802.11n Last modified: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
An extension to 802.11 specification developed by the IEEE for wireless LAN (WLAN) technology. 802.11n builds upon previous 802.11 standards by adding multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). The additional transmitter and receiver antennas allow for increased data throughput through spatial multiplexing and increased range by exploiting the spatial diversity through coding schemes like Alamouti coding. The speed is 100 Mbit/s (even 250 Mbit/s in PHY level), and so up to 4-5 times faster than 802.11g. 802.11n also offers a better operating distance than current networks. See 802.11 for a complete overview of the 802.11x family of specifications. Also see the "Wireless LAN Standards chart" in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia. See also "How Wireless Networks Work" in the Did You Know... section of Webopedia.
FAQ on IEEE standards Provides a list of acronyms and buzzwords to help identify an IEEE standard or a standard belonging to another standards-developing organization. In addition, there are answers to obtaining standards for various items like household appliances, DIN, and ISO 9000. IEEE home page The IEEE home page offers information on the organization, member services, publications, technical societies, and student activities. Did You Know... How Wireless Networks Work A wireless network or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) serves the same purpose as a wired one . to link a group of computers. Because "wireless" doesn't require costly wiring, the main benefit is that it's generally easier, faster and cheaper to set up. Webopedia's "Did You Know...?" Section Use this Webopedia knowledge section for an in-depth overview of specific technologies and occurrences in the areas of Computer Science, The Internet, and Computer Hardware and Software. Wi-Fi Planet 802.11 news, commentary and information. Wi-FiHotSpotList.com Search this directory for Wi-Fi hotspots in your region.

Related Terms

802.11 802.11a 802.11b 802.11e 802.11g 802.1x IEEE IEEE 802 IEEE 802 standards Mobile IP WCDMA WECA