Differences Between The Types of Wi-Fi Standards?

An informal name for "wireless networking," Wi-Fi encompasses a several variations in standards that differ in speed and range. You've probably seen these variations listed as their alpha-numeric standards names (such as 802.11a/b/g/n) or their shorthand names (such as Wireless-N).

There are 4 flavors of Wi-Fi networking, each possessing different specifications for speed and range that also translate to different recommended uses.

• 802.11n: Also known as Wireless-N, this Wi-Fi standard offers the fastest speeds (up to 248 Megabits per second, or Mbps) and the ability to retain its high speeds at a broader range (of up to 300 feet). It's a good choice for streaming multimedia in your home. It's also becoming more widely adopted by manufacturers, so you'll see more new routers with the 802.11n standard.
• 802.11g: Also referred to as 54g (as its data speed tops out at 54 Mbps), this standard boasts a range of up to 300 feet. However, its data speed tends to drop off the farther you get from your router. The 802.11g standard is good for fast Web browsing and can handle media downloads--but at a slower pace.
• 802.11b: The slowest of the Wi-Fi standards, 802.11b provides data speeds of just up to 11 Mbps. And like 54g, its data speed drops the further you find yourself within its 300-foot range. While not a solution for media streaming, it's fine for print servers and home automation applications.
• 802.11a: As fast as 54g, this standard provides a more targeted range of just 100 feet. Typically, 802.11a is used in closed office environments, where the router is situated near its users.

Tabel: Maximum data transfer speeds for different networking standards