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Over the past couple of essays I have written on wireless networking and why it was important to the wireless/internet community. In this essay I will be focusing on the Wi-fi aspect of wireless networking. I will begin by defining it and continue by explaining its importance to telecommunications.

When speaking of a wireless network the speaker automatically falls under the assumption that the listeners understand that Wi-fi is the backbone for wireless. Some users do not understand that concept, to further explain wireless networking we must first define 802.11. The 802.11 is refers to specifications set out by the IEEE for wireless LAN technology. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) is an organization that is mainly composed of engineers, scientist, as well as student. IEEE’s main goals are setting or developing the standards for the computer and electronics industry, including 802.11. 802.11 specifies an over the air interface between a wireless client and a base station or between one or more wireless clients. 802.11 also refers to the a frequency band used by the wireless equipment set at 2.4ghz, one which uses a direct sequence spread spectrum. DSSS simply refers to a signal that is combined with a higher data rate or data signal.  IEEE then expanded upon its 802.11 series to the 802.11a series which uses a 5ghz band, which allows more information per second over the frequency band.  Finally the 802.11b standard that bring the attention back to the previously mentioned Wi-fi. 802.11b is yet a further extention of the 802.11 standard going back down to the 2.4ghz band yet offering up to 11 mega bit per second. 802.11b standard is either reffered to as High Rate or Wi-Fi. Wi-fi however is a short term that stands for Wireless Fidelity. Wireless Fidelity allows mobile devices such as palm pilots and laptops. The 802.11b standard does use the DSSS method and finally brought the wireless up to the comparable standards of standard Ethernet. Recently the use of Wi-fi has expanded in leaps and bounds and is now being used to allow networking without the cabling, cabling that has been required for the past 10 or more years. Wi-fi was termed by the Wi-fi Alliance who in turn offers a standard in the Wi-fi devices offered by different manufactures. The Wi-fi alliance garuntees that all equipment that has been Wi-fi certified will work with other Wi-fi certified products.

In conclusion it is now known that Wi-fi stands for Wireless Fidelity, and is generally used as a reference to the 802.11b network. The 802.11b network operates on the 2.4ghz band and uses DSSS method of communication. It is also important to realize the standards that are set in place by the Wi-fi alliance which allows mutilple manufacturers devices to work together and communicate offering even short temporary access to the internet in access points where wireless is available.

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