Which Wi-Fi standard is better to choose

The latest generation of the Wi-Fi class, certified in 2009. Is an improvement of the 802.11b specification, which implements the exchange of information in a similar frequency range.

What are the standards of Wi-Fi and which one is better for your smartphone

Wi-Fi wireless protocol (Wireless Fidelity) was developed back in 1996. Initially it was intended to build local networks, but it gained the greatest popularity as an effective method of connecting to the Internet smartphones and other portable devices.

For 20 years the eponymous alliance has developed several generations of the connection, introducing every year more speedy and functional updates. These are described in the 802.11 standards published by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The group includes several versions of the protocol, differing in data transfer rates and support for additional features.

The very first Wi-Fi standard had no letter designation. The devices supporting it exchanged data at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The data transfer rate was only 1 Mbit/s. There were also devices with support for speeds up to 2 Mbit / s. It was actively used for only 3 years, after which it was improved. Each subsequent Wi-Fi standard is designated by a letter after the general number (802.11a/b/g/n, etc.).

IEEE 802.11a Wi-Fi standard

One of the first updates to the Wi-Fi standard, released in 1999. By doubling the frequency (up to 5 GHz) engineers managed to achieve theoretical speeds of up to 54 Mbps. It was not widespread, as it is incompatible with other versions. Devices that support it must have a dual transceiver to work in 2.4 GHz networks. Smartphones with 802.11a Wi-Fi are not widespread.

The second early update of the interface, which came out in parallel with the version a. The frequency remained the same (2.4 GHz), but the speed was increased to 5.5 or 11 Mbps (depending on the device). Until the end of the first decade of the 2000s, this was the most common standard for wireless networks. Compatibility with an older version, as well as a fairly large range of coverage, ensured its popularity. Despite being superseded by newer versions, 802.11b is supported by virtually every modern smartphone.

Wi-Fi

The very first standard had no letter symbol. It was born in 1996 and was in use for about three years. Data was downloaded over the air when using this protocol at a speed of 1 Mbit/s. This is extremely low by today's standards. But let's remember that access to the "big" Internet from portable devices was out of the question back then. In those years, even WAP was not yet well developed, with Internet pages that rarely weighed more than 20 Kb.

In general, no one appreciated the advantages of the new technology at that time. The standard was used for strictly specific purposes – for debugging equipment, remote computer setup and other tricks. Regular users at the time could only dream of a cell phone, and the words "wireless data transfer" became clear to them only a few years later.

However, the low popularity did not prevent the protocol from developing. Devices gradually began to appear that increased the power of the data transfer module. The speed with the same version of Wi-Fi doubled to 2 Mbps. But it was clear that this was the limit. That's why Wi-Fi Alliance (an alliance of several major companies formed in 1999) had to develop a new standard that would provide higher throughput.

Wi-Fi 802.11a

The first creation of the Wi-Fi Alliance was the 802.11a protocol, which also did not become any more popular. Its difference was that the technology could use the 5 GHz frequency. As a result, data transfer rates went up to 54 Mbps. The problem was that it was not compatible with the 2.4 GHz frequency which had been previously used. As a result, manufacturers had to install a dual transceiver to make it work on both frequencies. Need I say that this is not a compact solution at all?

In smartphones and cell phones, this version of the protocol was practically never used. This is explained by the fact that about a year later, a much more convenient and popular solution came out.

Wi-Fi protocols and their characteristics, table

Each Wi-Fi protocol has its own advantages and disadvantages. The developers of the direction are constantly improving their performance, paying special attention to signal stability and speedup.

Classification, frequencies and bands

There are many varieties of IEEE 802.11, but only four types belong to the popular ones: 802.11a, b, g, n. The main difference between these types of Wi-Fi is the speed. For example, 11a is old and rarely used, characterized by 54 Mbps with a frequency of 5 GHz. But 11b – is already up to 11 Mbit / s and 2.4 GHz.

According to the classification of Wi-Fi, there are such varieties.

802.11a

Uses wideband modulation with direct spectral spreading. It was the first certified type (1999), and equipment that is compatible with it always has a corresponding sticker.

802.11a has hardly ever been used for cell phones and smartphones. A year later, a more convenient adaptation for a variety of gadgets appeared.

The variety is characterized by the following indicators:

• Wi-Fi range – up to 50 m;
• Encoding – Barker 11, QPSK;
• Low cost – at the level of other options;
• The speed of sending and receiving information – 54 Mbit/s;
• Frequency of Wi-Fi channels – 5 GHz.

Range performance is divided into three independent channels, which allows 3 virtual lines to operate simultaneously in the same space. All products operating in this mode must be certified by WECA (international organization).

802.11b

This mode was formed to solve performance problems of the previous variant and began to be used after 2001. On European and Russian territories it is not widespread, it is more often encountered in Japan and USA.

What mode to choose on the router for home use

The principle of Wi-Fi operation is based on routers' support for different protocols: b/g/n. If the router functions in two bands, then it supports the standardization of a / c. Any modern device works at 2.4-5 GHz: phone, tablet, laptop, printer, MFP.

Outdated devices do not function under the latest conditions, so they are not able to connect to modern routers. For home use, mixed Wi-Fi b/g/n modes are considered optimal. When applied, there will be no problems with connectivity for new and old units. The specified scheme is preinstalled on most adapters.

If there is no such ancient equipment in the house, preference is given to "n" with a range of 2.4 GHz. This approach allows you to increase the speed capabilities of the local line.

All Wi-FI standards differ in two main parameters:

Name	Speed	Frequency	Description
802.11a	54 Mbps is the maximum, but usually 6 to 24 Mbps.	5 GHz.	Not compatible with b or g networks. This is one of the oldest standards, but is still used by many devices.
802.11b	11 Mbps	2.4 GHz	Compatible with g networks. Naturally, g had to be backwards compatible with b in order to support more devices.
802.11d	–	–	D is not actually a stand-alone network type. This standard includes additional information such as access point information and others. It usually comes in addition to other networks such as 802.11ad.
802.11g	54 Mbps	2.4 GHz.	The most popular type of Wi-FI network. Its combination of speed and backward compatibility makes it ideal for today's networks.
802.11n	100 Mbps	2.4 and 2.5 GHz	The fastest type of Wi-FI network. Usually can reach speeds of 100 Mbps, although under ideal conditions up to 600 Mbps. The result is achieved by using multiple frequencies simultaneously and combining that speed into one.

All Wi-Fi standards and generations

To make life a little easier for ordinary users, manufacturers have agreed on simple names. With this approach, you don't have to figure out what the letters and numbers in the standard mean. Here's a table of Wi-Fi generations and standards:

As you can imagine, time is of the essence. The IEEE is already working on Wi-Fi Generation 6. Officially it is called 802.11.x? It will work on frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and will be compatible with 802.11a. But to increase speed and range, it will also support 1 GHz and 7 GHz frequencies.

This will provide a speed boost up to a maximum of 3 Gbps/. Well, in real life, you can count on data transfer speeds of 600 Mbit/s.

The standard will appear in 2018-19. But the first devices to support it will be much later.

Another of the pluses of WiFi 6 is greater security. In doing so, devices will be able to connect to new Wi-FI networks faster while keeping their owner's data private. This is especially important when you show up with a Wi-Fi 6-enabled smartphone in public places. And naturally, you'll be using public networks there.

Read More: