U.S. Robotics will market this summer a new product range wireless network technology based on Wi-Fi standard known as IEEE 802.11b.
But the manufacturer has improved the basic features of this standard to offer products at 22Mbps instead of the initial 11Mbbps. Despite this improvement, the proposed products are compatible with those of competitors operating at 11Mbps.
An excellent alternative for those wishing to accelerate their wireless network because it has the advantage of pouvori upgrade its network in contrast to a gradual transition to the IEEE 802.11a.
Indeed, the IEEE 802.11a (WiFi5) which has a throughput of 52Mbps is not compatible with an IEEE 802.11b network because it uses a frequency band of 5GHz instead of 2.4 GHz version 802.11a
Back on the IEEE 802.11
The IEEE 802.11 standard was finalized in 1998. IEEE 802.11b, founded in 1999 is also known as Wi-Fi. It is the variation most used currently in the middle computer.
As technology Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b uses radio technology in a range of frequency of 2.4 GHz against the theoretical range of 100 meters outdoors (50 meters indoors) which is already an advantage over result in Bluetooth.
IEEE 802.11b network operates both in cellular mode, where each cell is controlled by an access point in ad hoc mode where stations communicate with each other without an access point. Its architecture is well suited for use in a local network of small and large, which is why most manufacturers offer a wide range of network products from the NIC PCI to router using this standard. Its commercial success in the corporate networks across the Atlantic has fallen significantly components and thus opening the mass market. The integration of IEEE 802.11b drivers in Windows XP also tends to impose that standard as the standard wireless LAN.
One issue that could allow the IEEE 802.11b is to impose its 11Mbps throughput equal to that of a standard Ethernet network, without mention of IEEE 802.11a with its throughput of 54 Mbps which Scheduled to ship in mid-2002 has been delayed in Europe for reasons of frequency ranges not meeting the standards that prevail on our continent.
In terms of security, the IEEE 802.11b operates in the same way that the Bluetooth range of 79 frequencies. Its main drawback was its key coding in 40 bits has been bypassed by Apple Airport using his system in excess of 40 bits, an encryption key of 128 bits. This protocol security, developed by the 802.11 committee called WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). More specifically, an algorithm generating pseudo random numbers initiated by a secret key with each terminal connected to the network will use to authenticate.
Taking into account all the advantages offered by IEEE 802.11b which are ease of implementation, scope and speed, it is reasonable to think that here we are in possession of the future network Local. However, the high cost of setting up a network using this standard in a family environment remains very high because the equipment of two positions in ad hoc network now costs 2000 francs on average 10 times more than Ethernet networking equipment. Only drawback that could slow the introduction of IEEE 802.11b networks among individuals.