What is 802.11?

802.11 is a series of IEEE specifications describing wireless data transfer.

                                                  Most commonly implemented in WiFi applications, 802.11 has become the de-facto wireless connection specification for long-term connection and application function.

 

                                                 Only Bluetooth currently competes with 802.11 for single file, non persistent data transfer between consumer electronic devices.

 

However two other wireless specifications, WirelessUSB and WiFiMax, are under rapid development and new gadgets are being introduced that utilize these technologies.

 

 

                                                    802.11 is now one of the physical layer protocols adapted by TCP/IP, and includes the data link layer in it's specification.

 

While in theory this reduced complexity by reducing the TCP/IP layer stack from five layers to four, in reality the data link layer is implemented in two sublayers.

 

Therefore, 802.11 implementations have one additional layer effectively added to the stack, not one removed. Based on Ethernet protocol techniques and methods, 802.11 handles interference, packet loss, and error correction in a manner consistent with Part 15 of the FCC regulations for unlicensed use of the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. 802.11, like all Part 15 compliant standards, gives frequency priority to licensed operators and causes them no interference. Additionally, the specification is designed to accept interference from non-malicious licensed users of the band.