Networking / Beginners

Wi-Fi Standards

Wi-Fi is by far the most widely adopted wireless networking type today. Not only do thousands of private businesses and homes have wireless networks, but many public places, such as coffee shops and libraries, also offer Internet access through wireless networks.

NOTE Wi-Fi originally stood for wireless fidelity to make it cutely equated with high fidelity or Hi-Fi, but it doesn't really stand for anything any more.

Technically, only wireless devices that conform to the extended versions of the 802.11 standard-802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n-are Wi-Fi certified. Wi-Fi certification comes from the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit industry group made up of over 300 member companies that design and manufacture wireless networking products. Wi-Fi certification ensures compatibility between wireless networking devices made by different vendors. That's the way it's supposed to work, anyway, but see the last section of this tutorial on troubleshooting for the real-world scoop.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Wireless Networking
  2. Historical/Conceptual
  3. Wi-Fi Standards
  4. 802.11
  5. Hardware
  6. Software
  7. Wireless Network Modes
  8. Infrastructure Mode
  9. Speed
  10. BSSID, SSID, and ESSID
  11. Broadcasting Frequency
  12. Channels
  13. CSMA/CA
  14. 802.11b
  15. 802.11a
  16. 802.11g
  17. 802.11n
  18. Wireless Networking Security
  19. MAC Address Filtering
  20. Wireless Authentication
  21. Data Encryption
  22. Power Over Ethernet
  23. Implementing Wi-Fi
  24. Installing the Client
  25. Setting Up an Ad Hoc Network
  26. Placing Access Point
  27. Access Point Configuration
  28. Configuring Encryption
  29. Configuring the Client
  30. Adding a WAP
  31. Troubleshooting Wi-Fi
  32. Hardware Troubleshooting
  33. Software Troubleshooting
  34. Connectivity Troubleshooting
  35. Configuration Troubleshooting