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.