Depending on who you ask (and perhaps when), the successor to the 802.11g wireless standard can be seen as a super-fast alternative to Ethernet, a clunky draft specification that lacks any sort of interoperability, or a promising newcomer that just needs a long maturation period.

 

According to Craig Mathias, a Farpoint Group analyst and its founder, who has studied the 802.11n market intently, the networking standard is on a clear path to resolution. "A new Draft 2.0 specification will address all of the core technical disagreements, although the actual throughput and distance for an N router will depend on the implementation-radios, software, and the power level."

 

Mathias said this Draft 2.0 spec, which may be approved in mid-2007, is good for the industry, as it could lead to a faster final approval in late 2007 and will encourage much greater interoperability between vendors.

 

Based on our tests of the latest routers and matching card adapters, early adopters will enjoy smooth, fast transmissions. But there is still a lot of confusion surrounding 802.11n. That's where we come in: We'll take the most common 802.11n myths and determine whether they're fact or fiction.

1. It doesn't make sense to upgrade because the standard isn't finalized.
FICTION: Upgrading from 802.11g to 802.11n is actually rife with benefits, some of them related to the progression of wireless technology in general. Newer models use the latest encryption standards, such as WPA-2, and use autochannel techniques to handle interference problems. Speed is definitely a plus. The Belkin N1 Wireless Router, for example, can easily top 100 Mbps in prime conditions (little interference, good line-of-sight to the router). And some models, such as the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router, offer improved Quality of Service technology to give priority to VoIP calls and online gaming. Granted, once the standard is approved, another upgrade might be necessary, but that will be after a year of lightning-fast Wi-Fi access.

2. 802.11n is faster than wired.
FACT (SORT OF): Under the best conditions, many 802.11n routers deliver throughput between 100 Mbps and 120 Mbps near the router. However, speeds degrade quickly to about 45 Mbps in the 300- to 600-foot range, or if other wireless networks are present. It's also critically important to use the matching client adapter with the router. For example, the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router will connect at 120 Mbps or more only when you use the D-Link DWA-652 Xtreme N PC Card.
 
The truth gets blurry when you consider some other variables. If you just use the wireless connection built into your laptop, speeds will likely run at about 40 Mbps or less. Plus, the definition of a "wired" connection is changing, as one-gigabit ports become more and more common on PCs and routers.

3. Draft 802.11n routers and cards made by different vendors are incompatible with each other.
FACT: 802.11n tends to be more incompatible than 802.11g, mostly because the technology has such specific requirements. In most products from Belkin, Buffalo Technology, and Linksys, the router and client adapter must have three radios that can send and receive data. 802.11g typically uses one radio. There was an interim 802.11g standard that used MIMO (multiple in, multiple out) technology with two radios, but for the most part, a G connection would work fine regardless of the router/client card combo you used. The challenge: 802.11n is attempting to push much faster signals around your home, and that can make it more finicky and prone to interference problems.

4. You can stream video, surf the Web, and make VoIP calls simultaneously without a dip in performance.
FICTION: While 802.11n was intended to address the streaming-media needs of the early-adopter consumer-those who want to play multiplayer games on an Xbox 360 and talk on a Vonage VoIP line at the same time-the truth is that there is only so much bandwidth available. Some routers, especially the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router, handle multimedia chores better than a model such as the Belkin N1, mostly thanks to Ubicom StreamEngine technology that prioritizes traffic on WAN-to-LAN connections. Yet, if you're downloading a 2GB video file over wireless while you're trying to play games and make Internet phone calls, current draft 802.11n routers will start coughing and sputtering.

5. The coverage area for 802.11n is not as good as that of the older MIMO Gen 3 models.
FACT: The truth about the 802.11n specification is that it does not really increase your wireless coverage area. Many businesses have no problem bridging multiple routers around an office, so distance is not a high priority. Home consumers can actually get more distance out of an older MIMO router (usually labeled "Pre-N" to signify that they do not use the 802.11n draft spec). LAPTOP's distance champion is still the Belkin Pre-N Wireless Router, which distributes a signal up to 1,500 feet. Most 802.11n routers can barely stretch a signal past 1,000 feet.