IEEE source: draft 802.11n timeline slipping yet again

More bad news for MIMO fans (if there is such a thing): Glenn Fleishman over at Wi-Fi Net News is reporting that an IEEE member has informed him of a delay in the timetable for expected approval of the final draft of the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, from sometime this summer to late fall or even early winter. Fleishman's source claims that Task Group N received around 12,000 comments on the proposed draft -- compared to the 2,000-some that most drafts generate -- which is yet another bad sign following the group's earlier failure to garner even a simple majority in favor of the current proposal, much less the 75% supermajority needed for passage. With draft approval seemingly several months off at the least, it could be a year or even a year and a half before a final 802.11n standard is ratified, meaning that those folks who are already snatching up pre-N gear will have to wait even longer to find out if their hardware ends up being compatible.

[Via Ars Technica]

[Neil @ May 22nd 2006 12:12PM]

good. means they might actually get it right and we can have a standard that is going to last for a while. Then again perhaps not...

[Korey @ May 22nd 2006 12:19PM]

i just want to take my laptop anywhere and have decent speed internet to check my engadget RSS feeds
lol i mean how hard would it be for Dumbass Bush to enact a National Wifi Policy

[Mak @ May 22nd 2006 1:14PM]

What are the chances that the Linksys draft n router they are now selling will work with the final specification? I need a new router for a simple home network, and wondering if I should buy a G spec router, or go for the extra $50 for the draft n.

[Tim @ May 22nd 2006 1:24PM]

Looks like we are just waiting for the NSA to figure out ways through-out the new networking protocols. Way to go !!!

[niv @ May 22nd 2006 1:44PM]

The NSA is like heaven for members of the IEEE, myself included. Where else can you play with the latest semiconductor and communications technology? I bet they have open labs and all the resources you'd want to build toys and gadgets. *drool*

[wonderboy @ May 22nd 2006 2:03PM]

#2 - "means they might actually get it right and we can have a standard that is going to last for a while."

Well, they don't necessarily have to get it right, all they have to do to make the 802.11n protocol last longer is to keep screwing up the post-n protocol so it doesn't get released... I mean, who'd have thought 802.11g would last this long without an upgrade?

[Marc Mayor @ May 22nd 2006 2:07PM]

Those who buy now are "selber schuldig", like the Germans say.

[Scott @ May 22nd 2006 2:21PM]

#3, do you really want the Fed's dictating WiFi policy? That can lead to no good regardless of one's political leanings. This is something for a private industry group (IEEE for example???) to manage, not government.

[Jyack @ May 22nd 2006 5:33PM]

Flashback to IEEE 802.11g pre-ratified specification: A lot of lower-priced Wi-Fi gear makers promised firmware upgrades later, but never delivered (they went out of business or just used it as a planned obsolecence strategy). It you are a hobbiest with some disposable fun money, go for it. Buy pre-N and play. If you expect to deploy enterprise-level production pre-N gear, take a deep breath, roll the dice, and dust off your resume.