Page 18 - WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES- BLUETOOTH AND WI-FI

B WI-FI(Wireless Fidelity)

B.1 Introduction

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, is freedom: it allows you to connect to the Internet from your couch
at home, a bed in a hotel room or at a conference room at work without wires. How? Wi-Fi is a
wireless technology like a cell phone. Wi-Fi enabled computers send and receives data indoors
and out: anywhere within the range of a base station. And the best thing of all, it‟s fast. In fact,
it‟s several times faster than the fastest cable modem connection.

However, you only have true freedom to be connected anywhere if your computer is
configured with a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED radio (a PC Card or similar device). Wi-Fi certification
means that you will be able to connect anywhere there are other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products-
whether you are at home, the office or corporate campus, or in airports, hotels, coffee shops and
other public areas equipped with a Wi-Fi access available.

The Wi-Fi certified logo is your only assurance that the product has met rigorous
interoperability testing requirements to assure products from different vendors will work together
.The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo means that it‟s a “safe” buy.

Wi-Fi certification comes from the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit international trade
organization that tests 802.11-based wireless equipment to make sure it meets the Wi-Fi standard
and works with all other manufacturers‟ Wi-Fi equipment on the market .Thanks to the Wi-Fi
Alliance, you don‟t have to read the fine print or study technical journals. if it says Wi-Fi, it will
work.

B.2 Wi-Fi Standards

IEEE 802.11 refers to the set of standards that define communication for wireless LANs
(wireless local area networks, or WLANs). The technology behind 802.11 is branded to
consumers as Wi-Fi. In other words, IEEE 802.11 is the set of technical guidelines for
implementing Wi-Fi. Selling products under this trademark is overseen by an industry trade
association by the name of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

IEEE 802.11 has its roots from a 1985 decision by the U.S. Federal Commission for
Communication that opened up the ISM band for unlicensed use. The standard was formally
released in 1997. That original standard was called IEEE 802.11-1997 and is now obsolete.

802.11

In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN
standard. They called it 802.11 after the name of the group formed to oversee its development.
Unfortunately, 802.11 only supported a maximum