802.11ag - Basics ======================== .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is IEEE 802.11a/g (802.11ag)?** IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g are wireless standards that support data rates up to 54 Mbps. 802.11a operates in the 5 GHz band, while 802.11g operates in the 2.4 GHz band. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Why are 802.11a and 802.11g often grouped together?** Both standards offer similar maximum data rates (54 Mbps) and use the same OFDM modulation, but on different frequency bands. Devices supporting both are often labeled as 802.11a/g. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **When were 802.11a and 802.11g ratified?** 802.11a was ratified in 1999, and 802.11g followed in 2003. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What frequency does 802.11a use?** 802.11a operates in the 5 GHz frequency band, which is typically less congested than 2.4 GHz. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What frequency does 802.11g use?** 802.11g operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the same as 802.11b, allowing backward compatibility. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What modulation technique is used in 802.11a/g?** Both use OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) for efficient data transmission and reduced interference. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the maximum data rate of 802.11a/g?** Both standards support a maximum theoretical data rate of 54 Mbps. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Are 802.11a and 802.11g compatible with each other?** Not directly, since they operate on different frequency bands. However, dual-band devices can support both standards. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11g backward compatible with 802.11b?** Yes, 802.11g was designed to be backward compatible with 802.11b in the 2.4 GHz band. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11a backward compatible with 802.11b/g?** No, 802.11a is not backward compatible with 802.11b/g due to the different frequency band (5 GHz vs. 2.4 GHz). .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which standard is better: 802.11a or 802.11g?** 802.11a is better in crowded 2.4 GHz environments due to less interference. 802.11g is more widely supported and compatible with older devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the range of 802.11a compared to 802.11g?** 802.11a generally has a shorter range than 802.11g due to higher frequency and lower penetration through walls. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Do 802.11a/g support QoS?** Not natively. QoS enhancements were introduced later with 802.11e. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Are 802.11a/g still used today?** While still supported in many devices, 802.11a/g have largely been replaced by newer standards like 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What encryption is supported by 802.11a/g?** They support WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security protocols, depending on device firmware and configuration. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which OSI layer does 802.11a/g operate at?** 802.11a/g operates at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer), handling MAC and PHY layer communications. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the channel width used in 802.11a/g?** Both use 20 MHz channel widths by default. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Do 802.11a/g support MIMO?** No, MIMO was introduced with 802.11n. 802.11a/g use single-input single-output (SISO) transmission. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Can 802.11a/g devices be used for VoIP or streaming?** Yes, but with limited bandwidth and QoS support, performance may not match newer standards like 802.11n or 802.11ac. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Where can I read the official specifications for 802.11a/g?** The IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g amendments are available via the [IEEE Standards Store](https://standards.ieee.org). They are also incorporated into consolidated versions like 802.11-2012. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow Topics in this section, * :ref:`Learnings in this section <802_11ag_step1>` * :ref:`Terminology <802_11ag_step2>` * :ref:`Version Info <802_11ag_step3>` * :ref:`802_11ag Version&IEEE Details <802_11ag_step4>` * :ref:`802_11ag Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <802_11ag_step5>` * :ref:`802_11ag Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 <802_11ag_step6>` * :ref:`802_11ag List of MAC features <802_11ag_step7>` * :ref:`802_11ag Medium Access Functions and their inner working <802_11ag_step8>` * :ref:`802_11ag Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11ag <802_11ag_step9>` * :ref:`802_11ag List of Physical Features <802_11ag_step10>` * :ref:`802_11ag Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag <802_11ag_step11>` * :ref:`802_11ag Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag <802_11ag_step12>` * :ref:`802_11ag End-User Products that support 802.11ag <802_11ag_step13>` * :ref:`802_11ag Protocol Packet Details <802_11ag_step14>` * :ref:`802_11ag Basic Features <802_11ag_step15>` * :ref:`Reference links <802_11ag_step16>` .. _802_11ag_step1: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section * In this section, you are going to learn .. _802_11ag_step2: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Terminology * Terminology .. _802_11ag_step3: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Version Info * Version Info .. _802_11ag_step4: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag Version&RFC Details * rfc details .. _802_11ag_step5: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 * setup .. _802_11ag_step6: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 * setup .. _802_11ag_step7: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag List of MAC features * mac features .. _802_11ag_step8: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag Medium Access Functions and their inner working * Medium Access Functions and their inner working .. _802_11ag_step9: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11ag * Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11ag .. _802_11ag_step10: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ag List of Physical Features * List of Physical Features .. _802_11ag_step11: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag * Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag .. _802_11ag_step12: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag * Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ag .. _802_11ag_step13: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: End-User Products that support 802.11ag * End-User Products that support 802.11ag .. _802_11ag_step14: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Protocol Packet Details in 802.11ag * Protocol Packet Details .. _802_11ag_step15: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Basic Features * Basic Features .. _802_11ag_step16: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Reference links * Reference links