IEEE 802.11a VS IEEE 802.11g Academic Computing Services (ACS)

[Audio] My name is Treanna Graff, and I will be presenting the differences between IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g, along with the advantages and disadvantages of both wireless networks and how they would be better suited for different customers. This presentation is for Academic Computing Services, for class ISSC343 Week 6 assignment..

[Audio] 802.11a was ratified at the same time as 802.11b in 1999, but 802.11a products did not appear on the market until late 2001, while 802.11b was produced almost immediately. 11a experienced technical issues early on, but they were fixed before the official release. While 802.11a and 802.11b have the same standards and the same MAC layer functions, 802.11a has an increased speed and flexibility. The higher bandwidth offered through 11a is better suited for smaller businesses or smaller areas and operates at up to 54Mbps and offers more bandwidth, but has a shorter range. 5GHz bandwidth is less congested than the 2.4GHz band used by 802.11g, so 802.11a has less of a risk of interference from other wireless devices. The wider channel bandwidth can handle more concurrent connections in high density areas..

[Audio] Even though 802.11a and 802.11g are both capable of offering speeds of up to 54Mbps, 802.11a generally produces real-time faster speeds because there is not as much interference in the 5GHz band. Along with less interference, the 5GHz band offers more channels that do not overlap compared top the 2.4GHz band offered through 802.11g, which provides better data transfer speeds and performance in high density areas such as a small business or small school. Because 802.11a offers a large number of frequencies, it allows multiple networks to be dispersed throughout an area, which can improve coverage..

[Audio] 802.11a is not supported on most older devices 802.11a is more expensive to use than 11g due to its higher operating frequency, which also makes the technology more costly to implement. 802.11a has a shorter range than 802.11g because a higher frequency is easily absorbed by walls or obstacle, which causes the range to be significantly smaller, but is still preferred in smaller schools or offices due to its higher speeds..

[Audio] When IEEE 802.11g was released, it improved to support maximum data rates of up to 54Mbps while maintaining a 2.4GHz bandwidth. Because of the 2.4GHz bandwidth, 802.11g has a further range than other 802.11 options. 802.11g uses the same OFDM transmission as the 802.11a and is backward compatible with 802.11b hardware. 802.11g is better for larger offices over 11a because of its band usage..

[Audio] While offering higher speeds than others, 802.11g is still slower than 802.11a. The 2.4 GHz band is more crowded, so the potential for interference from things such as microwave ovens or phones can cause a higher chance of interference than the 5GHz band. The crowded 2.4GHz band also has limited channels available for network capacity Depending on the amount of interference, it is possible that there will be the occasional range issue regarding the Wi-Fi. It should also be noted that research has shown that the lower MAC efficiency has significantly reduced throughput, but is the result of increasingly fast PHY layers with a single legacy MAC..

[Audio] 802.11g is more compatible with 802.11b, meaning there is a better transition and network integration with existing devices. Most devices used in today's society support the 2.4GHz band, meaning they can connect to more devices. It can have speeds as high as 802.11a, depending on interference. In larger environments, especially larger schools of offices that have more internal partitions, 802.11g offers better coverage.

Abstract blurred public library with bookshelves.

[Audio] The differences between IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g may seem small, but they can significantly impact the capabilities available to the school or office ACS may be selling to. If a salesperson wants to sell technology, it is best to understand what they are selling. 802.11a offers higher speeds than 802.11g but generally has a shorter range. However, because 802.11a can allow multiple networks, larger schools or offices can have 802.11a, giving them both speed and range. It should be remembered that 802.11g is also a good wireless option. It has better compatibility with all devices, especially those with 802.11b. 802.11a also has less interference than 802.11g because it operates on a higher band of 5GHz, compared to the 2.4GHz 11g offered, which is generally crowded. This presentation gives you a good description of IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g and can assist you when selling to your clients..