Belkin shipping 802.11n router
So-called "pre-N" wireless--Wi-Fi technology that predates the new draft form of the 802.11n wireless standard--is old news. The 802.11n standard is not due for final approval by the IEEE until sometime around July 2007, but that isn't stopping wireless vendors like Linksys, Netgear, Belkin and a host of other companies that do not want to be left out of the wireless competition from embracing the draft standard. It should be noted that the newest draft standard was ultimately rejected on May 2, which is ironic because some manufacturers announced the availability of a 801.11n router the day before.
The difference between wireless routers and new routers based on the 802.11n draft standard is dramatic. For instance, the Belkin pre-N router had a range of 1,400 feet, a data rate of 108Mbps, and throughput of 45Mbps. The new router that Belkin announced last week is based on the 801.11n draft and has the same range as the pre-N router. However, it is three times faster, with a throughput of 150Mbps and a data rate of 300Mbps in 40MHz channel or 150Mbps in 20MHz channel mode.
The Belkin N1 wireless line includes a router for $149.99, a notebook card for $99.99, and a desktop card for $119.99. The new router based on the 801.11n draft will use MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) spatial multiplexing techniques, which multiplex three dipole antennas for a more reliable connection. The router has four Ethernet LAN ports and one port to connect to a cable or DLS connection. The wireless equipment supports normal 64-bit WPA2-personal encryption, 128-bit WEP encryption, and an enhanced firewall. The N1 line will be available in North America on June 1.
The drawback to the N1 line and any other hardware based on the draft standard is that the hardware is built on a wireless specification that has not been ratified by the IEEE. The final standard will likely be different from the draft standard on which the N1 line is based. The hardware is not guaranteed to work with any future generations of hardware based on the final 801.11n standard. Belkin's wireless equipment is designed to be upgradeable when the standard is finalized, but again, no guarantee.
All the bad juju aside, the N1 wireless line is one of the fastest wireless networks that the average consumer can afford. Belkin suggests the hardware is fast enough to handle streaming HD video while also using spare bandwidth to talk over the Internet with VoIP, to play online games, to shop online, or simply to send e-mail. The N1 line is interoperable with wireless networks using 802.11g and 801.11b, so existing wireless hardware should be able to use the new network without problems. So your options boil down to this: Choose a fast network now or wait for guaranteed interoperability later.
