Wireless networking

[WingWizard]

We're putting up a wireless network in our house soon, and I know the current standard is WiFi (802.11b), but I was just wondering what the difference was between 802.11b and the new 802.11a ; will an 802.11b card work with an 802.11a router? thanks

[DVNT1]

kwebb will probably give you a better answer, but my 2cents... the 802.11a std. allows for faster transfer rates but shorter wireless range and more expensive. 802.11b cards will not commonly work with 802.11a devices. There may be some wireless APs that can have dual wireless cards and thus can support both stds; not common for home models though.

[UncaDanno]

802.11a has a faster POTENTIAL data rate.

That said, keep in mind that 802.11a devices are:
More expensive.
More sensitive to "interference" (microwave, cell phones, cordless phones, remote controls, etc).
Easier to block with interior walls (sometimes an 802.11a device can't reach into the next room unless you have line-of-sight).
More succeptible to meteorological interference. Did you know we are entering a phase of increased sunspot activity?


With all the above in mind, your mileage wil LIKELY vary. In fact, I have been hearing that the 802.11b devices are more dependable "in the wild". And the transfer speed difference is negligible to a human. Unless you have a constant, multi-gig transfer going on...

[kwebb]

Sorry but no. Much less susceptible to interference from Microwaves (2.4-2.5 Ghz) cell phones et al.......

True enough the shorter wavelengths make penetration of obstacles a little more difficult but that is overblown. 802.11a AP's are pushed with more power, especially at the higher frequency ranges of the AP. .11a is faster under any circumstance. That of course is assuming you are able to get an association from client to AP at the same range as a .11b AP. The weakest .11a link is still 6 mb. Mileage varies but enough of the .11a won't make it to the next room BS. Having said that, different Mfg's breed different levels of quality. If your .11a AP won't make it to the next room, take it back and go buy a Proxim Symphony 802.11a AP. The technology itself and frequency do not inhibit multi-room pentration of the carrier.

Transfer speed is not neglible "to a human" whatever that means either unless your only using this for internet sharing. If file transfers are part of the equation then it is extremely noticeable.

Wingwizard, as DVNT1 mentioned, 802.11b client cards will not associate to an 802.11b AP. The exception would be an AP that has multiple PCMCIA slots and allows two radios in it to broadcast, one at 2.4 and the other at 5 Ghz.