802.11n for Cisco Wireless confusion

rwtodd2007

I got my preorder copy of the Cisco Wireless Exam Guide. In chapter 1, the author claims 802.11, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n IEEE standards run in 2.4ghz band.

Next paragraph on 5ghz band says 802.11a and 802.11n draft standard.

After working for a large WISP, I was always lead to believe that 802.11n was in the 5ghz range. Is there to be two bands for this mode to operate?

dynamik

Looks like it can operate in 2.4ghz for backwards compatibility, but 5ghz is recommended for maximum throughput: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11n#Deployment_Strategies

skrpune

actually, they're both right. Such is the nature of the moniker "draft"...802.11n isn't finalized yet, so it is correct to say that it can operate at either 2.4Ghz or 5 Ghz. But the wireless N adapter that I have (DWA-130) is 2.4 Ghz.

EDIT: DOH, looks like dynamik beat me to the punch here...

redwarrior

Even in the actual standard (not draft), n is backward compatible with both a and b/g. It operates at both 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz and, with multiple antennas, I'm drooling at replacing our APs with 1140's to have MIMO capability.

joshgibson82

redwarrior wrote: »

Even in the actual standard (not draft), n is backward compatible with both a and b/g. It operates at both 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz and, with multiple antennas, I'm drooling at replacing our APs with 1140's to have MIMO capability.

Don't drool too hard...the 1142 AP is only 2x3 MIMO. Other vendors are making 3x3 and 4x4 MIMO. It's a great improvement over the 1131 model, but Cisco makes this one out to be much greater than it actually is. I do like the fact it works with 802.3AF standard PoE whereas the 1252 model does not.