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* One Watt (1000mw) is the FCC limit on WiFi devices* One Watt (1000mw) is the FCC limit on [[WiFi]] devicesWatts and dBm are both units of measure of power; either can be used. 0.001W = 0dBm; 3dBm = 0.002mW; 10dBm = 0.01W for example.The most popular WiFi standards today, 802.11b and 802.11g, both operate in the 2.4 GHz (Giga Hertz) frequency band and are susceptible to interference from other products operating in the 2.4 GHz band including microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors and cordless telephones. 802.11n, currently in Draft 2.0 standard (with projected standard approval in the fall of 2008), can use both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.The most popular [[WiFi]] standards today, 802.11b and 802.11g, both operate in the 2.4 GHz (Giga Hertz) frequency band and are susceptible to interference from other products operating in the 2.4 GHz band including microwave ovens, [[Bluetooth]] devices, baby monitors and cordless telephones. 802.11n, currently in Draft 2.0 standard (with projected standard approval in the fall of 2008), can use both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. In the US, the FCC limits the radiated power in 2.4GHz. The limit is a function of antenna horizontal beamwidth. More power with narrow beamwidth. This tends to reduce interference and benefit spectrum sharing. The 802.11g specs for OFDM require linearity in the standard and add-on amplifiers such that antenna gain is far more prudent than transmitter power. Most [[WiFi]] chipsets cannot produce an honest, high quality signal at more than about 36mw. The same chipsets can produce about 100mW in the lowest speeds of 11g and all 11b speeds, since 11b is not OFDM. Increasing antenna gain is a lot more cost effective than increasing transmit power. July 2004: The FCC approves new regulations that will allow the legal use of the Pringles can and other antennas. It was previously legal to sell antennas; not legal to deploy them. Call it the switchblade kit rule: legal to sell, but don't assemble. The FCC's new rule provides a middle ground: a manufacturer can certify their hardware with the highest gain legal antennas of each type (yagi, omni, etc.) and then end-users can swap in antennas of equal or lesser signal characteristics. It's an important move because it removes the potential for community wireless and individual users to be prosecuted for illegal antennas once new certifications are in place.Antenna connectors such as RP-SMA and RP-TNC were origionally devised to help prevent the use of aftermarket antennas. See [[WiFi and Cellular Radio Cables and Connectors]].[[Category:Radio]]