The newest Wi-Fi protocol is still to be ratified, but router manufacturers charge ahead anyway. What's the scoop on 802.11n?
802.11n is the newest protocol for wireless networking. It is much faster than any of its predecessors (such as 802.11g and 802.11b), and there is talk of 802.11n replacing traditional wired Ethernet networks entirely, according to a Computer Weekly article by John-Paul Kamath, posted on October 8, 2007.
802.11n clocks in at a maximum theoretical speed of 248Mbps. This is much higher than the current standard of 802.11g which can reach a theoretical speed 54Mbps (in practice, both protocols operate slower, depending on network conditions). A large part of the advances in the 802.11n protocol is due to the addition of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. This system uses multiple antennas to receive and transmit information, making the network operate faster.
Though many aspects of the protocol have been set, 802.11n itself has not been ratified by the Institute of Electricians and Electrical Engineers (IEEE). However, major router manufactures, including Linksys, Netgear and Belkin are already releasing 802.11n devices.
Older devices can still be used within a 802.11n network, including legacy devices such as 802.11a and 802.11b. 802.11n can operate in a variety of modes: Legacy, Mixed and Greenfield.
The 3 Operational Modes of 802.11n
- Legacy Mode. This allows an 802.11n router to work in a network of entirely legacy clients (802.11a/b/g) with no 802.11n clients in the network.
- Mixed Mode. This mode is for networks with an 802.11n router and a mixed environment of 802.11n clients as well as legacy 802.11a/b/g clients.
- Greenfield Mode. This is for a network with only 802.11n clients connecting to an 802.11n router.
The range of 802.11n is also a vast improvement over past protocols. The expected range of 802.11n is around 70 meters indoors, as opposed to around 35 meters for previous protocols.
Despite the number of wireless routers in stores that are 802.11n based, don't expect a brand new laptop computer to be 802.11n compatible out of the box. Dell and Lenovo, for example, save the 802.11n cards for the higher-end laptops, including it as an upgrade for other models. Apple on the other hand includes a 802.11n card with both their MacBook and MacBook Pro model (but not the Mac mini).
While there is still some vendor fighting about the actual specifications of MIMO, and how it will be implemented, the fact so many routers are on the market prior to the standard being ratified is a good sign the standard is for all purposes finalized. The only question that remains is whether this new standard will truly replace wired networks.
