| Line 17: |
Line 17: |
| | | 802.11ad || 6.7Gbps || 60 GHz || Sacrifices range in favor of speed. This protocol uses a a relatively high frequency to increase throughput, but the high frequency signal rapidly decays, so clients must be in close proximity of the access point to use this.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> | | | 802.11ad || 6.7Gbps || 60 GHz || Sacrifices range in favor of speed. This protocol uses a a relatively high frequency to increase throughput, but the high frequency signal rapidly decays, so clients must be in close proximity of the access point to use this.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> |
| | |- | | |- |
| − | | 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) || 5 GHz || 3.46 Gbps || Typically used by home WiFi networks, this protocol offers somewhat of a balance between speed and range. This protocol offers Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) support, allowing for multiple antennas to send/receive in order to improve performance. This protocol is widely accepted, although some older devices may not support it. Fortunately, this protocol supports dual-band operation (and is the first to do so). This means that many access points using 802.11ac also offer 2.4GHz service using 802.11n to serve older devices.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref><ref>https://www.lifewire.com/wireless-standards-802-11a-802-11b-g-n-and-802-11ac-816553</ref> | + | | 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) || 5 GHz || 3.46 Gbps || Typically used by home WiFi networks, this protocol offers somewhat of a balance between speed and range. This protocol offers Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) support, allowing for multiple antennas to send/receive in order to improve performance. This protocol is widely accepted, although some older devices may not support it. Fortunately, this protocol supports dual-band operation (and is the first to do so). This means that many access points using 802.11ac also offer 2.4GHz service using 802.11n to serve older devices.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref><ref name="lifewire.com">https://www.lifewire.com/wireless-standards-802-11a-802-11b-g-n-and-802-11ac-816553</ref> |
| | + | |- |
| | + | |802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) || 300 Mbps || 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz || Intended to improve on 802.11g by using multiple antennas (MIMO). This offers backward-compatibility with 802.11b/g equipment. This standard offers a significant bandwidth improvement, but can be more costly to implement. Additionally, the use of multiple signals may interfere with nearby 802.11b/g based networks.<ref name="lifewire.com">https://www.lifewire.com/wireless-standards-802-11a-802-11b-g-n-and-802-11ac-816553</ref> |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |802.11g || 2.4 GHz || 54 Mbps || Approved in 2003, this standard enables communication at the same speed as 802.11a, but uses a lower frequency which increases the range.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> | | |802.11g || 2.4 GHz || 54 Mbps || Approved in 2003, this standard enables communication at the same speed as 802.11a, but uses a lower frequency which increases the range.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> |
| Line 24: |
Line 26: |
| | |- | | |- |
| | |802.11b || 2.4 GHz || 11 Mbps || Released before 802.11a, this protocol was widely used in early access points.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> | | |802.11b || 2.4 GHz || 11 Mbps || Released before 802.11a, this protocol was widely used in early access points.<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> |
| | + | |- |
| | + | |802.11-1997 || 2.4 GHz || 2 Mbps || Early standard which offered what is now a very low speed at a very short range (66 feet of indoors, 330 feet outdoors).<ref name="networkworld.com">https://www.networkworld.com/article/3238664/wi-fi/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-explained.html</ref> |
| | |} | | |} |
| | | | |