What is the number "802.11" in "IEEE 802.11" representing? I mean, if you break it down, what exactly do "802" and "11" refer to?
2 Answers
802 is the number for the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee, and 802.11 is the Wireless LAN Working Group.
The IEEE 802 committee maintains a web site, which lists the various current working groups within the committee.
Current:
- 802.1 Higher Layer LAN Protocols Working Group
- 802.3 Ethernet Working Group
- 802.11 Wireless LAN Working Group
- 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Working Group
- 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access Working Group
- 802.18 Radio Regulatory TAG
- 802.19 Wireless Coexistence Working Group
- 802.21 Media Independent Handover Services Working Group
- 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks
- 802.24 Vertical Applications TAG
- 802 5G/IMT-2020 Standing Committee
Hibernating:
- 802.17 Resilient Packet Ring Working Group
- 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) Working Group
Disbanded:
- 802.2 Logical Link Control Working Group
- 802.4 Token Bus Working Group
- 802.5 Token Ring Working Group
- 802.6 Metropolitan Area Network Working Group
- 802.7 Broadband TAG
- 802.8 Fiber Optic TAG
- 802.9 Integrated Services LAN Working Group
- 802.10 Security Working Group
- 802.12 Demand Priority Working Group
- 802.14 Cable Modem Working Group
- 802.23 Emergency Services Working Group
- QOS/FC Executive Committee Study Group
- ECSG TVWS TV Whitespace study group
- ES-ECSG Emergency Services Executive Committee Study Group
- OmniRAN EC Study Group
- Privacy Recommendation EC Study Group
From wikipedia
The number 802 was simply the next free number IEEE could assign,1 though “802” is sometimes associated with the date the first meeting was held — February 1980.
11 is simply the number for Wireless LAN working group since 1 to 10 are already being used by other working groups at the time.