802.11n is a new WiFi LAN standard offering faster data transfer speeds than previous standards. It operates on the 2.4 GHz band and uses MIMO and OFDM technology. Backwards compatibility will allow for a smooth transition.
802.11n is a newer standard of WiFi LAN, or wireless local area network technology, following the 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g standards. Its proper name is IEEE 802.11n, as it is a protocol developed by the non-profit International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The number “11” indicates the IEEE working group assigned to 802 standards, and the “n” refers to a special working group within this body, known as the TGn.
The IEEE 802.11n standard will be reviewed by TGn in November 2005 and is expected to hit the market in mid-2006. It will reportedly offer four times the data transfer speeds of today’s fastest WiFi technology. It will also operate on the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band, such as 802.11b and 802.11g. This frequency does not require line-of-sight availability like 802.11a, which operates in the regulated 5 GHz band.
To get a real idea of expected speeds in megabits per second (mbps), see the following table comparing the different 802.11 standards:
802.11b
2.4 GHz
5-11 Mbps
802.11 g
2.4 GHz
25-54 Mbps
802.11a
5.0 GHz
25-54 Mbps
802.11n
2.4 GHz
100-200+ Mbps
IEEE plans a smooth transition to the 802.11n standard with backwards compatibility built into new equipment, allowing consumers and businesses to gradually upgrade their network equipment. The faster speeds will allow more robust applications to run effectively on public hotspots and private LANs, and greater range is also expected.
Like previous advanced WiFi standards, 802.11n will use multiple receivers and transmitters, a technology known as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). This allows for parallel streams of data transmissions or spatial multiplexing. The 802.11n standard will also incorporate OFDM, or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. OFDM divides signal frequencies into several modulated channels to increase throughput. In addition to private and commercial LANs, 802.11n is expected to support a wide variety of personal electronic devices, including handheld devices.
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