What are the differences between IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b?
Larry Birenbaum: First, the similarities. Both are part of the IEEE 802.11 standard and provide the benefits of traditional wired LANs without wires — allowing users to access networks without being tethered by network cables. This enables a wide range of handheld devices, like PDAs, to be connected. The differences between the two standards are in transmission speed and frequency band. 802.11b, the most widely deployed wireless standard, allows data speeds of 11 megabits per second (Mbps) and operates in an unlicensed radio frequency band around 2.4 GHz. 802.11a operates in two frequency bands around 5.4Ghz, with maximum data speeds of 54 Mbps. The 5.4GHz frequency band assigned to 802.11a offers more channels than those afforded to 802.11b. Furthermore, because 802.11a operates in an uncluttered portion of the radio spectrum, it isn’t subject to as much potential interference. However, 802.11a isn’t backward compatible with 802.11b, and that presents a challenge for concurrent opera
