802.11 Standards Explorer
Click on a standard to learn about its characteristics, speed, and features.
Exam Tip: Remember: 802.11ac is 5 GHz ONLY! All other modern standards (n, ax) support multiple bands.
Channel Spectrum Visualizer
Visualize how Wi-Fi channels are allocated and why channel planning matters.
2.4 GHz Channel Allocation (North America)
Each channel is 22 MHz wide, but centers are only 5 MHz apart. Only channels 1, 6, and 11 are non-overlapping!
Best Practice: In any 2.4 GHz deployment, use ONLY channels 1, 6, and 11. Using any other channels causes interference with neighbors!
Signal Strength Reference
Understanding dBm values and what they mean for connectivity.
Wireless Security Protocol Comparison
Click on each protocol to learn about its encryption, vulnerabilities, and recommendations.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - 1999
Encryption: RC4 | Key: 64/128-bit | Status: BROKEN - Never Use!
Why It's Broken:
- 24-bit IV (Initialization Vector) is too short - repeats frequently
- Static key shared by all users
- No protection against replay attacks
- Can be cracked in under 5 minutes with free tools
Recommendation: Never use WEP under any circumstances!
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) - 2003
Encryption: TKIP (RC4) | Key: 128-bit | Status: Deprecated
Improvements over WEP:
- TKIP - Temporal Key Integrity Protocol
- Per-packet key mixing
- Message integrity check (MIC)
- Designed to work on WEP hardware via firmware update
Weaknesses:
- Still uses RC4 cipher (same as WEP)
- TKIP has known vulnerabilities
- Was only meant as a temporary solution
Recommendation: Upgrade to WPA2 or WPA3
WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) - 2004
Encryption: AES-CCMP | Key: 128-bit | Status: Secure
Key Features:
- AES encryption (much stronger than RC4)
- CCMP for data integrity
- Mandatory for Wi-Fi certification since 2006
Two Modes:
- Personal (PSK): Shared password for all users
- Enterprise (802.1X): Individual user credentials via RADIUS
Known Weakness: KRACK attack (2017) - fixed with patches. Offline dictionary attacks possible with weak passwords.
Recommendation: Acceptable for most uses with strong passwords (12+ characters)
WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) - 2018
Encryption: SAE + AES | Key: 128/192-bit | Status: Best Available
Key Improvements:
- SAE (Dragonfly): Resistant to offline dictionary attacks
- Forward Secrecy: Each session uses unique keys
- Protected Management Frames: Prevents deauth attacks
- 192-bit Enterprise: Government-grade security option
Additional Features:
- Wi-Fi Easy Connect (DPP) for IoT devices
- Opportunistic Wireless Encryption for open networks
Recommendation: Use WPA3 whenever possible - it's the most secure option available
Exam Key: WEP = RC4 = Broken | WPA = TKIP = Deprecated | WPA2 = AES = Good | WPA3 = SAE = Best