802.11b - Basics

What is IEEE 802.11b?

IEEE 802.11b is a Wi-Fi standard introduced in 1999 that operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and supports data rates up to 11 Mbps.

What frequency band does 802.11b use?

802.11b operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band.

What maximum data rate does 802.11b support?

It supports a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps.

What modulation technique does 802.11b use?

802.11b primarily uses Complementary Code Keying (CCK) modulation.

What is the typical range of 802.11b?

Indoor range is roughly 35 meters, and outdoor range can extend up to 140 meters.

Is 802.11b backward compatible?

802.11b is backward compatible with the earlier 802.11 standard (1 and 2 Mbps rates).

Which OSI layer does 802.11b operate on?

It operates on the Physical (Layer 1) and Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model.

What is the channel bandwidth of 802.11b?

It uses a channel bandwidth of 22 MHz.

How many non-overlapping channels are available in 802.11b?

There are 3 non-overlapping channels (1, 6, and 11) in most countries.

Is 802.11b susceptible to interference?

Yes, since it operates at 2.4 GHz, it is prone to interference from devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices.

Is 802.11b still widely used today?

It is largely outdated but may still be found in legacy devices or low-speed applications.

What transport protocols does 802.11b support?

It supports all standard IP-based protocols such as TCP, UDP, and ICMP.

Is 802.11b secure?

Originally, it used WEP encryption which is now considered insecure; modern networks use WPA/WPA2 even on legacy devices.

Can 802.11b coexist with 802.11g?

Yes, 802.11g devices can operate in mixed mode with 802.11b devices but performance may be reduced.

What is the latency like on 802.11b?

Latency is higher compared to modern Wi-Fi standards, making it less suitable for real-time applications.

What physical media does 802.11b use?

It uses wireless radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band.

Which devices commonly used 802.11b?

Early Wi-Fi routers, laptops, and wireless peripherals from the early 2000s.

Does 802.11b support Quality of Service (QoS)?

QoS support was limited or absent in the original 802.11b standard.

Is 802.11b still part of the Wi-Fi Alliance certifications?

No, newer certifications focus on more recent standards, though backward compatibility is maintained.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • mac features

  • Medium Access Functions and their inner working

  • Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11b

  • List of Physical Features

  • Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11b

  • Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11b

  • End-User Products that support 802.11b

  • Protocol Packet Details

  • Basic Features

  • Reference links