IEEE 802.11g Offers Higher Data Rates and Longer Range

After more than two years in the making, the IEEE 802.11g Draft Standard is nearing completion. Initial product tests described in this article indicate that it has been well worth the wait. In terms of range and throughput, 802.11g is living up to its billing. It utilizes OFDM technology in the 2.4 GHz band while preserving backward compatibility with the large installed base of existing 802.11b equipment. OFDM was previously adopted for WLAN applications as part of the IEEE 802.11a standard. Since 802.11g operates at 2.4 GHz, it provides much longer range than 802.11a-based equipment because the lower operating frequency has better propagation properties for the indoor WLAN environment.