Introduction: Wireless networks have always been difficult to implement and understand for both home users and network administrators. Wireless networking marries two equally complicated yet relatively unrelated technologies: networking technologies with radio frequency (RF) technology. Each technology has exclusive industry professionals, but rarely is expertise in both technologies available.
This document is designed to assist computer network users in deploying successful wireless network while sharing the education and reasoning behind the technology.
Related Parties: Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark made of the Wi-Fi Alliance created to give an easier to understand name for wireless networking/wireless local area network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. To assist with the understanding of technologies, the following are brief descriptions of relevant companies, committees and alliances that are involved in specifying technology and policies relating to wireless networking products.
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) – IEEE is a professional association that creates electronics and electrical related technologies with aim to develop industry standards for use by manufacturers across the board. IEEE 802.11 is the standards group created and maintained by the IEEE as it relates to wireless networking. The letter after 802.11 (e.g. 802.11g) shows an amended standard governed under IEEE 802.11. • Wi-Fi Alliance / Wi-Fi CERTIFIED – The Wi-Fi Alliance is a trade association that functions mainly to promote wireless networking and to ensure compatibility via a certification program amongst various wireless networking devices. • FCC (Federal Communications Commission) – The FCC is an agency of the US government tasked with regulating non- federal/commercial use of radio spectrum. The FCC governs for the United States, while other countries have similar agencies regulating the usage and types of radio signals allowed to be used by the public.
These associations and agencies are just a few of the parties involved in establishing standards, rules, laws, etc. Throughout this document, it will become evident that the unique role each party plays has a serious effect on wireless network deployment.
Early WLAN History: This section provides a good background of 802.11 technology; however, understanding the history is not necessarily essential in determining how to successfully deploy an 802.11n network.
In June 1997, the IEEE 802.11 standard was officially ratified and released allowing manufacturers to design and produce products. Early products operated in the 2.4 GHz (2400 MHz) radio spectrum and were generally slow (2 Mbps) and not widely embraced. Issues with device interoperability, network/Internet penetration, slow performance and high cost prohibited mainstream adoption. To advance and improve the technology, IEEE subgroups worked on enhanced protocols. Namely, 802.11a and 802.11b groups worked concurrently on differing technical approaches to improve the standard.