FAQ: 802.11n wireless networking

And what about consumers?

The increased range of 802.11n will mean fewer "dead spots" in homes served by a single Wi-Fi router. It also will open the way to high-bandwidth applications such as streaming video from, say, desktop computers that store video to Wi-Fi-enabled televisions. The new standard will also be more reliable for voice-over-IP and, in general, for multiple users doing multiple things over the network.

Does the new standard have new security capabilities?

No. While Wi-Fi once was considered quite insecure, most current-generation products now support Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA 2 for encryption and authentication, which provide strong protection for wireless networks.

However, the Wi-Fi Alliance, the trade organization for Wi-Fi vendors, is instituting a specification aimed at making security easier to deploy by home users. The program, called Wi-Fi Protected Setup, enables setup of WPA or WPA 2 simply by pushing buttons or entering personal identification numbers. This program is not part of the 802.11n standard, but equipment vendors are starting to deploy it just as Draft 2 Wi-Fi products are becoming common.

Why is ratification of 802.11n taking so long?

The 802.11n standard is being developed by a working group of the IEEE. Under the best of circumstances, ratifying an important new standard is an excruciatingly slow, multiyear process, because working groups address the smallest nuances of the standards and discuss different approaches and then sort it all out and vote.

In this case, the ratification process started more than three years ago. Initially, there seemed to be agreement about one particular approach to meeting the goals of the standard, but a rift developed between vendors that slowed down the process even more than usual.

That rift has been resolved. At a March meeting in Orlando, the working group gave formal approval to Draft 2.0 and set as a goal to publish the final standard in October 2008 (Since then, the date for ratification has been pushed back to March 2009). The draft received more than 80% approval among voters in the group; 75% was required for approval. That indicates that there was a high level of consensus and that there likely will be few, if any, substantive changes between Draft 2 and the final, ratified version of the standard. However, a Draft 3.0 still must be approved, which will deal with Wi-Fi in consumer electronics devices such as camcorders and media players.

Does that mean we can't expect 802.11n products until final ratification?

Products based on Draft 2 are available now and have received generally positive reviews both in terms of increased speed and range and compatibility with older Wi-Fi products. The products are being aimed at consumers; as stated previously, corporate IT shops are unlikely to be interested until after final ratification of the standard.

Vendors are not making promises, but they are saying it is their hope that the Draft 2 products will be firmware upgradable to the final, ratified standard when it is eventually approved. After that time, enterprise-focused vendors such as Cisco are expected to release 802.11n products.

Aren't draft-802.11n products being certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance? If so, what does that mean?

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a trade organization made up of Wi-Fi vendors; it is not a standard-setting body. However, because the standard-setting process can be long and tortuous, Wi-Fi equipment vendors were anxious to release next-generation products. There were frequent reports that products based on Draft 1.0 had problems interoperating with older Wi-Fi products and with other Draft 1.0 products. However, products based on Draft 2 seem to be more reliable and interoperable.

To make sure that's the case, the Wi-Fi Alliance will start certifying products based on Draft 2 this summer, testing for interoperability and compliance with the draft specification. That means that any products you buy that are certified will be backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g. It isn't known yet, however, whether they will be forward compatible with products based on the ratified standard.

In addition, Intel is supporting Draft 2 802.11n technology in its Centrino chip sets. Vendors of equipment such as routers will be allowed to put a logo on their packaging indicating that those products work with the Intel gear.

David Haskin is a contributing editor specializing in mobile and wireless issues.