wireless network standards

Question 1

what is the role of the IEEE 802 in wireless networking

Answer 1

IEEE 802 manages wireless networking standards (Wi-Fi) and the Wi-Fi trademark, and the Wi-Fi Alliance handles interoperability testing.

Question 2

What are the key characteristics of 802.11a?

Answer 2

Operates at 5 GHz

54 Mbps
Smaller range than 802.11b
Introduced in October 1999

Question 3

What are the key characteristics of 802.11b?

Answer 3

Operates at 2.4 GHz

11 Mbps
Better range than 802.11a but more frequency conflicts
Introduced in October 1999

Question 4

What is the difference between 802.11g and 802.11b?

Answer 4

Both operate at 2.4 GHz, but 802.11g has a faster speed of 54 Mbps compared to 802.11b’s 11 Mbps.

Question 5

What are the key features of 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)?

Answer 5

Operates at 5 GHz and/or 2.4 GHz

Up to 600 Mbps
Uses MIMO technology (Multiple Input, Multiple Output)

Question 6

What improvements did 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) introduce over 802.11n?

Answer 6

Operates on 5 GHz

Up to 7 Gbps
Introduced MU-MIMO for more simultaneous streams

Question 7

What are the key features of 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)?

Answer 7

Operates at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz

Up to 9.6 Gbps
Introduced OFDMA for better high-density performance

Question 8

What is long-range fixed wireless used for?

Answer 8

For outdoor connections over long distances

Uses fixed directional antennas to improve signal strength
Ideal for connecting two distant buildings

Question 9

What is RFID used for?

Answer 9

Access badges, inventory tracking, pet identification, and anything requiring tracking

Utilizes radar technology to transmit and receive data

Question 10

What is NFC and what is it used for?

Answer 10

Near Field Communication

Used for short-range communication, mainly in payment systems and Bluetooth pairing

Question 11

What are the maximum throughput and streams for 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)?

Answer 11

600 Mbps (total throughput)

4x MIMO streams
Operates at 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz

Question 12

What is the maximum theoretical throughput of 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)?

Answer 12

6.9 Gbps with 8x MU-MIMO streams at 5 GHz.

Question 13

What is the maximum throughput of 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)?

Answer 13

9.6 Gbps total

1,201 Mbps per stream
8x DL and UL MU-MIMO streams

Question 14

What frequency ranges are used by 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)?

Answer 14

5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, supporting 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths.

Question 15

What are directional antennas used for in long-range fixed wireless?

Answer 15

Focused, point-to-point connections

Minimal signal absorption and bounce, suitable for outdoor use.

Question 16

What is the primary difference between RFID and NFC?

Answer 16

RFID is used for tracking and identification, powered by radar.

NFC is used for two-way wireless communication over very short ranges (e.g., contactless payments).