Wi-Fi... AG vs ABG?

Question

What is the difference between AG and ABG, in Wi-Fi terminology?

Answer 1

Your talking three different wireless protocols.

A = 802.11a ; This protocol is the oldest of the three you mention. It is capable of speeds up to about 21 mbps (megabit per second) and has an indoor range of about 25 meters. It runs at a frequency of 5.15-5.25 / 5.25-5.35 / 5.49-5.71 / 5.745-5.825 GHz. It's not used much any more, mainly because of all the channel frequencies.

B = 802.11b ; It is capable of speeds up to about 11 mbps and has an indoor range of about 45 meters. It runs at a frequency of 2.4-2.5 GHz (if you have a 2.4 GHz wireless phone, it could interfere with your signal). It is still in use in a lot of places, but is rapidly being replaced by G.

G = 802.11g ; It is capable of speeds up to about 54 mbps and has an indoor range of about 40 meters. It also runs at a frequency of 2.4-2.5 GHz (same thing about the phone). It is the most common today.

Many devices are BG, that is, they support both 802.11b and 802.11g. Some devices are ABG. Most of the wireless devices built in to laptops today are G (but some are still B). A has pretty much been dropped because of the multiple channels making it a rather "chatty" protocol.

Answer 2

I think you meant A/B/G vs B/G not what you asked even though I can understand you nonetheless.

Those refer to 802.11a/b/g, 3 sub-standards under the umbrella category of wireless networking 802.11. For all intend and purposes, G uses the same frequency band and can be thought as B+ so any device labelling itself G can run B 100%

A is a substandard that predates the wide acceptance of wireless by ordinary folks, because it lacks a number of features but the standard paper also define it in a way that B and others have to break compatibility away to achieve what needs to be done. So Alpha type wireless is in a sub-category in itself and suppose to be phased away.

In other words, G supercedes B entirely, and A/B/G (Tri-band) is a marketing gimmick that the card has one extra antenna to perform A-type wireless communication hence it is a good product for places that adopted too early with type A and needs A-style wireless equipment.