The following terms and definitions may be useful when reading
literature on wireless technology and Primary Response
Air Cover:
| Term |
Description |
| 802.11 |
An IEEE wireless LAN specification
for over-the-air interface between a wireless Client and a
base station or between two wireless Clients.
Examples of 802.11 Standards
| 802.11 Spec |
Release Date |
Op Frequency |
Data Rate (typ) |
Data Rate (max) |
Range (Indoor) |
| A |
1999 |
5 GHz |
25 Mbit/s
|
54 Mbit/s
|
~30 meters
(~100 feet) |
| B |
1999 |
2.4 GHz |
6.5 Mbit/s
|
11 Mbit/s
|
~30 meters
(~100 feet) |
| G |
2003 |
2.4 GHz |
25 Mbit/s
|
54 Mbit/s
|
~30 meters
(~100 feet) |
| N |
2008 |
2.4 or 5.0 GHz |
200 Mbit/s
|
540 Mbit/s
|
~50 meters
(~160 feet) |
|
| Access Point |
Access Point also referred to, as an
AP is a station* that provides distribution services. It is
the hub used by wireless Clients for communicating with each
other and connecting to the WLAN.
* A station is the component that connects to the wireless
medium |
| Ad hoc Network |
A network formed by peer-to-peer connections
between wireless Clients. It is difficult to enforce tight
security policy controls on ad hoc connections. Therefore,
ad hoc connections create security vulnerability. |
| Client |
A laptop, a handheld device, or any
other system that uses the wireless medium (802.11 standard)
for communication. |
| DNS |
Domain Name Service, an Internet service
that translates domain names into IP addresses. |
| IP Address |
Internet Protocol Address, a 32-bit
numeric identifier for a computer or a device on the network. |
| MAC Address |
Media Access Control Address, a unique
6-byte (48 bit) address burnt into the network adapter by the
manufacturer and is often transparent to a user; a networked
device has a MAC address corresponding to each network interface. |
| Security Settings |
An IEEE 802.11 defined MAC–level
privacy mechanism that protects the contents of data frames
from eavesdropping using encryption. |
| SSID |
A unique token identifying an 802.11
WLAN; all wireless devices on a WLAN must employ the same SSID
to communicate with each other. |
| WEP |
Wired Equivalent Privacy, an IEEE 802.11
defined MAC–level privacy mechanism that protects the
contents of data frames from eavesdropping using encryption. |
| WLAN |
Wireless Local Area Network that uses
high frequency radio waves, rather than wires to communicate
between nodes. |
| WPA |
Wi-Fi Protected Access offers a higher
level of security than WEP and implements a majority of the
802.11i standard. |
