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Text quick summary of Wi-Fi - The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard is usually referred to as Wi-Fi or RLAN [Radio Local Area Network]. The 802.11 standard has evolved into a number of sub-standards 802.11a/b/g/n. Each sub-standard operates in a different GHz (billions) range such as 2.4 and 5.7 GHz - the same as cordless telephones and other devices which can also cause interference with computers connected with Wi-Fi. Each sub-standard offers a different data speed from 10-54 MBPS (millions) and range of use which is generally up to 300 feet. Wi-Fi operates in an unlicensed frequency regulated by the FCC. The FCC limits transmission power to one Watt which limits the distance of use.

Here are general definitions of terms:

• 802.1c - MAC [Media Access Control] layer bridging

• 802.1d - defines regulatory domains for different countries
• 802.1e - defines COS [Classes of Service] for QoS [Quality of Service] across WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 802.1f- defines IAPP [Inter-Access Point Protocol] for communication between Access Points
• 802.11i - defines WLAN architecture
• 802.11j - Japanese version of 802.11a at 4.9 and 5 GHz
• 802.11h - adds TPC [Transmit Power Control] (only use the power you need or “don’t shout unless you need to” - to reduce battery drain) and DFS [Dynamic Frequency Selection] (called spectrum-managed access - “listen-before-transmit” to avoid causing interference on already congested frequencies and avoiding such frequencies which is already implemented in many products without a standard) both concepts are sometimes referred to as Hiperlan 2
• 802.11k - a proposed IEEE standard to provide key client feedback and statistics
• 802.11m - an initiative to perform maintenance on previously published amendments to the 802.11-1999 published specification. 802.11b, 802.11g, etc., are amendments
• 802.11n - a new specification with speeds higher than 100M bit/second
• 802.11p - MAC layer vehicular handoff
• 802.11r - specifications for fast mobile roaming for wireless voice applications
• 802.11s - defines ESS [Extended Service Set] for mesh networking
• 802.11x - specifications for authentication transport between the client the and Access Points

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