| A | B |
|---|
| 802.11a | Wireless networking standard that operates in the 5-GHz band with a theoretical maximum throughput of 54 Mbps. |
| 802.11b | Wireless networking standard that operates in the 2.4 GHz band with a maximum throughput of 11 Mbps. |
| 802.11g | Wireless networking standard that operates in the 2.4 GHz band with a theoretical maximum throughput of 45 Mbps and is backward compatible with 802.11b. |
| 802.11i | More commonly known as WPA2, to lock down wireless networks. |
| 802.11n | Operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands and uses MIMO to achieve a theoretical maximum throughput of 100+ Mbps. |
| Ad Hoc Mode | Decentralized wireless network mode, otherwise known as peer-to-peer mode, where each wireless node is in meshed contact with every other node |
| Bluetooth | Wireless technology designed to create small wireless networks preconfigured to do specific jobs, but not meant to replace full-function networks or Wi-Fi. |
| Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) | Networking scheme used by wireless devices to transmit data while avoiding data collision, which wireless nodes have difficulty detecting. |
| Cellular Wireless Network | Networks that enable cell phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices to connect to the internet |
| Dipole Antennae | Standard straight-wire antennae that provides the most omnidirectional function |
| Gain | Ratio of increase of radio frequency output provided by the antenna, measured in decibels (dB) |
| IEEE 802.11 | Wireless Ethernet standard more commonly known as Wi-Fi. |
| Infrared Data Association (IrDA) | Protocol that enables communication through infrared device, with speeds of up to 4 mbps. |
| Infrastructure Mode | Wireless networking mode that uses one or more WAPs to connect the wireless network nodes to wired network segment. |
| MAC address Filtering | Method of limiting wireless network access based on physical, hard-wired address of the units wireless NIC. |
| Multiple In/Multiple Out (MIMO) | Feature of 802.11n a device that enables the simultaneous connection of up to four antennae, allowing for increased throughput. |
| Personal Area Network (PAN) | Small wireless network created with Bluetooth technology and intended to link PCs and other peripheral devices |
| Service Set Identifier (SSID) | Parameter used to define a wireless networks; otherwise known as the network name. |
| Wi-Fi | Common name for the IEEE 802.11 wireless Ethernet standard. |
| Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) | Wireless security protocol that uses encryption key integrity-checking and EAP and is designed to improve on WEP’s weakness. |
| Wi-Fi protected access 2 (WPA2) | Wireless security protocol, also known as IEEE 802.11i. Used the advanced Encryption standard and replaces WPA. |
| Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) | Wireless security protocol that uses a standard 40-bit encryption to scramble data packet. Does not provide complete end-to-end encryption and is vulnerable to attack. |
| Wireless Access Point (WAP | Device that centrally connects wireless network nodes. |
