Which RF band do IEEE 802.11b/g wireless devices operate in?

IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g wireless devices operate in the 2.4 GHz RF band. This band was chosen primarily for its ability to provide a good balance between range and data throughput. The 2.4 GHz band can accommodate multiple channels, which allows for better support of various wireless devices and networks within the same frequency range.

Both 802.11b and 802.11g offer backward compatibility, allowing devices that conform to these standards to communicate with each other effectively. The 2.4 GHz frequency is also widely used in many other applications—such as microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and wireless phones—which sometimes leads to interference, but it remains a popular choice for general wireless networking due to its broad compatibility and range.

The other frequency ranges mentioned are associated with different wireless standards: 5 GHz is used by IEEE 802.11a and 802.11n (in dual-band mode), while 3.6 GHz and 900 MHz are not standard frequencies for IEEE 802.11 wireless networking, indicating their irrelevance in this context.