Batm Advanced - A New Beginning

Just for interest -

Don't rush to upgrade your Wi-Fi Router


(AFX) - Q: I see there is a lot of new Wi-Fi gear in stores that promises
faster speeds for my home wireless network. Is it time to upgrade?
A: Probably not. Experts agree that it's best to pass on the latest
generation of Wi-Fi routers, sold under names like "Wireless-N," and wait at
least a few months for the next one.
The latest routers promise speeds up to six times faster than those using
the older industry standard for Wi-Fi, known as 802.11g, but don't adhere to a
finished standard of their own. That means they may not work well with equipment
from other manufacturers, or with future hardware. They also require compatible
equipment on the receiving end, like a new laptop card, to take advantage of the
higher speeds.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is working on baking
the latest technology into a new standard, 802.11n. This is where the "N" in
Wireless-N comes from. But manufacturers haven't been waiting for the standard
to be nailed down, and started putting out "Draft-N" routers and laptop cards
last spring.
There is no guarantee that this equipment will be fully compatible with the
finished standard, which isn't expected to ratified until 2008.
"To buy products right now that are not going to be compatible with the
final standard is, you know, looking for trouble," said Stan Schatt, an analyst
at ABI Research.
That doesn't mean you have to wait until 2008 to upgrade if you want faster
speeds. Glenn Fleishman, editor of the Wi-Fi Networking News site, expects a new
generation of draft-N products in stores in March 2007, to be based on "Draft
2.0" of the IEEE's 802.11n specification. These will have new chips that will
most likely be compatible with the final standard or can be modified via
software to comply, Fleishman said.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, another industry group, plans to start testing hardware
from different manufacturers to make sure they communicate properly, certifying
the ones that do. It expects the first certified products to be on the market by
the middle of 2007, according to Karen Hanley, the association's senior director
of marketing.
"What it boils down to for me is that I can't see why anyone would buy
Draft-N when there are going to be certified Draft-N devices within a matter of
months," Fleishman said.
For those who need faster speeds now, Fleishman recommends 802.11g routers
that have been enhanced with so-called MIMO technology -- which use an array of
antennas for Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output transmissions, extending range and
speed. These are sold under brand names like "Enhanced-G Plus Mimo,"
"RangeBooster G," and "Speedbooster."
Lastly, you might question if you need faster Wi-Fi. If all you do is surf
the Web and don't wander too far from the router, the speed of the Internet
connection coming in to your cable or DSL modem is likely the limiting factor,
not the connection between your router and laptop. But if you have more than one
computer, and like to move files between them wirelessly, the router's speed
will be important.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.