What is the best protection mechanism for 802.11n clients working with 802.11b clients?

The best protection mechanism for 802.11n clients operating in an environment that includes 802.11b clients is RTS/CTS (Request to Send / Clear to Send). In a mixed environment where different generations of Wi-Fi standards are present, 802.11n clients might transmit data at higher rates, potentially causing issues with the older, slower 802.11b clients due to the difference in how they manage access to the wireless medium.

RTS/CTS is a mechanism designed to minimize the chances of collisions on the channel. When an 802.11n client wants to transmit data, it initiates a request to send (RTS) to the intended recipient. If the recipient is ready to receive the data, it responds with a clear to send (CTS) message. This exchange reserves the channel for their transmission and informs all nearby clients to refrain from transmitting during this time. This is particularly important as it helps 802.11b clients to be aware that a transmission is about to occur, allowing them to adjust their behavior and avoid interference, which is critical due to their slower processing capabilities and older technology.

In this scenario, WMM protection is more about prioritizing voice and video traffic rather than dealing specifically with mixed