1. Introduction

NOTE: This article is a bit out of date. See our Wireless Networking Need To Know 2006.

A year or so ago (early 2001), you had two choices for wireless networking products: Home RF and 802.11b. In mid 2002, your choices have expanded to four main contenders (802.11b, "enhanced" 802.11b, 802.11a, and Bluetooth) and one dying one (Home RF). More choices are coming later in 2002 and 2003, with a lot of activity in "combo" products that meld together two or more standards into one product. First, let's look at what you can actually buy today for building your wireless LAN (WLAN).

802.11b (Wi-Fi)

This standard is clearly the market leader. 802.11b operates in the 2.4 GHz unlicensed frequency band (same as the one used by 2.4 GHz cordless phones and microwave ovens), and uses DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation. It has a maximum raw data rate of 11Mbps, with fallback rates of 5.5, 2, and 1Mbps.

Widely used in businesses, 802.11b has been adopted for many home networks due to its relatively high speed, wide availability, and falling prices (although we've probably gotten pretty close to the bottom of the price curve at this point). It's also the standard that's used (or trying to be used... if the companies can stay in business...) for wireless public access in places like airports, malls, etc., and for enterprising individuals, companies, and community groups who are trying to grow their own wireless broadband networks.

Negatives include the fact that 2.4 GHz cordless phones and microwave ovens operating in its vicinity affect throughput and range. 802.11b's WEP network security method has also come under heavy media fire, but the problem has been blown out of proportion to the effect that WEP's weaknesses will have on the average small wireless network user.

Recommendation: All things considered, 802.11b should probably be your first choice for building your WLAN.