Is 54g™ proprietary?
Broadcom's 54g™ technology is compliant with the IEEE 802.11g
standard. However, 54g™ is Broadcom's unique implementation
that exceeds performance and security requirements specified in
the standard.
Is 54g™ certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance?
54g™ reference designs are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED.
How should I compare high-speed WLAN technology options?
Customers have three primary options in evaluating new, higher
speed wireless LAN technologies; 802.11g, 802.11a and 802.11a/g.
The following table summarizes the primary tradeoffs in selecting
a new technology.
 |
802.11g |
802.11a |
802.11a/g |
Speed
|
54 Mbps |
54 Mbps |
108 Mbps |
| Range |
Same/Better |
42% less |
Same/Better |
| Compatible |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Cost Premium |
Small |
Medium |
High |
| WW Regulatory Rules |
Same |
New |
New |
What are the different benefits of 54g™ versus
802.11a?
54g™ and 802.11a use the same signaling technology, however,
54g™ operates at 2.4 GHz and 802.11a operates at 5 GHz.
2.4 GHz wireless LANs and 5 GHz wireless LANs are not mutually
exclusive and we expect that dual-band solutions will ultimately
become commonplace. In short, 2.4 GHz offers better range at different
data rates than 5 GHz, due to better material penetration and
multi-path properties. Other advantages of 54g™ over 802.11a
include: backward compatibility with the installed base of 802.11b
devices, simpler homologation of the 2.4 GHz band technology for
rapid worldwide deployment and affordability.
In order to provide compatibility to users in the 2.4 GHz frequency
band, 802.11a vendors now provide dual-band client and access
point wireless LAN solutions. The cost of adding a 5 GHz radio
to a 2.4 GHz solution increases the cost of both the client and
the access point.
802.11a can provide excellent augmentation of a 54g™ network
in environments with many users in a small area. The wider 5 GHz
band of 802.11a offers more channels, which allows for more simultaneous
users to achieve higher throughput. Broadcom has also introduced
a dual-band a/g chipset in order to support environments that
require the highest possible wireless LAN user capacity.
Are there any reasons to deploy 802.11 a/b instead of
802.11 a/g?
No. Anyone migrating to a dual-band solution should choose an
802.11a/g solution over an 802.11a/b solution for aggregate bandwidth
reasons and to be compatible to the new mainstream wireless LAN
standard. Users will experience higher connectivity speeds and
network managers can deploy high-speed networks at lower cost
by spacing the access points using familiar 802.11b spacing.
What about 802.11b?
802.11b will remain an important component of the wireless LAN
landscape. Because of its low cost, size, and power advantage
over the newer standards, it will continue to be used in devices
where throughput requirements are secondary, such as PDAs and
cell phones.
Which wireless LAN vendors are using 54g™ chipsets?
Broadcom's 54g™ customer list continues to grow as consumers
and enterprises demand high performance products. Broadcom supplies
the industry's leading wireless LAN system vendors, including
Microsoft, Linksys, Belkin and Buffalo/MELCO and Motorola. PC
manufacturers that are equipping notebook PCs with 54g™
technology include Apple, Dell, eMachines, Fujitsu, Gateway and
Hewlett-Packard/Compaq.
Where can I get more information?
www.broadcom.com
wlan@broadcom.com
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