From: "Mark Henigan" <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
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Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:25:23 -0700
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To: OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
Subject: Re: [OS2Wireless] Re: Very basic wireless question
References: <list-2544871@2rosenthals.com>
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Lewis G Rosenthal wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:49:25 -0700 "Mark Henigan" 
> <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com> wrote:
> 
>>I'm attempting to select a T43p and am concerned that
>>I don't really understand 802.11 compatibility.  It is
>>obvious that a machine with 802.11abg hardware is
>>compatible with wireless connection points/routers/etc
>>that use any of these protocols.  But, if a laptop is
>>stated to have only 802.11g would it be able to connect
>>to other hardware that was only 802.11b compatible, for
>>example?  In otherwords, can the 802.11abg fall back to
>>the other protocols on its own, while the 802.11g would
>>depend on the other end of a connection to include its
>>protocol?
>>
> 
> Hi, Mark. 802.11g is fully backward compatible with 802.11b.  Thus while it 
> is possible to configure an access point (access point, mind you, *not* 
> usually a client card) to deny 802.11b clients (or even 802.11g clients), 
> in order for the unit to be certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance as an 802.11g 
> device it *must* have the capability of accepting 802.11b clients as well 
> as 802.11g.
> 
> So, any client card which states that it is 802.11g is  - by definition - 
> also 802.11b compatible (same radio; in the 2.4GHz spectrum, and both 
> utilize the exact same channels).

Hello Lewis:

It's nice to know that there is some "backward"
compatibility!

> 802.11a is another matter. This uses a different frequency altogether, in 
> the 5GHz band, and as such utilizes a completely separate radio. 
<snip>

So, it's even more inconsistent than I feared!  How
often will I be likely to run into each of these
standards?  If 802.11a is quite rare I may ignore it.

Thank you again!

- Mark

Mark Henigan
--