Experts at Atheros Communications have said that the maximum speeds claimed for the next generation of wireless networking - 802.11n - may not come close to being achieved, at least whilst older wireless networks are still around.
According to version 1.10 of the 802.11n specifications, 802.11n devices must switch from their 40MHz operating mode down to 20MHz when an older network (ie 802.11g) is detected. That's to ensure that the older network isn't swamped by 'n' dominating the wi-fi spectrum.
That's not great news for those hailing the faster technology as a way in to streaming high definition content around the home.
Ideally, an 802.11n device connected less than 20ft from a base station could achieve throughput of between 100-150Mbps. However, the requirement to drop to 20MHz could cut performance in half, making the network only about 2 or 3 times faster than current 'g' networks.
So we either wait until 802.11g networks are phased out (not quick), or look for another wireless solution. That could be WirelessHD though it's unclear if that would have its own limitations.
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