802.11 baseline
The first version of the 802.11 protocol was released in 1997 and provided up to 2 Mbit/s link speeds — enough for basic file transfer, nothing more.
Home Wi-Fi, set up right
Setting up home Wi-Fi comes down to three decisions: which 802.11 standard your router supports, where you place it, and which security mode you enable. This guide walks through each in order, with the real numbers behind every generation of the standard.
This is not a product catalogue or a support portal for any router brand; it is an independent how-to reference.
Scroll the strip sideways — 6 cards.
The first version of the 802.11 protocol was released in 1997 and provided up to 2 Mbit/s link speeds — enough for basic file transfer, nothing more.
The 1999 update 802.11b permitted 11 Mbit/s link speeds, and the Wi-Fi Alliance formed in 1999 as a trade association to certify interoperable products.
The 802.11a amendment reaches 6 to 54 Mbit/s, and 802.11g followed in 2003, bringing similar rates to the 2.4 GHz band.
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) arrived in 2013 with rates up to 6,933 Mbit/s, a large jump over Wi-Fi 4's 600 Mbit/s ceiling.
Wi-Fi 7, 802.11be, was released in 2024 with rates from 0.4 to 23,059 Mbit/s, the fastest generation to date.
Wi-Fi radio bands work best for line-of-sight use, and walls, pillars and home appliances may greatly reduce range. Placement is the first thing to fix.
Quick index
Support at least Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); Wi-Fi 7 is the newest generation released in 2024.
The 802.11 family has grown from a 2 Mbit/s protocol in 1997 to Wi-Fi 7 at 23,059 Mbit/s in 2024. Each generation is backwards compatible in practice, but only if the router and the client both advertise the same amendment.
For a new home network today, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 covers streaming, video calls and file transfers with margin. Older generations still work for browsing, but their link speeds cap out well below what modern connections deliver.
Check the router's specification sheet for the literal amendment name — 802.11ax or 802.11be — rather than marketing labels, because vendor wording varies.
| Standard | Released | Link speed (Mbit/s) | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11 | 1997 | up to 2 | — |
| 802.11b | 1999 | up to 11 | — |
| 802.11a | 1999 | 6 to 54 | — |
| 802.11g | 2003 | up to 54 | — |
| 802.11n | 2009 | 6.5 to 600 | Wi-Fi 4 |
| 802.11ac | 2013 | up to 6,933 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| 802.11ax | 2021 | 0.4 to 9,608 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| 802.11be | 2024 | 0.4 to 23,059 | Wi-Fi 7 |
Each card is one amendment with its release year and ceiling rate.