It's official! 802.11n standard finalized after a mere seven years
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Sep 12th 2009 7:01PM
posted Sep 12th 2009 7:01PM
Remember when the Wi-Fi Alliance finalized the 802.11 draft-n spec some two and a half years ago? Of course you don't -- as long as your media players, laptops, and the like can connect to each other (and to the cloud) without a hiccup you probably don't care about IEEE's paper trail. The standard, which saw no major changes between then and now (meaning that all your draft-n devices should work fine with the finalized standard) theoretically connects at 300Mbps, or about six times the peak speed of 802.11g. But you already know that, since you've been using it for years now. The final standard is set to be published mid-October.
Finalized but not published?! WTF?!
Well technically I thought G could get about 108MBPS... I mean, G+ MIMO.
What the hell? There is no excuse for this! What difference did that 2 1/2 years make? Almost none. I.E. They could have finalized it then and started on 802.11 P
doesn't the final standard go up to 600 Mbps
Well they got to hold all sorts of meetings in all sorts of wonderful vacation spots while pretended to draft the draft. My guess is they were playing golf in Hawaii, doing belly shots off of strippers in Vegas all under the guise of business. I reckon a lot of those on the board are going to be bored now that the standard is finalized. No more fancy business trips to hold meetings at resort destinations world wide.
Didn't they already start on draft 802.11p? I thought it was supposed to start being commercially produced in 2010 (next year).
Wikipedia on p:
"IEEE 802.11p is a draft amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard to add wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE). It defines enhancements to 802.11 required to support Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications."
Of course there's no need to rush that until cars become popular...
I'm sorry but I got to say something here. As an network engineer I know its not trivial to make something from Draft to standard. Theres a lot of thought and qualitiy checks that needs to go into a standard.
Think about it, they have to make sure it works for upwards of a couple hundred million possibly billions of devices. I think they want to make sure its correctly done.
So what's up next after N?
Just be patient; we'll find out in seven years or so.
O
O DUHHHHHHHHHHH
P
Q
DRAFT
R
finally!! I can sleep well tonight.
(After using N to connect to a porn site and wacking off.)
I've been doing that for 2 1/2 years (actually longer, just on 802.11g before). This Finalization means nothing.
HOOORAY Now we can use the Placebo that is Wireless N!!!
I don't really care because my g wireless still doesnt get anywhere close to the maximum 54mb /sec speeds, and from what i read, while N is theoretically better, it doesnt perform nearly that well in real life, worse than G in many cases.
exactly why I call it the placebo effect, you really arn't gaining much except some improved coverage from the stronger signal
I've tested at over 10mbytes/sec using WiFi-N. Even @ the theoretical 54mbit/sec, G can't do that.
I don't get the speed with my N gear but i get a far better range with my wireless N over my old G stuff.
N is okay speed wise, but it's more signal strength.
Though in saying that, once you have 5 or more competing networks all in the place, all that speed goes out the window, let alone stability of connection.
Just pay for a quality router/card (based on testing not just name) and you get a lot from n, but there are indeed plenty of reports of shoddy n that does even worse than g on some devices.
Only geeks rejoice on news like this ... this is not as exciting as the dialup to dsl transition
Who says it is?
(rejoicing)
You're still on DSL?
Well no shit Sherlock, this is a site for geeks. Where the hell do you think your at ESPN?
what does this mean for us owners of n routers already??
Firmware updates.
Depending on how long ago you bought your Draft-N device, it likely means nothing. The finalized spec is almost identical to the one being produced as Draft-N for over 2 years now - as stated in the article.
I hear they're relaying a fresh, out-of-the-box sent into all current Wireless-N devices, actually.
Mmmmmm. Such a great smell.
I had to re-read 3 times to realize that you meant "scent."
Eck.
So what's next now n is a standard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11p
My apologies on the new thread, was meant to be a reply to the post above me asking about "What's next?"
Uh ohz...i think that it may be used to tell the popo's when im speeding and not wearing my seat belt...
I think i might as well stop driving now before it puts me into debt..
Actually, next is 802.11ac (in the 6GHz spectrum) and later, the 802.11ad (in the 60GHz spectrum)
Don't you just love their naming scheme? It makes just about as much sense as Asus when naming the 575th generation of Eee PCs
You couldve fooled me with that comment
my professors told me that they set deadlines in order prepare me for the professional world.
bull.
My professor told me that Wheetos are made with 100% wholegrain!
And yet it's still a lot slower than wired connections! Gigabit FTW.
and wired connections are still less portable then wireless.
Did you two just get slapped my Mr. Obvious?
*Mr* Obvious? Has there been a mutiny on board HMS/USS Obvious?
Mr. Obvious? Did Captain Obvious lose his powers?
Who cares about wireless N - when is USB 3.0 going to be available?!
Yeah exactly, whos going to use Wireless n to connect their laptop to their camera...?
Oh..
Um, well. Whos going to want to use the internet from a different floor in their house wirelessly when they could... connect devices, that arnt the internet... with wires?
I'm more interested in wUSB.
Yay, I feel like I came from the future.
sounds messy
lmao! Messy, but an impressive trick for parties. But you'll never see it happen because he came and went before you knew he was there.
Oh, and I don't see any reason to own yet another wireless router, somehow they're multiplying in my closet and I don't feel the need to add N to the pile.
you may not be a fanboy but I can tell by all your "first" comments that you are a jackass.
Seriously, these things have never been so cheap! I keep picking them up as refurbs, I may have an addiction.
I have three in the house and I just gave my biz partner one, so when I'm there, my iPhone will connect faster (EDGE city, here.)
Would people be insulted if I bring them over as gifts? The four hours a week I play poker at a WiFi-less house drives me bonkers...
Finally. My Sony laptop with built in b/g/n draft cannot connect to my Linksys router which also claims to support the same 3 wireless types at n, only b and g. I'm glad to see this thing finally... well, finalized!
wtf is wrong with these people?
I am not sure who you're referring to, but there's a 98% chance I agree with you.
I'll repeat: finally!
It seems that the industry moved forward, even without ratification, but it was always a tad disconcerting that my router/laptop/devices might be rendered incompatible with the final version of the standard.
Yeaaaaah! Finalllyy!!! This should be breaking news!!
I'd ask if they could've taken any longer...but that would probably push the date back a few months, wouldn't it?
Just by mentioning it, I imagine it's been pushed back a week from when they were planning earlier today.
No doubt not helped by:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11n
------------------------------------
CSIRO Patent Issues
In late November 2007, work on the 802.11n standard slowed due to patent issues. The Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) holds the patent to a component of the 802.11n standard. This component is also part of 802.11a and 802.11g. The IEEE requested from the CSIRO a Letter of Assurance (LoA) that no lawsuits would be filed for anyone implementing the standard. In Sep 2007, CSIRO responded that they would not be able to comply with this request since litigation was involved.[16]
In April 2009, it was revealed that CSIRO reached a settlement with 14 companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Dell, Toshiba, ASUS, Microsoft and Nintendo, on the condition that CSIRO did not broadcast the resolution.
---------------
Hehe. Go Aussies, go? ;)
about freakin' time 802.11n
This probably won't work with iLife's Faces and Places...
Just ignore... form filler error. =)
I remember working at OfficeMax in 2004 and thinking "what the fuck is 'Pre-802.11n". Now I know.
im sure all the tards shopping at frys who actually listen to the salesman will buy into the hype when the new one gets sold, something along the line of "sir your old hardware uses the draft spec, this is the new fully finalized spec, you need to regrade your current grade to a grade that is greater than your current grade, otherwise your current hardware will explode and your family will die" something along that line..
the sad thing is ill be sitting there looking at products and hear these BS sales lines about how they NEED to get a N router, but conveniently they also need to upgrade all their other hardware to make sure its compatible with their brand new router.
I am not surprised at the delay because I was involved in these "standards" organizations for 15+ years. Our committee never could agree on a common method for determining printer ink/toner yield and another committee on paper products with 300+ members was eventually disbanded because they couldn't agree on the word "recycled."
Standards committees are seeded with representatives from commercial entities who will defend their interests at all costs--hence the long delays in developing "standards."
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/nissan-shows-off-latest-electric-car-prototype-with-battery-moni/2#comments
Oh did someone get their feelings hurt? Are you embarrased of your lame "first" comments? Or are you just sad that I wasn't more creative when I only called you a jackass?
What are you, 12? Grow up.