"Enhanced" 802.11b
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: wireless, networking, ntk, tech
- 1. Introduction
- 2. "Enhanced" 802.11b
- 3. HomeRF
- 4. 802.11a
- 5. Bluetooth
2. "Enhanced" 802.11b
Updated April 2003
First announced in May 2002 by US Robotics, this new wrinkle in the wireless networking fabric may be coming on stronger than many people expected.
Although all the Rule #1 caveats apply to the 22Mbps number, the smart thing about TI's implementation of the "enhanced" mode is that "enhanced" Access Points and Routers simultaneously support clients operating in both "enhanced" and normal 802.11b modes. This is much better than the 802.11a "turbo" modes that require both client and Access Point to be hard-switched to "turbo" mode, because it allows each client to control its own mode. So if client has a weak connection to an "enhanced" AP and their connection speed is really taking a hit, they can (manually) switch back to normal 802.11b, without having to disturb anyone else on the network, or reconfigure the AP.
Note that "enhanced" products are subject to the same 2.4 GHz phone and microwave oven interference, and same problems with WEP insecurity as their "un-enhanced" cousins. But the TI chipset doesn't slow you down when you enable WEP, so, hopefully, that will cause more people to use it, and secure their WLANs from casual connections by folks looking for a free broadband connection. TI's WEP implementation has also lengthened the key to an optional 256 bits, to slow down would-be WEP key crackers. You can get a look at what this technology provides by reading our reviews of the D-Link AirPlus Wireless Access Point and AirPlus Enhanced 2.4 GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter.
Recommendation: Probably not the way to go, given that the "enhancement" is not an industry standard. You'd be better off with 802.11g products, which have a 54Mbps maximum raw data rate and are backed by an IEEE standard.
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