Wireless Standards Information (#2480)
Currently most wireless access points at VCU use the 802.11b wireless
standard. This is the most commonly available type of card and is used in most
hotspots through out the country. At a minimum, make sure your wireless
equipment is compatible with 802.11b. Newer equipment is being offered
with 802.11g wireless networking. The 802.11g standard offers higher speed and
is compatible with 802.11b access points.
VCU will be deploying 802.11n access points in the coming year.
"n" coverage will be limited until a full replacement of
existing access points can be made, but if you are in the market for new
wireless devices one that supports b,g,and n standards provide the
most flexibility and longevity. This is the recommended option if you are
making a new purchase. Another available option is 802.11a. 802.11a provides a number of technological
advantages over the b/g standards, but at higher cost and
comparatively fast battery drain. There are a few access points on campus that
support both a and b wireless standard. There are dual mode cards that you can
purchase which support both "a" and "b" (or "g")
standards. The industry trend is away from the "a" standard and we do
not recommend making a special purchase to enable "a" access.
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