Wireless heads toward the next speed hike

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If I had to choose one word that describes what we find to be the most desirable when it comes to computers, the word that motivates all of us to upgrade our older models to newer ones, the one word that defines the quintessential essence of what computing is all about, I’d have to say that word is “speed.”

Speed is what lets us communicate more information in less time. Speed lets us get the answers to more questions faster. Speed makes computer graphics look better and smoother because the faster the machines, the better they can compute the more complex math to generate those beautiful images. Speed makes the Internet more efficient so you can get more information that looks better when you get it. Speed rules.

The rate at which we’re realizing these greater speed milestones is in itself getting faster, which is a good thing. It wasn’t that long ago when I was using a 300-baud modem, which was really the first phone speed for personal computer telecommunications. With today’s Internet demands, you’d have to wait a good portion of the day to receive just one browser page at that speed.

But when it comes to wireless access to the Internet, we’re just not that far away from that first effort of wireless communications. 802.11 refers to a family of specifications developed by the IEEE for wireless LAN technology. While 802.11a was the first WiFi standard to be ratified in 1999, it wasn’t widely used. The 802.11b standard was ratified in the same year, was slower at 11 megabits per second (Mbps) but made it into the mainstream, finding its way into Starbucks and other public venues across the country. In 2003, 802.11g is the tasters WiFi of choice these days. But as with everything else in computing, it just isn’t speedy enough. Enter in 802.11n.

Well actually, 802.11n really hasn’t entered yet but its foot is certainly through the front door. However, the need for speed isn’t letting the slower process of ratification get in the way. While a standard is being ratified, some companies will release an interim or “draft” version of the standard inside some of its products. And while draft iterations are certainly going to change, the one thing they do keep within them is total compatibility with the older, legacy standards. So while you may buy an 802.11n draft product, especially one from a company with a reputation for making reliable products they stand behind, it’s a good move on your part because it will work with all of the WiFi enabled computers you have now and you’ll benefit from the almost four times boost in communications speed (up to 300 Mbps) when using an 802.11n draft-enabled computer.

That’s the idea behind Netgear’s RangeMax NEXT, Wireless-N Router. Available in both a megabit and gigabit editions, the RangeMax NEXT is a solid product, especially with a rock solid company like Netgear behind it. This next generation wireless standard router uses advanced MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out) technology, which delivers incredible speed and range but without those ugly antennas one sees on other MIMO equipped devices. Netgear does this via preset internal antennas yet the range one gets with it is quite impressive over the non-MIMO devices.

But the real star here is Netgear. They’ve taken the 802.11n draft standard and packaged it into a sleek, wireless router that stands vertically, taking less of your valuable desktop space. The front panel displays in easy to understand lighted numbers and symbols. With the gigabit version, the color of those numbers indicate the connection speed, yellow for megabit, green for gigabit making for one of the more intuitive displays on a router I’ve seen in a long time.

Netgear also makes a variety of adapters that connect to your computer via USB or a PCMCIA card as well as a wireless access point to increase your network’s size.

If you feel the need for speed and “cutting-edge” in your vocabulary doesn’t mean a rusty blade, then you’d best be checking out the RangeMax NEXT. The RangeMax NEXT goes for $139.99. The Gigabit Edition goes for $159.99.

www,netgear.com

(Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, Computer America, heard on the Business TalkRadio Network and the Lifestyle TalkRadio Network - Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.-midnight ET. For more information, visit his web site at www.computeramerica.com.)