frequency bands when applicable. There are many 802.11 standards that have not been given simpler names.Ĩ02.11 standards are developed every couple of years to fill holes in the current one and to account for the development of new wireless technology. In the meantime, it’s still important to be familiar with the traditional naming convention. It’s much easier to follow, especially for the average consumer. For example, 802.11ax technology, the 6th generation of WiFi, will now be referred to as WiFi 6. Rather than seeing a string of numbers and letters, the new names will consist of the word “WiFi” followed by its generation. The WiFi Alliance came up with a new naming system to make it easier for vendors to indicate which standards their devices support, for service providers to explain what their network offers, and for users to understand which products work with each standard.

The names of the WiFi standards can be quite difficult to understand. Therefore, these standards dictate the data throughput, range, and the use of frequency bands to achieve that goal. The goal is to create a better wireless LAN experience for the users. The WiFi standards were created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and are certified by the WiFi Alliance. They must follow a set of wireless standards or protocols, known as IEEE 802.11, to wirelessly communicate with other devices. Similar to how people follow etiquette and politeness rules to communicate with others, wireless devices do the same. Learn more or call us for a free consultation: 1-80. Take advantage of our system design and installation services.

Attention business & property owners, installers and integrators

802.11b/g/n 5ghz