The Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers has adopted a new draft of
the 802.11n wireless networking specification, according to
sources.
Bill McFarland, chief technology officer at Atheros, a developer of semiconductors
for wireless communications products, explained that the new 1.10
draft replaces the current 1.0 version and was adopted during an
interim meeting for the Task Group N in London on Friday.
The group sifted through 3,000 comments entered in response to the
1.0 version. The adoption of the new draft clears the way for the
final 2.0 specification which is expected some time in 2008.
"The end result was unanimous approval for the creation of a draft
1.10, moving the specification much closer to a final draft," said
McFarland.
802.11n is designed to provide wireless networking technology at
speeds of up to 540Mbps and a range of 50m indoors. The current
802.11a and g standards max out at 54Mbps at ranges of up to
30m.
The standard gets its main speed boost through the use of
multiple-input multiple-output technology that divides a data
signal into multiple streams which are sent simultaneously through
multiple transmitters.
The standard has been much delayed, causing impatient vendors to
launch so-called 'draft-compliant' 802.11n devices.
Atheros plans to issue a firmware upgrade that allows users of its
1.0 gear to move to the 1.10 version.