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As predicted last month, the IEEE has finally approved the 802.11n high-throughput wireless LAN standard.
Finalization of the new wireless networking standard--which is capable of delivering throughput speeds up to 300 megabits per second (and even higher)--took exactly seven years from the day it was conceived, or six years from the first draft version. The standard has been through a dozen or so draft versions.
News of the ratification broke via a blog post displaying an e-mail sent by Bruce Kraemer, longtime chairman of the 802.11n Task Group, to task group members. There has been no public announcement yet. Update 5:49 p.m. PDT: A press release has been issued.
(The 802.11n Task Group is part of the 802.11 Working Group, which oversees WLAN (wireless local-area network) standards. Task group members include the majority of Wi-Fi chipmakers, software developers, and equipment OEM vendors. Meru Networks, one of the members, posted the blog that broke the news.)
It's likely, however, that final approval of the standard will be publicly announced by September 15, the date when Meru Networks puts on a public Webcast to provide answers about the ratification.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the group that tests and certifies wireless products to ensure their interoperability, all existing Wi-Fi Certified Draft N wireless products will still work with the final standard.
802.11n offers much higher speeds than the previous, already-ratified 802.11g, which caps at only 54Mbps. Due to the compelling higher speed, most wireless vendors haven been offering 802.11n-based (also known as Wireless-N) products during the past six years and calling them Draft N products. Now the Draft is no more.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, most, if not all, of the existing equipment can be upgraded to the final specification via a firmware update. Finally, all future wireless networking products will be compatible with today's products that have been Wi-Fi-certified.
Consumer FAQ
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A new standard for Wi-Fi communication, 802.11n, is now official paving the way for faster, more reliable, and more efficient wireless networks. That means improvements to streaming of HD content, better performance for applications running on a Wi-Fi network such as VoIP, and longer laptop batter life given 802.11n chips use less power.
Ratification of the standard was by the iEEE wireless standards organization. Industry experts say the first official 802.11n products will be available by this holiday season, bringing to an end a ratification process that began seven years ago. Of course, any tech topic that deals with data transmission can get filled with jargon in an awful hurry. With some invaluable input from Kelly Davis-Felner, of the trade association the Wi-Fi Alliance I've put together an 802.11n FAQ for consumers.
What's new in 802.11n?
There are three key improvements in the new standard. The heart of wireless n standard is the addition of more "spatial streams," which are like lanes on the wireless highway, letting you transfer data faster.
There's also "channel bonding" that lets users combine two wireless frequencies for better performance and reliability. Finally, a "packet aggregation" feature squishes down the amount of overhead data needed to transfer files, allowing more room in the pipe for the files themselves.
How much faster is 802.11n compared to older standards?
Theoretically, 802.11n can reach speeds of 600 Mbps, and even that assumes you're using wireless n's maximum four spatial streams. For now, the Wi-Fi alliance will be testing products with three streams, putting the maximum at 450 Mbps. By comparison, the old 802.11b/g standard reached 64 Mbps, and the wireless "a" maxed out at 11 Mbps, so wireless n is considerably faster.
How will I know what features are included on the Wi-Fi device I'm buying?
First off, Davis-Felner recommends looking for the Wi-Fi Alliance's 802.11n seal on routers and adapters to make sure you're getting a certified device. She estimates about 10 percent to 15 percent aren't certified and will work, but not at top efficiency. For other features, scan the back of the box or search the Wi-Fi Alliance's database of certified products for a feature list.
I already have an 802.11n router. What gives?
Your device is actually using a draft form of wireless n. The alliance formally approved the draft standard in 2007, and since then the discussion has focused on additional features to make Wi-Fi faster and more reliable.
Can I get a firmware update for my draft n wireless router?
That's up to your product's manufacturers, Davis-Felner said. They could offer you an update, or they could hold out for a new product line. On the bright side, Davis-Felner says any certified draft n product will work just fine with future wireless n products.
I'm still using a wireless b/g router. Should I run out and upgrade?
Well, first of all, you want to wait until the holidays, when the first final wireless n products should start to arrive. And of course, you've got your Internet service provider's bandwidth limitations to consider. Beyond that, Davis-Felner says you should think about upgrading if more sources (such as children) start tapping into your router, or if you find yourself passing videos and other media around the house.
Nearly seven years in the making, the IEEE’s 802.11n standard for high-speed Wi-Fi was finally ratified today at a meeting in New Jersey. But not to worry if you’re among the millions who have invested in so-called draft-802.11n gear, equipment based on a draft version of the standard released a few years ago: Routers and adapters based on the final version of the standard will be completely compatible with the older stuff.
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However, if you’re shopping for new 802.11n equipment later this year, make sure to inspect the package carefully, because for the first time the Wi-Fi Alliance will be issuing two different certification logos for the same standard. They’re doing this to help consumers distinguish between 802.11n equipment with different speed and range capabilities.
Routers that support two spatial streams of data (the more data streams, the faster the network) will be certified as “Dual-Stream N.” Theoretical maximum throughput for these routers will be up to 300 megabits per second — faster than older 802.11b and 802.11g gear. But routers with three or four spatial streams will be even faster, with theoretical throughput of 450 mbps or 600 mbps speeds.
These routers will be certified as “Multi-Stream N,” and they will probably be more expensive.
Hi again everybody, I just found the offical press release on 802.11n being certified, and thought y'all might be interested.
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IEEE Ratifies 802.11n, Wireless LAN Specification to Provide
Significantly Improved Data Throughput and Range
Amendment to Successful IEEE Amendment to Successful IEEE 802.11 Standard Enables
More Scalable WLANs That Co-exist with Legacy Deployments
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PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 11 September 2009 --The IEEE today announced that its Standards Board has ratified the IEEE 802.11n™-2009 amendment, defining mechanisms that provide significantly improved data rates and ranges for wireless local area networks (WLANs). This new amendment to the IEEE 802.11 base standard is designed to help the data communications industry address the escalating demands placed on enterprise, home and public WLANs with the rise of higher-bandwidth file transfers and next-generation multimedia applications. WLANs based on IEEE 802.11 are widely deployed, with more than 1 million units shipping per day.
The IEEE 802.11 standard defines how to design interoperable WLAN equipment that provides a variety of capabilities including a wide range of data rates, quality of service, reliability, range optimization, device link options, network management and security.
The 560-page 802.11n amendment—**“…WLAN Enhancements for Higher Throughput " —will enable rollout of significantly more scalable WLANs that deliver 10-fold-greater data rates than previously defined while ensuring co-existence with legacy systems and security implementations.
More than 400 individuals from equipment and silicon suppliers, service providers, systems integrators, consultant organizations and academic institutions from more than 20 countries participated in a seven-year effort leading to IEEE 802.11n’s ratification. Publication of the amendment is scheduled for mid-October.
“This was an extraordinarily wide-ranging technical challenge that required the sustained effort and concentration of a terrific variety of participants. When we started in 2002, many of the technologies addressed in 802.11n were university research topics and had not been implemented,” said Bruce Kraemer, Chair of the IEEE Wireless LAN Working Group. “The performance improvements achieved via IEEE 802.11n stand to transform the WLAN user experience, and ratification of the amendment sets the stage for a new wave of application innovation and creation of new market opportunities.”
Added Paul Nikolich, IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee Chairman: “Everyone involved in the 802.11n process—and no one more than Bruce Kraemer, whose strong leadership has been instrumental from the start—deserves congratulations because this is a key data communications milestone and a good example of the consensus building environment 802 provides for its participants. The amendment will enable a dramatic leap forward in WLAN scalability with only a modest associated rise in costs for the industry and end users.”
About IEEE 802
The IEEE 802® LAN/MAN Standards Committee develops LAN and metropolitan area network (MAN) standards. The most widely used standards are for the Ethernet family, Token Ring, Wireless LAN, Wireless PAN, Wireless MAN, Bridging and Virtual Bridged LANs. An individual working group provides the focus for each area. Decisions by the IEEE 802 task groups and working groups will shape communications for years to come. For more information about the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee, see http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/. (http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/.)
About the IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 400 standards under development. For information on the IEEE-SA, see: http://standards.ieee.org (http://standards.ieee.org).
About the IEEE
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.), the world's largest technical professional society, is commemorating its 125th anniversary in 2009 by "Celebrating 125 Years of Engineering the Future" around the globe. Through its more than 375,000 members in 160 countries, IEEE is a leading authority on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Dedicated to the advancement of technology, IEEE publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields, and has developed over 900 active industry standards. The organization annually sponsors more than 850 conferences worldwide. Additional information about IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org (http://www.ieee.org).
**Full title: “Information Technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications Amendment 5: Enhancements for Higher Throughput-2009”
For further information on IEEE 802.11n, visit http://standards.ieee.org/prod-serv/80211n.html. (http://standards.ieee.org/prod-serv/80211n.html.)