Analyst Says Watch Out For Pre-N Gear
from the we-use-our-own-proprietary-standards dept
The 802.11n standard for next-generation WiFi was initially approved just last week, but chip companies say it won’t be long before they’ll have “pre-N” products ready. We’ve noted before how many companies don’t wait for standards to be finalized or their products to be certified before they start pushing them to customers, potentially causing compatibility issues later on down the road with actual standardized equipment. Now, analyst firm Gartner is telling enterprise customers to stay away from the pseudo-802.11n equipment, because it expects the standard to be changed before it’s finally ratified. They recommend waiting until 2007 to consider 802.11n gear, a timeframe the equipment makers’ marketing people probably won’t like.
Comments on “Analyst Says Watch Out For Pre-N Gear”
No Subject Given
Go for it!
Remember X2 vs K-Flex
This reminds me of the early days of 56k modems, when you had the USR X2 technology competing against Rockwell K56Flex. When the standard (v.90) was finally put into place, it turned out that NEITHER of the original technologies worked – everyone had to send out new firmware for the modems to make it v.90 capable – and half the time that didn’t work. I worked doing tech support for an ISP in those days, and there were so many modems we had to actually disable 56k support whatsoever to even make them work. Hopefully 802.11n ends up a little better than that, but somehow, I doubt it!
Re: Remember X2 vs K-Flex
I remember it well. However, the problem was that the standard before – V32bis – was significantly slower and users were clamoring for the equipment. The ratification took (what seemed to be) years.
I bought in hundreds of pre-ratification modems at the time for point to point links: they didn’t need to inter-operate with a different make and benefited my customers.
This will always happen while ratification is even slightly slow.
No Subject Given
I have a pre-n router. It has much better range and higher bandwidth than my previous b router. I hate having to have a pre-n PCMCIA card in my notebook to get the benefits, but frankly I needed the extra range to use it in my house. The extra speed is nice too. I’ve heard reports that putting a b or g device on my n network might slow all clients, but this was also a problem with some g devices. My router + card cost $100 at Costco and IMHO was well worth it. Not sure why we keep hearing recommendations that people stay away from these devices. Maybe a good idea to keep them out of the enterprise or avoid using them to provide wireless service to customers, but around the house it is very nice.
Re: You could have solved that other ways
Better antennas, bosted firmware on 802.11g —
I’m running a three wifi router clound and serving neighbors across the street and next door to the side with IP quite reliably. For reference, I’m in a 3000 square foot 2 story house on a half acre plot.
more info here:
http://www.thenorth.com/APBLOG4.nsf/0/668D65A56B02BB4B852570A400535F16
Re: Re: You could have solved that other ways
I’m with this guy. I picked up a WRT54G back before they changed it internally, and installed the Sveasoft firmware (or a variant of it, anyway)
This allowed me to change the Xmit power on the box from 28mw 251mw with no ill result! I could imagine two or three of these cheaper routers outranging a single Pre-N setup for the same price, while keeping it standard…
And anyway, who needs all that bandwidth? Really? Nobody moves large files between wireless clients. B or G is going to be faster than your actual internet connection, so no difference there. Anybody who’s doing, say, DV editing and wants to shuffle video around should get off their butts and just install Gigabit Ethernet.
I might move over to N eventually. When my laptop has it built in and if it does offer better range. But right now I don’t see any benefit that justifies an awkward PCMCIA adapter.
Re: Re: Re: You could have solved that other ways
I cranked up the Xmit power on my WRT54G and not only got outstanding thruput on my wireless connection, I also got a great tan sitting in front of the router’s antenna!
Re: Re: Re: You could have solved that other ways
I’m still using my GOOD OLE’ Linksys WAP11 802.11b wireless on a 4 port linksys dsl/cable router. 100mw baby. CLEAN signal to noise ratio, and darn near 1/4 mile line of sight range.
Better coverage then ANY 802.11a/g could do.
Re: Re: Re: You could have solved that other ways
Try the Linksys 7db upgrade antenaes with that firmware, I use the same thing and with the better antenaes I can go about a block and half from my house now at 250mw
Re: Re: You could have solved that other ways
I thought modifying antennas was illegal?
Re: Re: Re: I thought modifying antennas was illegal?
Itin fact is if you violoate the fcc regulations for unlicensed signals. Meaning if a single device expands beyond a certain range or the overallsignal produced encroches up licensed traffic…somthing like that…and the fcc vans catch your “radiation”, youd be in a lot of trouble if you modified your equipment to do this, of course they can’t blame you if the hardware is “malfunctioning”
Pre N
I have a Belkin Pre N router/access point and it kicks ass…. no problems with the Ethernet side…. The only problems i’ve had have been with some Wireless NICs not being totally compatible with the WEP and WPA-PSK.
MIMO Rocks!!
I have done the coolest thing here. I loaded my netlflix DVD on my desktop, I played it on my laptop through the router and connected the TV through SVIDEO. I have a not that great Audio system on the laptop, but a couple of good speakers did the job well.
MIMO Rocks!! I used the SRX400 AP and the WPC54GX4 cardbus card. This is Airgo Chipsets and I am very very happy.