802.11G: Ready To Roll

For most wireless gears worldwide and in India, 802.11g standard will soon
become the protocol of choice. It doesn’t have the range issues of its
predecessor 802.11a or speed issues of 802.11b. Products based on 802.11g will
become cheaper if manufacturers stick to it and don’t look at newer standards
at least in the near future.

When it comes to adapt ing and implementing wireless technology, many other
countries are quicker than India. This is what Pat Gelsinger, Senior VP and CTO,
Intel Corporation, noted during his recent visit to India.

However, he also predicted that within a year this scenario will change. Pat
estimates that at least 1,200 wireless hotspots will come up in the country by
this time.

One reason why India has been slow in the adoption of wireless technology is
because it is waiting for tried, tested and perfected technology that suits its
masses. Like any other technology, wireless networking has been a victim of
competing standards for the last few years.

Vendors have been launching wireless hardware with three competing
specifications based on the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) standards–802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g. Of these, products based on
802.11b became the most popular specification for wireless networks globally.

However, in June 2003, when the Wi-Fi Alliance ratified 802.11g standard,
there was renewed interest for wireless networks from customers around the
world.

The same was true in India too. Many companies and market segments have been
waiting for products based on the final IEEE 802.11g standard amendment to be
certified for interoperability by the Wi-Fi Alliance. So far, the demand for
wireless LAN equipment was mostly for 802.11b-based products.

However, in just three to six months, market sources in India believe that
802.11g products will take over. Presently, the price of 802.11g-based products
is twice that of 802.11b products. But, considering the advantage that it has
over its predecessor, it is worth an option to consider. (Read box: What sets
them apart).

According to market research company Dell’Oro Group, many vendors began
shipping equipment based on the 802.11g (draft) standard months before the
standard was actually ratified. Surprisingly, even customers gave a good
response to these products by virtue of its features.

These draft products drove growth of the WLAN business, according to Dell’Oro.
Of the total wireless networking products shipped worldwide in the AMJ quarter,
23% were based on 802.11g (draft) specification and while 76% were based on
802.11b. The remainder 1% units shipped were based the 802.11a and dual-band. At
the same time, Dell’Oro findings revealed that the revenue from sales of
802.11b products were shrinking because of declining prices.

WHAT IS GREAT
ABOUT 802.11g

The 802.11g standard for wireless LAN offers more carrying
capacity than the current 802.11b specification while using the same radio
frequencies - 2.4 GHz. (The lower the frequency, the farther the signal will
travel). This radio frequency is the most popular as of now for many wireless
products like microwave equipments, cordless phones and Bluetooth gears.

802.11g wireless LAN gear is capable of at least 24 megabits
per second (Mbps) and up to 54 Mbps, while at the same time, it is backward
compatible with existing 802.11b gear that runs at a maximum 11 Mbps. Normal
wired Ethernet generally runs at speeds like 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.

Another standard that failed to create a dent in the market
was 802.11a, which defines 54 Mbps gear in the 5-GHz range. To take the speed
advantage of 11a, vendors came up with dual-band products, which support both
802.11a and 802.11b standards. However, dual-band products, somehow, did not
takeoff. According to Dell’Oro, such products now make up a small niche
market.

FASTER PROPRIETARY ADDITIONS

As 802.11g gained popularity, some vendors like D-Link and
Netgear have come up with added features on this specification. Generally termed
as 802.11g+ (plus), these are some extra efforts by companies to double the
speed of data transfer using proprietary techniques. Due to this, the added
features of these products work only on the same vendor’s products.

This means, to get the full 108 Mbps out of any 11g+
equipment, all networking products must be from D-Link or Netgear. 11g+ products
from these companies are interoperable, but if mixed in any standard 11g
equipment, the link in the network will only run at 54 Mbps. For some, this may
sound unnecessary. But, here in India, DLink is offering 11b+ and 11g+ products
for the price of 11b and 11g products, respectively.

LOOKING AHEAD

Wi-Fi will eventually become the dominant wireless technology
in the market, given its mobility and speed. Other technologies such as
Bluetooth, UWB and Zigbee will serve as a niche segments. Several new Wi-Fi
standards will be added to the existing ones - 802.11a, b and g - and they will
include 802.11e, 802.11f, 802.11i and 802.11k for different applications.

Until then, 11g will be the de facto protocol of choice. It’s
the best of both worlds. Anyone with an 11b card, who doesn’t need the speed,
can keep them around since 11g will also support them.

NELSON JOHNY

WHAT SETS THEM APART

802.11b

FREQUENCY USED

2.4 GHz — a crowded spectrum. Bluetooth, Microwaves and phones may disrupt
an 11b signal

DISTANCE

Up to 300 feet range

SPEED

11 Mbps — Can surf the Internet at a very good speed. Transferring data,
is slower than normal wired Ethernet

INTEROPERABILITY

Compatible with 802.11b and emerging 802.11g networks

COMMENTS

• Most commonly used technology
• 11b card can be used to connect to almost any public hotspot or wireless
  network
• 11b equipment is cheapest, and when adding hardware more products that
  support 11b than 11a

802.11a

FREQUENCY USED

5.8 GHz — Fairly unused; Signal travels at a shorter distance

DISTANCE

Up to 150 feet

SPEED

54 Mbps — Fast enough for streaming audio and video from one computer to
another; useful for inter-network transfers

INTEROPERABILITY

Compatible with only 802.11a

COMMENTS

• Only advantage is high data transfer speed
• Not compatible with 11b
• With dual chipset 11a/11b access points and cards, users can connect to
  access point. These are called dual-band access points.

802.11g

FREQUENCY USED

2.4 GHz — Same as 11b

DISTANCE

Up to 300 feet

SPEED

54 Mbps — runs at 54 Mbps and is backwards compatible with 11b network

INTEROPERABILITY

Compatible with 802.11b at 11 Mbps

COMMENTS

• Was officially ratified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in June 2003
• Industry expects 11g to take over 11b, which now holds the majority
  marketshare
• Double the price of 11b