What is 802.11g?

The 802.11g is one of the standards defined by IEEE Standards Committee for wireless local area networks (WLAN). Commonly known as WiFi, it is a specification that offers wireless transmission over relatively short distances of up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps). It replaced the original WiFi, standard, 802.11b, which only allows speeds up to 11 Mbps.

Using the same bands as the 802.11b, the new WiFi specification operates at unregulated radio frequencies between 2.400 GHz and 2.4835 GHz. However, the newer version uses the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) used in the costlier 802.11a standard- wherein a large number of closely-spaced orthogonal sub-carriers are used to carry data - for higher data speed. Systems with 802.11g access points are backwards compatible with 802.11b network adapters, and the latter can be made compliant to the newer standard through a firmware upgrade.

As 802.11g operates in the unregulated frequencies, 802.11b devices suffer interference from other products operating in the 2.4 GHz band, such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors and cordless telephones.

COMPARING WIFI STANDARDS

Protocol Frequency Throughput (MBits/s) Data Speed (MBits/s) 802.11 2.4 0.9 2 802.11a 5 23 54 802.11b 2.4 4.3 11 802.11g 2.4 19 54

The 802.11a standard has fast throughput and data speed and it doesn’t get as much interference as the other protocols as it operates in a regulated frequency. This standard didn’t catch the fancy of vendors and buyers as it is costlier to implement and the higher frequency means a shorter range signal that can be obstructed by walls. This protocol is currently in use in business networks.

The 802.11g standard combines the good traits of 802.11a and 802.11b: high throughput and actual data speeds and longer range signal that can penetrate walls (though subject to interference).

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