802.11b was first. It is the original WiFi specification. 802.11a is a next generation spec that is 5.8GHz version of the 802.11g (2.4GHz). The 'b' spec is 11MBps vs the 'g' and 'a' specs 54MBps.
AFAIK IEEE 802.11 covers wireless networking in general. 802.11a WAS first but it stagnated. 802.11b came later or was ratified at the same time as "a". They both were around for sometime before any great use was made of them. The earliest implementations of 802.11b were Frequency Hopping (FH) and there was some equipment made this way but eventually Distributed Spread Spectrum (DSS) became standardized.
The "b" spec actually started at, IIRC, 1Mbps and higher speeds were later added as the technology improved.
BTW, although hard to find, some early 802.11b cards were 16bit, non-cardbus cards. All later model 802.11b and all g/a cards are cardbus only.
There are plenty of 16 bit 802.11b cards available. Most of the Orinoco are although they did introduce CardBus versions of the Gold and Silver cards. They are not hard to find.
Knowing is half the battle...
~Rob
Here is a question for the wireless buffs.
which came first 802.11b wireless adapter or 802.11a wireless cardbus> adapter. >
I don't really know.
-- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting
"I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"
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