There are three main wireless technology groups for the fixed wireless communications, namely, Wireless LAN (or Wi-Fi), Wireless Personal Area Networking (WPAN) and Wireless Metropolitan Area Networking (or WiMax). While competing in many applications, each technology has its own application focus and limitations.
The key parameters of WLAN, WPAN and WMAN(WiMax) technologies are compared and displayed in the table below:
| Technology | WLAN (IEEE) | ||||
| Standard | 802.11 Legacy |
802.11a | 802.11b | 802.11g | 802.11n |
| Release year | 1997 | 1999 | 1999 | 2003 | 2008 |
| Frequency Band | 2.4GHz | 5.8GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4 – 5.8GHz |
| Maximum Range | ~70 meters | ~100 meters | ~100 meters | ~110 meters | ~160 meters |
| Maximum data rate | 2Mbps | 54Mbps | 11Mbps | 54Mbps | 248Mbps |
| Number of users | Dozens | Dozens | Dozens | Dozens | Dozens |
| Access Method | DSSS, FHSS | OFDM | DSSS, CCK | OFDM | MIMO |
| Modulation Method | GFSK, BPSK, DBPSK, DQPSK | BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM | DPSK, DBPSK, DQPSK | BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM and DBPSK, DQPSK | BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM |
| Technology | WPAN (IEEE) | WMAN WiMAX (IEEE) | |||
| Standard | 802.15.1 (Bluetooth) | 802.15.3 (UWB) | 802.15.3a (WiMedia) | ZigBee 802.15.4-2003 802.15.4-2006 |
802.16-2004 (802.116d) 802.16e-2005 (802.16e) |
| Release year | 2002 | 2003 | * | 2003 and 2006 | 2004 and 2005 |
| Frequency Band | 2.4Ghz | 3.1 to 10.6 GHz | 2.4GHz | 868 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz | 2-66GHz |
| Maximum Range | ~10meters | ~10meters | ~10meters | ~100 meters | ~50 km |
| Maximum data rate | 3Mbps | 55Mbps – 1Gbps | 110Mbps – 1Gbps | 250 Kbps | 134 Mbps |
| Number of users | Dozens | Dozens | Dozens | Dozens | Thousands |
| Access Method | FHSS | DS-UWB, OFDM | MB-OFDM | DSSS | MIMO-SOFDMA |
| Modulation Method | GFSK, 2PSK, DQSP, 8PSK | OPSK, BPSK, OOK, PAM, PPM, Bi-Phase | QPSK, DCM | BPSK (868/928MHz) OPSK (2.4GHz) |
QPSK, QAM |
Wireless Technologies Rates and Range:
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Related Terms: CDMA2000, CDMA2000 Interface, CDMA2000 protocol stacks
Reference Links:
http://www.javvin.com/wireless-3g-guide.html: 3G mobile wireless technology quick guide
http://www.javvin.com/wirelessmap.html: Wireless Communication Technology Map