IEEE "Task Group N" rejects first 802.11n draft proposal

In a move that came as little surprise to those who know how these things work, but that will still probably hurt manufacturers who've been releasing MIMO-enabled networking peripherals for the last few months, the IEEE 802.11 working group tasked with creating a next-gen WiFi standard has recently rejected the first draft of the highly-anticipated 802.11n. Not only did the first 802.11n draft fail to capture the 75% supermajority needed for passage, it couldn't even muster a regular majority among "Task Group N," which is a troubling development for those consumers who have already gone out and purchased pre- or draft-N gear from Linksys, Netgear, and the like. As we've reported in the past, some manufacturers had warned -- and independent testing corroborated -- that draft-N gear could negatively effect current 802.11b/g products already on the market, by hogging the available 2.5GHz bandwidth and causing performance issues on existing WLANs.  Still, taken in a historical perspective, rejection of the first draft of a proposed 802.11x specification is not uncommon, and actually seems to be the rule, rather than the exception, in the life-cycle of these multi-year, multi-party standards talks.

[Digitalosh @ May 7th 2006 12:13PM]

I dont understand why the IEEE's permission is required. Someone please enlighten me

[loren @ May 7th 2006 12:37PM]

So that everyone can built a products that is compatiable with other manufacturers. No one wants a product that isn't a standard.

[rob @ May 7th 2006 1:14PM]

IEEE's permission is required 'cause that's the way we roll, biyatch! big ups to the 802.11 crew!

[quahogian @ May 7th 2006 1:54PM]

#1 sounds like one of those "extremely wise" teenagers arguing about how they know they are not going to use the "stupid" subjects they have to take in school and etc...

[nick_k @ May 7th 2006 3:07PM]

4, if you can get that much from 13 words someone typed, then you must be pretty intelligent yourself...

[The Stuff of Legend... @ May 7th 2006 3:46PM]

"that draft-N gear could negatively ***effect*** current 802.11b/g products already on the market, "

Oh dear, even engadget can't spell. tut, tut, tut.

(affect! not effect!!!)

[YourTechSupport @ May 7th 2006 3:46PM]

Dugg: http://digg.com/technology/Pre-N_Users_=_PWNT_as_IEEE_rejects_802.11n_proposal

[Joey @ May 7th 2006 7:39PM]

I remember last year in europe they had a huge argument because one frequency was given to two different manufactuers. Car remotes and Walk Talkies. Resulting in the following:
If someone locking their doors via remote did not make sure the doors were locked although he pressed Lock - the signal could have been overriden by a walkie talkie nearby blocking the signal to go to the car receiver. Thus if someone hit lock and the walkie talkie was nearby - the doors did not lock and it was easy to steal the car. This worked with Porsche, Mercedes, Audi... no matter what make!

[Stoner @ May 8th 2006 5:12AM]

http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=515

802.11n, and linux source code. i can't wait till OpenWRT is ported to this....nnnggrrahhhhhh....wait while i get some tissues to clean that up

[Rick Dobbs @ May 8th 2006 8:07PM]

Oops, you mean 2.4 Bandwidth.