What are the different types of Wi-Fi or wireless data technology? How are they different?
The most common “flavor” of wireless equipment used today operates according to the is 802.11b (“b”) industry standard for wireless networking, which will operate at effective speeds of up to 5 Mb/s in the 2.4 GHz radio spectrum. That is the same part of the spectrum that is used by 802.11g (“g”) equipment, which operates at effective speeds of up to 25 Mb/s. The “g” standard is backwards compatible with the “b” standard. If you have a “g” card in your laptop, it can communicate with a “b” access point (at “b” speeds). Conversely, if you have “b” card in your computer, it can communicate with a “g” access point – again at “b” speeds. Most of the Intel-based or Apple laptop computers with built-in wireless capabilities have “b” or “g” equipment. Like 802.11g, 802.11a (“a”) equipment is also capable of an effective speed of up to 25 Mb/s but “a” wireless equipment operates in the 5.4 GHz spectrum. Consequently, it does not interfere with or interoperate with “b/g” equipment. The effectiv
