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View Full Version : Atheros Puts 802.11g on Single Chip: Compact Design Could Mean Wi-Fi on Even Smaller Devices


Jason Dunn
01-27-2004, 11:43 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114452,tk,dn012704X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article...n012704X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Atheros Communications expects to support 802.11g wireless networking on a single chip to be released in the second quarter, potentially lowering the cost of putting the technology in notebooks and personal digital assistants. <br /><br />The AR5005G combines a baseband processor, a media access controller (MAC), and a radio on a single chip. This integration represents an industry first, says Colin Macnab, vice president of marketing and business development for Atheros. The company will be able to provide the wireless technology on a single chip for a lower cost than the multiple chips that currently provide that capability, he says."<br /><br />I can't say that I've ever felt that I've saturated the 802.11b speeds on my iPAQ 4150, but more speed is always better. :mrgreen:

rugerx
01-27-2004, 11:51 PM
That is pretty neat. I figured they would work 802.11g in soon.

As for saturating 802.11b, I agree, PDA's cant even make a dent in 11MB, much less 54MB.

A video stream from full quality mini DV video runs about 4MB.

burtman007
01-28-2004, 12:01 AM
Just curious then, does it appear that the bottleneck is at the CPU level? Memory write level?

What kind of network throughput can a speedy new device (maybe a 4150 or e805) maintain during a file copy or ftp transaction?

Anyone got some numbers to put up :?: :?: :?:

lawson
01-28-2004, 12:11 AM
For me, the real reason I want a PDA that does 802.11g isn't because the PDA might communicate faster...

It's because my Notebook would communicate =much= faster if I could switch my access point to 802.11g-only mode instead of leaving it in mixed mode to support my PDA... :mrgreen:

rugerx
01-28-2004, 12:20 AM
Results of my testing:

1. PDA to PC - USB
File transfer via active sync USB of single 80 MB file from SD sandisk 128MB card.
Avg 1.4 Mbits/sec, pretty much the max of usb 1.0

2. PDA to PC - wifi b
File transfer via 802.11b using rescoe to copy same 80 MB file to shared 7200 RPM hard drive from SD sandisk 128MB card.
Avg 2.7 Mbits/sec, exactly 2 feet from 802.11b/g wifi router running in Mixed mode to accomodate 802.11b devices.

3. PC to Laptop - wifi g
Same file transfered from PC hard wired to router, to laptop with 802.11g card.
Avg 17.9Mbits/sec. This number is somewhat low, due to the fact that the limiting factor is the laptop is a PIII/700mhz. My friend at work with the same router in mixed mode b/g can transfer at 26Mbits/sec with a P4/2ghz laptop. So I assume the older bus architecture makes the difference.

Speed clocked on PC by netstat live from www.analogx.com.

comments are welcome :D

Handy
01-28-2004, 03:09 PM
I don't know if my current PDA is bumping up against max speed for 802.11b or not. It may be that it is because of limitations in processor speed and i/o to the storage card.

Even so, I'm hopeful that future PDAs will be faster and will be able to take advantage of the higher speeds. Downloading web pages is a lot slower than I'd like now.

rugerx
01-28-2004, 03:14 PM
If your PDA downloaded web content at 11 MB/sec it would probably catch on fire. :lol:

EricMCarson
01-28-2004, 03:20 PM
For me, the real reason I want a PDA that does 802.11g isn't because the PDA might communicate faster...

It's because my Notebook would communicate =much= faster if I could switch my access point to 802.11g-only mode instead of leaving it in mixed mode to support my PDA... :mrgreen:

BINGO. I also would like to see this chip built into the new Media Center PC extenders so that I can switch my home router over to G only as well.

rugerx
01-28-2004, 03:25 PM
Curious have you tested the difference between b and g on your laptop?

My router runs in mixed b/g mode and I am able to much surpass the 11Mbit barrier. (17.9 MBit on an old laptop).

:?:

EricMCarson
01-28-2004, 04:19 PM
Curious have you tested the difference between b and g on your laptop?

My router runs in mixed b/g mode and I am able to much surpass the 11Mbit barrier. (17.9 MBit on an old laptop).

:?:

I can definitely break the 11 Mbit barrier (more like 15-16 Mbit for me in mixed mode), but can never quite get up to the 27-33Mbit that I get when in g only mode.

that_kid
01-28-2004, 05:04 PM
Curious have you tested the difference between b and g on your laptop?

My router runs in mixed b/g mode and I am able to much surpass the 11Mbit barrier. (17.9 MBit on an old laptop).

:?:

I solved that problem (for the time anyway) by using separate ap's for my laptops and ppc's. I have three G ap's for my ppc's setup in "B" mode and two G ap's setup in "G" only mode. I also have my ppc ap's on a separate network but it sure would be nice to just have everything set to "G" only. I'm murderous on some bandwidth 8O

jaws
01-28-2004, 05:19 PM
Does anybody know how far this wifi reaches? I've heard that it's supposed to reach like 30 miles!? :|

C Brandt
01-28-2004, 06:02 PM
I seem to recall reading somewhere that G wouldn't make it into PDA sized devices because of the increased power consumption. I'd much rather have B and 4 hours of battery than G and 2 hours...

chris

EricMCarson
01-28-2004, 08:02 PM
Does anybody know how far this wifi reaches? I've heard that it's supposed to reach like 30 miles!? :|

I believe you're thinking of WiMax, not Wi-Fi G.

brianchris
01-28-2004, 10:13 PM
I solved that problem (for the time anyway) by using separate ap's for my laptops and ppc's. I have three G ap's for my ppc's setup in "B" mode and two G ap's setup in "G" only mode.

Now THAT is hardcore 0X .....never thought of that before, and I I love it!!!!

-Brian