Intel Next Generation Wireless N - Updates on the Wireless Frontier

Intel has just launched their Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset for Centrino noteboooks as well as a new Connect with Centrino certification program, but what does this mean for consumers and the industry? We take a brief look at Intel's plans and the impact on the progress of the next generation IEEE 802.11n standard.

Preamble

Over the past year, we've begun seeing strong movement and progress of the long awaited 802.11n wireless networking specifications – but has it been enough? Pre-N wireless equipment showed us the future potential of wireless networking and when the first draft of the 802.11n standard (IEEE 802.11n Draft 1.0 or commonly known as Draft N) was finalized, droves of 'Draft N' equipment from almost every major networking vendor appeared, promising performances 5-6 times that of traditional 802.11g and 2-3 times the coverage. However, thus far most wireless networking equipment based on Draft N have failed to be overly impressive. Early gear showed a remarkable tendency for inconsistencies in performance and range ("The N is Near" Draft-N router shootout - November 2006 issue of HWM), and then there is the thorny issue of weak interoperability and compatibility between Draft-N networking equipment. Most Draft N equipment are backward compatible with legacy 802.11b/g networks, but not inter-compatible with each other. While hardware and software improvements have been made since, these issues are still very prevalent in wireless equipment based on the Draft 1.0 standards, even today.


Intel Enters the Fray

On the 23rd January 2007, Intel announced their next generation Centrino WLAN chipset for notebooks, codenamed 'Kedron', marking their entry into the high speed Draft N wireless race. Kedron was initially supposed to be part of 'Santa Rosa', Intel's upcoming Centrino mobile chipset that is not due to be launched for another quarter, but Intel has revealed that the new Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset will be available almost immediately with updated Centrino Duo (Napa Refresh) models. We should be seeing notebooks from major vendors like ASUS, Acer and Toshiba featuring this within the month.

The ASUS S6 series will be one of the first few Napa Refresh notebooks to feature Intel's new Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset.

The ASUS S6 series will be one of the first few Napa Refresh notebooks to feature Intel's new Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset.

The Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN is a quad-band embedded PCIe Mini Card network adapter is an upgrade to the previous PRO/Wireless 3945ABG chipset and is compatible with all three legacy 802.11a/b/g networks as well as Draft N. The chipset can operate in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, supporting advanced wireless technologies such as MIMO, payload optimizations and channel bonding in the 5GHz band. It is also supposed to be future proofed and ready for the final IEEE 802.11n standard when it is ratified.

Close up of the real Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN module.

Close up of the real Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN module.

In conjunction with the Kedron launch, Intel also initiated a new Connect with Centrino program, which is aimed at securing compatibility and performance of the Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset with the various leading AP vendors out there. Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear are the initial partners that have signed on and Intel has promised that additional vendors will be joining the program in time.

First phase of partners signed on with the Connect with Centrino program.

First phase of partners signed on with the Connect with Centrino program.

As one of the driving members of the WiFi Alliance (WFA), Intel's involvement carries some weight in the developments of the 802.11n standard, so it is of some interest to know why Intel chose to push forward the schedule for Kedron. Why now? Draft 1.0 has been out for around half a year and the IEEE is finally moving on the vote for Draft 2.0. Intel could have waited for final approval for Draft 2.0 and still be in time for the Santa Rosa launch. There is also currently no Draft N router or AP out there that operates 802.11n on the 5GHz band yet (discounting the recent CES 2007 announcements), which means that features like channel bonding will not be available yet even with Kedron equipped notebooks.

During a regional press conference held in Taipei on the 30th of January, we managed to have a brief chat with Michael Chen, the Director of Intel's Embedded Sales Group in the Asia Pacific region to find out what their plans and projections are for 802.11n, Kedron and the Connect with Centrino program.

Michael Chen, Director of Intel's Embedded Sales Group, Asia Pacific talks about Kedron.

Michael Chen, Director of Intel's Embedded Sales Group, Asia Pacific talks about Kedron.

Intel and the State of 802.11n

According to Intel, they feel that Draft N is already at a pretty stable and matured stage since they've been working in the backgrounds with key AP vendors. Through the Connect with Centrino program, Intel is confident that the Draft N ecosystem is able to satisfy the levels of performance that is required from next generation WLAN networks. Because of this, and for the fact that there is an overwhelming demand for high bandwidth networks in the digital home environment, this is the most opportune moment to launch their next generation mobile wireless chipset. It seems far more likely that Intel sees the growing trend of high speed networking and putting their own stake to milk the cash cow.

The Connect with Centrino is program is not unexpected as well. Intel only makes wireless adapters, which is basically one half of the equation in any wireless network, so they have to make sure that their chipset is fully compatible with the major wireless N networks in the market. If you're wondering why Linksys, one of Intel's closest Centrino partners is not in the list of Connect with Centrino vendors, we've been told that this is only because Linksys is undergoing some restructuring of their marketing plans. We should expect to see Linksys certified in the next phases of Connect with Centrino.

There is actually a bigger picture to look at. The most important component of this launch isn't really the Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset, but the Connect with Centrino program. It doesn't really matter as much as to what was the driving force behind the program, but what it actually represents. Connect with Centrino promises to be a catalyst of sorts to drive a more unified wireless N ecosystem. Because of the additional testing and validation, Intel will create one of the widest interoperability base for any Draft N wireless network out there, even if it is centered around their own chipset compatibility. This will mean higher interoperability for current Draft 1.0 products, smoother transition and tighter support for the eventual Draft 2.0 upgrades and possibly well into 802.11n ratification.

Don't forget that being part of the WFA, Intel is bullish about getting 802.11n out the door as soon as possible. According to the official IEEE 802.11n Task Group work plan predictions (at time of writing), the standard is not due ratification and approval before October 2008. Intel's own estimations however, are far more optimistic. Mr. Chen shared Intel's time line with us, which shows that they expect Draft 2.0 to be finalized by March 2007, followed by Draft 3.0 within the June to September 2007 time frame and they are confident that IEEE will ratify 802.11n within this year as well.

Intel's timeline for WFA and Centrino events.

Intel's timeline for WFA and Centrino events.

Our Thoughts

With compatibility out of the way, the other variable that remains is performance. All current Draft N products still work in the 2.4GHz band, which it is entirely too congested. Even with MIMO using multipath interference to its advantage, it is unable to offer the promised speeds on 802.11n. We didn't get real specifics from Intel, but they've grudgingly admitted that improvements still have to be made. They've been able to achieve 100-120Mbps throughput in mid-range tests (our own testing reveals similar numbers), which is good news for a home network. However, performance drops drastically at further ranges. Intel's own numbers for an interference free, line-of-sight environment, Draft N throughput with their Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN chipset is around 19Mbps at 68m. A pretty good number, but remember that this is only within the most ideal of situations.

Theoretical optimal throughput performance of Intel wireless N.

Theoretical optimal throughput performance of Intel wireless N.

The industry will have to mature further to embrace migration to the congestion free 5GHz band, taking advantage of channel bonding and leaving 2.4GHz to legacy 802.11b/g. However, there is a counter-point to taking up the 5GHz band. Because radio wavelengths are shorter at 5GHz and have a weaker signal penetration, devices will be required to output higher powered signals to achieve the same range as 2.4GHz. Given the choice though, we'd rather sacrifice a little coverage range to have the promised bandwidth of an 802.11n network with low interference than suffer inconsistent performance and flaky connectivity within the 2.4GHz spectrum. You may still be able to maintain decent signal strength at 35m in a crowded office environment, but when throughput drops to an average of 5-6Mbps, it defeats the purpose of 802.11n.

Intel's Connect with Centrino is definitely a step forward in the right direction and with a giant like Intel pushing ahead, we might just be able to see a more stable next generation wireless ecosystem.

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