802.11b, a and g are IEEE wireless standards, often referred to as "Wi-Fi".  They are technologies that enable LANs (local area networks) to be expanded to include wireless "hot-spots", or WLANs (wireless local area networks) and are license-free for users.

For public safety and public service organizations, this enables workers armed with laptops and handheld PDA''s (personal digital assistants, like Palmpilot's) to access databases and applications that reside on their office computers.  The Internet may also be accessible.

With many law enforcement agencies using TraCs for accident reports, incident reports, OWI's, etc, this means being able to upload reports without the use of a floppy disk.  It's also handy for updating field computers with maps, mug shots and records management information.

How do b, a and g differ?

802.11b was the first to arrive.  It enables speeds of up to 11 Mbps and uses the 2.4 GHz band of the spectrum.  It provides coverage up to about 300 feet (without obstructions) from an access point.  An access point is the device that connects directly to your computer network on one end, and the other end is the radio and antenna that talks to the mobile computers.

802.11a enables speeds up to 54 Mbps and uses the 5 GHz band.  Coverage is similar to 802.11b.

With similar coverage again, 802.11g enables speeds up to 54 Mbps and uses the 2.4 GHz band.  Since it uses the same band as 802.11b, devices are compatible with 802.11b.  802.11g is newer and slightly more expensive than the others.

Costs?

All 802.11 equipment is relatively inexpensive for access points and mobile/portable devices.  For instance, a card for your laptop may cost less than $100. 

For public safety and public service applications, 802.11 comes standard with all public safety laptops, and is a great tool for covering small geographic areas with high speed connections.  Wi-Fi coverage has been estimated at up to $50K per square mile for blanket coverage.  Oklahoma City for example is paying $22M to cover approximately 600 square miles.

Towns implementing Wi-Fi across their entire geography are often doing it as part of an economic development effort providing free internet access to the public.  See www.muniwireless.com for examples and stories.

For more information on Wi-Fi and how it can help your community or department, call us at (800) 722-6643.