Ethernet no longer quick enough for you? Try 802.11ac Wireless Technology!

Recently Wireless 802.11n technology was certified and has become popular among wireless routers manufacturers. Now a new standard which pushes the transmission limits has been adopted and it's looking rather promising - making Ethernet look obsolete.

The widespread uptake of Wifi technology has enabled many home & business users to expand their IT infrastructure without the need for additional Ethernet wiring. 802.11n wireless technology, which was certified by the IEEE, has grown in popularity because of its ability to transmit data relatively quickly and at high speeds. However this technology has now be superseded by a new uncertified standard called 802.11ac.

IEEE 802.11ac is a wireless computer networking technology standard which is currently in development that provides greater transmissions speed in the 5GHz radio range. Theoretically it's possible to receive data at 1.3Gps which is quite comparable wired Ethernet speeds without the fuss and hassle of wired technologies. These speeds are accomplished by extending the 802.11n RF bandwidth range, adding more MIMO spatial streams - 8 in total, and high density modulation.

Laptop and mobile manufacturers have already started to embed this technology into their devices. The belief is that the quicker the data is received to these devices the quicker it can go to sleep and reduce battery drain rates. There currently isn't a need for 802.11ac technology in the home environment because of limited video streaming or file transfers that might happen with a small set of users. However this would be different in an office environment where transferring data from a server to workstations need to be quick and efficient.

This new standard claims to be more efficient in a hostile RF environment where other mobile devices compete for a clear path on the airways. A reduction in the interference from other mobile devices has been achieved by using high density modulation (QAM). The advantages of the 802.11ac standard will be greater range, higher data rates, reliability improves, and battery lives on mobile devices will be increased.

Speed - Entry level 5G products work at 450Mbs which is three times faster than most common devices using the 802.11n technology.

Manufacturers will offer a range of products to push the high speed barriers at more than 1.3 gigabits per second. This remarkable speed only just achieved by wired based networks. 1.3 Gps would be achievable within 0-10 metres, roughly 400-800 mbps within 10-30 metres, and then speeds drop off beyond the 30 metre range.

Reliability - 802.11ac offers a dramatic improvement in wireless reliability, range and coverage, and will eliminate most dead spots in a home or office. This new standard uses a new technology called Beam-forming which penetrates all forms of building materials. This technology enables it to outperform its predecessors. Beam-forming is the ability for a Wi-Fi transmitter to "learn" to avoid inefficient pathways between it and the device it is transmitting to.

Battery Life for mobile devices - Manufacturers have indicated that they could possibly extend the battery life for mobile devices as much as 6 times the normal standard. Mobile phones and their battery lives will last longer but at the same time transferring a greater amount of data.
However before rushing out and purchasing 802.11ac devices, be careful that these devices may not be backward compatible with existing mobile devices. Apart from this it appears that 802.11ac has pushed the boundaries and quality of streaming in the home will only improve our experiences. It's an interesting technology and but not something to be committed to until it has been certified as an industrial standard.