Before deploying your wireless network, you need to choose the right WLAN standard (an officially-sanctioned specification), based on your small business’s application requirements and usage patterns.

Wireless standards reduce the challenges of compatibility and installation, meaning lower support costs and more protection. Three industry-wide WLAN standards have been ratified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). See below for a comparison table.

802.11b

• Has a maximum data rate of up to 11 Mbps per channel—faster than most wired broadband connections
• Offers better penetration through walls and other obstacles, and greater operating distance in the office, home or other enclosed environments
• By far the most widely deployed wireless standard

802.11g

• Has all the advantages of 802.11b, plus a maximum data rate of up to 54 Mbps for faster performance
• Backwards compatible with 802.11b, making it a good choice for companies that have users with 802.11b notebooks who need faster performance for future applications

802.11a

• Also provides a maximum data rate of up to 54 Mbps, but operates in a separate 5 GHz frequency band
• The additional number of non-overlapping channels increases performance capacities while deployment scalability
• Not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g, but can coexist with these two standards with no effect on performance

The newest industry standard for wireless network security is 802.11i.

Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology is tested for compatibility with wireless industry standards, so it will meet your business needs today and tomorrow.

Feature Definition 802.11b 802.11g 802.11a Available RF channels Number of communications links 3 non-overlapping 3 non-overlapping 8 or more non-overlapping (varies by country) Maximum data rate/channel Maximum throughput per RF channel 11 Mbps 54 Mbps 54 Mbps Frequency band∞ Broadcast frequency range 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz 5 GHz Typical range How far data can travel at what rate 100 ft at 11 Mbps300 ft at 1 Mbps 50 ft at 54 Mbps150 ft at 11 Mbps 40 ft at 54 Mbps300 ft at 6 Mbps