New Standard 802.11n

802.11n is an upcoming specification for wireless LAN (WLAN) communications. An addition to the 802.11 family of standards, 802.11n is intended to increase network speed and reliability and to extend the operating distance of wireless networks. Raw data throughput is expected to reach as much as 600 Mbps, or more than 10 times the throughput of 802.11g.

802.11n is based on MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology, which uses multiple antennas at both the source (transmitter) and the destination (receiver) to minimize errors and optimize data speed. The standard may also use orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing to increase speed, as well as coding schemes that transmit multiple redundant copies of data to boost reliability.

Progress in ratifying 802.11n has been stalled by the formation of competing vendor groups backing different proposals within the IEEE. The groups agree on most technology aspects but support different usage of the wireless spectrum. One group recommends using the 2.4GHz band and the same 20MHz channels as 802.11b and 802.11g for compatibility, while another proposes using the 5GHz band and boosting channel width to 40MHz to increase data rates. Experts predict the earliest the standardization process can be completed is by late 2006.

There are "pre-N" products on the market based on early drafts of the specification. This equipment works at relatively low speeds (around 100 Mbps) and may not be compatible with the finished standard.