What are Wireless Communication Standards?
Wireless communication standards are the various protocols and technologies that govern how wireless devices communicate with each other. These standards specify things like the frequency bands that can be used, the power levels that can be transmitted, and the types of modulation that can be used.
There are a number of different wireless communication standards in use today, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular technologies like LTE and 5G. Each of these standards has its own advantages and disadvantages and is better suited for different types of applications.
What are the Types of Wireless Standards?
The three most common types of wireless standards are:
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology that is typically used for connecting devices like headphones, keyboards, and mice to computers and smartphones. Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet and can be used to connect up to seven devices at a time.
IEEE Standard
802.15 is the standard for Bluetooth, and includes a number of different sub-standards for different types of applications.
Here are the sub-standards in detail:
- 802.15.1: The Basic Rate / Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) standard, which is the most common type of Bluetooth used for connecting things like headphones and keyboards.
- 802.15.4: The Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Network (LR-WPAN) standard, which is used for applications like home automation and sensor networks.
Wireless
Wi-Fi is a longer-range wireless technology that is typically used for connecting devices to the internet. Wi-Fi has a range of about 150 feet and can be used to connect an unlimited number of devices.
IEEE Standard
802.11 is the standard for Wi-Fi, and includes a number of different sub-standards for different frequency bands and data rates.
Here are the sub-standards in detail:
- 802.11a: The first Wi-Fi standard, was released in 1999. Uses the 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 54 Mbps.
- 802.11b: Released in 1999. Uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 11 Mbps.
- 802.11g: Released in 2003. Uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 54 Mbps.
- 802.11n: Released in 2009. Uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 600 Mbps.
- 802.11ac: Released in 2013. Uses the 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 6 Gbps.
- 802.11ax: The latest Wi-Fi standard, released in 2019. Uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 10 Gbps.
Cellular
Cellular technologies like LTE and 5G are used for connecting devices to the internet over a cellular network. These technologies have a range of about 1 mile and can be used to connect an unlimited number of devices.
IEEE Standard
802.16 is the standard for cellular technologies like LTE and 5G, and includes a number of different sub-standards for different frequency bands and data rates.
Here are the sub-standards in detail:
- 802.16e: The LTE standard, released in 2004. Uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 300 Mbps.
- 802.16m: An updated version of the LTE standard, released in 2010. Uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 1 Gbps.
- 802.16n: The 5G standard, released in 2018. Uses the 5 GHz frequency band and can support data rates up to 10 Gbps.
Why are wireless standards important?
Here are the reasons:
- Wireless standards are important because they define the capabilities of wireless technology.
- Wireless standards are important because they ensure compatibility between devices from different manufacturers.
- Wireless standards are important because they determine the range, data rate, and other performance characteristics of wireless technology.