A network administrator is documenting legacy and modern wireless deployments for an enterprise infrastructure overhaul. Match each IEEE 802.11 wireless standard to its primary architectural characteristic and operational frequency band.
- IEEE 802.11bOperates exclusively at 2.4 GHz using DSSS to achieve a maximum theoretical throughput of 11 Mbps
- IEEE 802.11nIntroduced MIMO spatial streams and dual-band operation (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) up to 600 Mbps
- IEEE 802.11acOperates exclusively in the 5 GHz band to deliver multi-gigabit throughput using wide channels and downlink MU-MIMO
- IEEE 802.11axUtilizes OFDMA for high-density client management across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz spectrums
Answer
Each 802.11 standard maps directly to its defining frequency support and modulation technology: 802.11b corresponds to 2.4 GHz DSSS up to 11 Mbps; 802.11n corresponds to dual-band MIMO support up to 600 Mbps; 802.11ac corresponds to 5 GHz-only operation with downlink MU-MIMO; 802.11ax corresponds to tri-band operation utilizing OFDMA.
Each standard is matched correctly based on IEEE technical definitions: 802.11b (2.4 GHz DSSS, 11 Mbps), 802.11n (2.4/5 GHz MIMO, 600 Mbps), 802.11ac (5 GHz only MU-MIMO), and 802.11ax (2.4/5/6 GHz OFDMA).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
802.11 Wireless Standards Specifications and Frequency Bands