Wi‑Fi is defined by the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless networking standards. Each generation improves speed, range, efficiency, and spectrum usage. This guide summarizes each Wi‑Fi standard from 802.11a to Wi‑Fi 7 and provides a technical overview of Wi‑Fi technologies, frequency bands, channel widths, and security.
Wi‑Fi Standards Overview (802.11a – Wi‑Fi 7)
Standard
Frequency
Max Speed
Max Range
Channels (non-overlapping)
Channel Widths
Key Features
802.11a
5.725 GHz – 5.850 (U-NII)
54 Mbps
150 Ft.
23 (12)
20 MHz
OFDM, low interference
802.11b
2.4 GHz (ISM)
11 Mbps
300 Ft.
11 (3)
20 MHz
DSSS, long range
802.11g
2.4 GHz (ISM)
54 Mbps
300 Ft.
11 (3)
20 MHz
OFDM, Backwards-compatibility with 802.11b
802.11n
2.4 GHz (ISM) or 5 GHz (U-NII)
150, 300, or 600 Mbps
1200 Ft.
5.75 GHz—23 (12 or 6); 2.4 GHz—11 (3 or 1)
20/40 MHz
MIMO, channel bonding; Backwards-compatibility with 802.11a/b/g, depending on frequencies supported
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