Wireless computer networks are changing the way people work or relate to each other, in other words, they are present in our lives and, it seems, increasingly so. This paper analyses wireless computer networks by comparing the performance of the IEEE 802.11 protocols currently on the market. To this end, a theoretical foundation was created, covering concepts from authors in the areas of computer networks and wireless networks. The method used for this study will be exploratory, where the information needed to analyse the data was collected through a bibliographical survey and a case study. It was concluded that protocols have evolved over the years, providing more capacity for wireless networks. It is believed that the results of this study can serve as a basis for domestic or organisational users when choosing to use a particular piece of wireless network equipment.