Pushing Wi-Fi's Limits: Problems and Solutions

securitas writes "Forbes technology columnist Arik Hesseldahl discusses the problems with 802.11x Wi-Fi - speed and range - and how to push its limits in a pair of his Ten O'Clock Tech columns. He discusses the alphabet soup of Wi-Fi standards, so-called 'Super G' dual channel bonding that allows two of 11 channels to act as one (and the interference problems that ensue), and the multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) method 'using multiple antennas to break a single, high-rate signal into several lower-rate signals' that could be a solution. Pushing Wi-Fi's Limits, Part Two focuses on repeaters, Wi-Fi mesh networks, WiMax and a company called BelAir Networks that has deployed several Wi-Fi mesh networks."

Comments

Real issue

[kneecarrot]

While standards and spectrum sharing are definitely factors, hardware must move quite a bit forward if it is going to become more useful than small home networks and looking cool at a Starbucks. The real problem right now is the quality of the radio chips coming out of Taiwan. They are typically way under specified range and allow for alot of bleeding between channels. The average home user won't notice it, but when you are rigging up multi-antenna setups or relying on precise timing for a repeater, it matters to a HUGE extent.