802.11a. More bandwidth without the wires

802.11a represents the third generation of wireless networking standards and technology (behind 802.11 and .11b). It was actually approved as a standard earlier than 802.11b, but it presented a greater engineering challenge, and was delayed. Advances in technology (Moore's Law continues to prove true) helped Internet engineers overcome those challenges in a cost-effective manner and prepare the specification for market introduction. The result is the further extension of 802.11 networking capabilities. My previous article, "802.11: Leaving the Wire Behind," (Kapp, 2002) focused on 802.11b wireless networking and the various 802.11 task groups that will directly affect the future of 802.11 networking. In this article, I examine 802.11a networking in depth and compare it to 802.11b and the upcoming 802.11g networking.