802.11n - Wireless LAN Standard Finalized - FINALLY!

IEEE Ratifies 802.11n, Wireless LAN Specification to Provide Significantly Improved Data Throughput and Range | Reuters

Now we can expect and DEMAND that 11n adapters and APs from Linksys, D-Link, NetGear, ABC and XYZ are 100% compatible with each other - it should not be necessary for all 11n devices on a given network be from the same maker.

In theory, anyway.

Thanks Digerati, That's good news, and just in time for holiday shopping. The announcement raises some practical questions. Will it make any difference for present owners of 802.11 b and g equipment? Particularly, will owners of wireless g ready laptops and wireless g USB adapters actually see any benefit if they install a new wireless n router for their home network? Will there be a period during which manufacturers unload pre-standardization wireless n units on the market? Are there "new generation" features of the internet and "new generation" application hardware and software devices waiting in the wings to be deployed for new owners of wireless n? Will owners of Wireless b and g begin experiencing access failure to media that is being deployed specifically to benefit wireless n standards? I suppose that the answer to the above practical but naive questions is… probably. But at the rate that new equipment comes online and/or people replace their existing equipment, it shouldn't take more than a couple of years for "most" folks to see benefit with their eventually fresh equipment. One specific question raises its ugly head for me as a partial user of VOIP. VOIP providers typically insist upon placing their own router device first or at least early in the network sequence. I've already experienced internet connection being "dumbed down" when placing VOIP into my home network. Eventually, my VOIP provider conceded the problem and allowed that it might be better to place their device "after" my WRT54GS Router. During "tech support" correspondence with VOIP staff, my impression was that they "gave me permission" to try the arrangement with placing their device as "child" of my WRT54GS router network. It all seemed quite arrogant of them. Presently with my VOIP device subordinate in my home network, I've had no (or at least fewer) internet access interruptions and the previous loss of through-put strength no longer impairs the various computers connected to my network, while leaving two lines of VOIP phone access in the range of "good enough". Since the VOIP devices sent to me with my subscription were RMA/refurbished units from previous customers returning the devices, I'm guessing that VOIP companies may be "late adopters" of 802.11n standards. The new standard may pave the way for improved access and fewer problems after folks buy new equipment. And older b & g equipment will continue to function at their present levels. Seems a good step, at least until we all get fiber-optic cables laid out to all of our neighborhoods. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I look forward to any observations you and others may have relative to the practical impact on current equipment.

I would think that you would need 11n equipment end to end to benefit from it. Connecting a 11g wireless card to an 11n router would have to run at the speed of the slowest component, 11g. Still, something to keep an eye on for next year for me at least. This would bring my laptop up to desktop connection speeds.

I would think that you would need 11n equipment end to end to benefit from it. Connecting a 11g wireless card to an 11n router would have to run at the speed of the slowest component, 11g.

Only for that leg of the network. So, for example, your printer may connect via 11g, but your computer, if equipped with an 11n adapter, would connect via 11n.

That would require a "dual band" AP, however - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2236019,00.asp