SMC To Ship 802.11g Upgrades

Vendors and solution providers have expressed enthusiasm about the new 802.11g standard because it promises to extend data rates from the current, popular 802.11b 11-Mbps to a projected 54 Mbps while maintaining backward compatibility with 802.11b.

While some estimates place the actual throughput connection speeds much lower, at about 20 Mbps in a crowded 2.4MHz frequency, the new standard is considered an improvement from 802.11b and a more affordable alternative to 802.11a. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently moved the final draft of 802.11g toward an expected ratification on June 12.

The addition of the Prism Nitro technology carries a promise of delivering up to 50 percent more throughput in 802.11g-only networks and up to 300 percent more in mixed mode [802.11b and 802.11g] networks by eliminating collisions and employing packet bursting technology, according to SMC Networks and Intersil, a semiconductor vendor based in Milpitas, Calif.

SMC's full line of 802.11g draft-compliant wireless networking products includes a wireless cable/DSL broadband router, wireless cardbus adapter and wireless PCI card. However, customers that have previously purchased SMC's 802.11g products can download the firmware upgrade from SMC's Web site.