802.

11 Cheat Sheet
www.cellstream.com Terminology Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) A MAC address that serves to uniquely identify a BSS Service Set Identifier (SSID) A text string that identifies a BSS. 1-32 Characters Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CD) a mechanism for sharing wireless mediums Basic Service Area (BSA) The physical area covered by a wireless signal of a BSS Basic Service Set (BSS) A set of stations/access points that can communicate directly via a wireless meduim Extended Service Set (ESS) A set of BSS's connected by a DS that appear to wireless stations as a single BSS Distribution System (DS) A wired infrastructure connecting multiple BSS's to form an ESS Independent BSS (IBSS) An isolated BSS with no connection to a DS; an ad-hoc WLAN Wireless LAN Types Ad Hoc A Wireless LAN between isolated stations with no central point of control. An IBSS. Infrastructure A Wireless LAN attached to a wired network via an Access Point (AP). A BSS or ESS. IEEE Wireless LAN Standards 802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n Maximum Throughput 54Mbps 11Mbps 54Mbps 300Mbps Frequency 5Ghz 2.4Ghz 2.4Ghz 2.4/5Ghz Modulation OFDM DSSS DSSS/OFDM OFDM Channels (FCC/ETSI) 21/19 11/13 11/13 32/32 Ratified 1999 1999 2003 2009 Frame Types Client Association Process Class Type Association Management Authentication Management Probe Management Beacon Management Request To Send (RTS) Control Clear To Send (CTS) Control Acknowledgement (ACK) Control Data Data Modulation Types Radio Frequency Signal Strength Decibel (dB) An expression of signal strength as compared to a Scheme/Modulation Throughput reference signal. Calculated as 10log10 (signal/reference) DSSS / DBPSK 1Mbps dBm Signal strength compared to a 1 milliwatt signal DSSS / DQPSK 2Mbps dBw Signal strength compared to a 1 watt signal DSSS / CCK 5.5/11Mbps dBi Compares forward antenna gain to that of an isotropic antenna OFDM / BPSK 6/9Mbps Quality of Service (QoS) Markings OFDM / QPSK 12/18Mbps OFDM / 16-QAM 24/36Mbps WMM 802.11e 802.1p OFDM / 64-QAM 48/54Mbps Platinum 7/6 6/5 Antenna Types 5/4 Gold 4/3 Directional = radiates power in a single direction Silver 3/0 0 Omnidirectional = radiates power uniformally Bronze 2/1 2/1 WMM = WiFi Multimedia a WiFi Alliance Certification for QoS. A subacross a plane Isotropic = A theoretical antenna referenced set of the 802.11e QoS IEEE 802.11e = The official IEEE WLAN QoS standard ratified in 2005 when measuring effective radiated power that replaced WMM IEEE 802.1p = The QoS markings in the 802.1Q encapsulation header in wired VLANs, usually on trunk ports

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