Now that the 802.11g standard has been finalized, comparisons with the other standards in the 802.11 family are inevitable. One conclusion that is frequently drawn is that 802.11g offers similar speeds to 802.11a. After all, both products are advertised as having a data rate of 54 Mbps.

This article develops a simple model for the maximum TCP throughput of 802.11 networks so that a comparison can move beyond a simple comparison of nominal bit rates. According to the model, 802.11g is significantly faster than 802.11b. In a network consisting only of 802.11g clients, it is even slightly faster than 802.11a. However, "protection" mechanisms added to 802.11g to ensure backwards compatibility with legacy 802.11b clients can cut the throughput by 50 percent or more.

[ Read more ]

Comment:

For all your wireless security information needs, visit the Wireless outside articles section of HNS.

Related items

• Article: Lack of Security at Wireless Conferences (6 August 2003)
• Review: WiFi Security (9 July 2003)
• Review: Wireless Security End to End (4 June 2003)
• Review: Deploying License-Free Wireless Wide-Area Networks (14 May 2003)
• Article: Positive Identification in a Wireless World (6 May 2003)
• Article: Warchalking and Other Wireless Worries (3 April 2003)
• Article: How to Make Wireless Networks Secure (26 March 2003)
• Article: Interview with Cyrus Peikari, CEO of AirScanner Mobile Security (24 February 2003)
• Review: Maximum Wireless Security (17 February 2003)
• Article: Detecting Wireless LAN MAC Address Spoofing (22 January 2003)
• Article: Avoid Wireless LAN Security Pitfalls (17 January 2003)
• Article: Interview with Jay Chaudhry, CEO of AirDefense (7 January 2003)
• Review: Wireless Security and Privacy: Best Practices and Design Techniques (17 December 2002)