Creating a wireless LAN standard: IEEE 802.11

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511666995.006

3 - Creating a wireless LAN standard: IEEE 802.11

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Wolter Lemstra ,

Vic Hayes and

John Groenewegen

Kai Jakobs ,

Wolter Lemstra ,

Vic Hayes ,

Bruce Tuch and

Cees Links

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Wolter Lemstra: Affiliation:
Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands
Vic Hayes: Affiliation:
Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands
John Groenewegen: Affiliation:
Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands

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Summary

The start of wireless LAN product development

After the wireless LAN feasibility study had ended with positive results, the development team in Utrecht persuaded the Retail Systems Division, the internal customer, that it would be best if product development was also carried out by the same team. Inevitably, this outcome was not achieved without some internal ‘turf battles’ between the Financial Systems Division and the Retail Systems Division. Again, the debate was decided on the basis of the availability of the necessary radio and communications expertise.

In the spring of 1988 the team set out to develop a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) in order to create a wireless LAN, to be used in vertical applications in the retail markets that NCR was serving. The NIC would have to operate in the 902 to 928 MHz band, the lower band as assigned by the FCC for unlicensed use (FCC, 1985). This lower band was selected so as to provide the maximum possible range, as opposed to the ISM bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz, which have higher levels of attenuation. Another reason was to reduce the cost of the electronics, as at that time radio-processing components above 1 GHz were expensive, on account of the level of technology that was required and the relatively low volume of business.

Type: Chapter
Information: The Innovation Journey of Wi-Fi
The Road to Global Success
, pp. 53 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511666995.006 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2010

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