Can I buy my 802.11n router now?
I’ve been biding my time, waiting for the 802.11n standard to finally be approved so I can purchase a new router for my network. But now that I’ve ordered my Apple TV and plan on streaming TV shows and movies to my HDTV, my patience is wearing thin.
For those of you that don’t know how the process of getting a wireless standard approved, here’s a brief overview. The standard is approved by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), a large professional organization with members all over the world. They are presented with several draft proposals that must be approved by the membership at large.
Draft 1.0 of the 802.11n standard was released last year and met with tons of disapproval from members. But Draft 2.0 will be sent for voting at the end of this month and is expected to meet with approval. Thank goodness, because now the fun can really begin.
802.11n is not scheduled to be ratified until October of 2008. That’s way too far off for me. I can’t wait anymore. I’ve been hesitant about buying one of the "Draft N" products on the market since I didn’t know if they would be compatible with the final standard.
But it seems as if I can go ahead and buy now with confidence. The Draft 2.0 proposal includes support for existing equipment so now I can buy a new router. I just might not have the full speed (120-200 Mbps) that the final 802.11n will afford. Oh, well. Just as long as I’m streaming without any hiccups, that’s all I’m concerned about.
Read [Ars Technica]
Technorati Tags: 802.11n, ieee, wireless networking
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