8 wireless technologies

1. Front: What organization standardizes Wi-Fi, and what is the name of the committee responsible for it?

Back: The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), specifically the 802.11 Committee.

2. Front: What are the common marketing names for the 802.11ac, 802.11ax, and 802.11be standards?

Back: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).

3. Front: What are the three frequency bands used by modern Wi-Fi networks?

Back: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz.

4. Front: Why are frequencies grouped into "channels" in Wi-Fi?

Back: Channels are easier to remember and configure than specific frequency values (e.g., "Channel 6" vs. "2.437 GHz").

5. Front: What is a major limitation of the 2.4 GHz band that led to the adoption of the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands?

Back: It has fewer non-overlapping channels (only 3), leading to more interference and congestion in crowded areas.

6. Front: What does "bandwidth" refer to in Wi-Fi, and what are common values?

Back: The amount of spectrum used for communication. Common values are 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz. Larger bandwidth generally allows for higher throughput.

7. Front: What is the primary use case for Bluetooth technology compared to Wi-Fi?

Back: Bluetooth is for connecting personal area network (PAN) devices over short distances (e.g., headsets, speakers, mice), while Wi-Fi is for local area network (LAN) access.

8. Front: What frequency band does Bluetooth use, and what is its typical maximum range for consumer devices?

Back: The 2.4 GHz band (unlicensed ISM band), with a typical maximum range of about 10 meters.

9. Front: How does a passive RFID tag, like one in an access card, get the power it needs to operate?

Back: It is powered wirelessly by the radio waves emitted from the RFID scanner.

10. Front: What is the key functional difference between RFID and NFC?

Back: RFID is generally one-way communication (scanner reads tag), while NFC enables two-way communication between devices.

11. Front: What are two common uses for NFC in mobile devices?

Back: 1. Contactless payments (e.g., at a point-of-sale terminal). 2. Simplified device pairing (e.g., transferring network settings to a new device).

12. Front: What does the "ISM" in "ISM band" stand for, and why is it important for consumer wireless tech?

Back: Industrial, Scientific, and Medical. It's important because these are unlicensed frequencies, meaning anyone can use them without a permit, enabling technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.