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February 2006 Vol.6 Issue 2
Page(s) 68-70 in print issue
Tomorrows Network
Examining Future Home-Networking Technologies
We keep hearing the same promises. Every electronics device we own will be able to
talk to one another, from our car stereo to our toaster. Well be able to stream highdefinition movies from a PC to our home theater system. Well be able to connect to our
home network from anywhere using portable devices.
These days are coming, and theyre closer than you
might think. Gigabit Ethernet for home networks is
gaining traction already, and wireless networking
companies are cranking out faster and faster products.
Over the next few years, the cutting edge will become
commonplace, and we want to make sure you dont miss
out on any of it.
This HDTV from Haier
receives digital video
signals from the
bundled media server
wirelessly using
UWB.
Hardwired
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Lets pretend the stars align, and all of the broadcasters on earth suddenly decide to
offer all of their content as high-definition downloads. Because were already playing in
the realm of the impossible, lets say they decide to offer all of it in 1080p at 60fps, which
is the best HD standard were going to get for quite some time. A raw 1080p60 signal
needs 3Gbps of bandwidth, and GbE obviously wont stream that much data, so 10GbE
is the clear choice.
Pre-802.11n devices
such as Netgears
RangeMax 240
Wireless Router offer
bandwidth of up to
240Mbps now, but
thats just a fraction
of what the true
802.11n specification
handles.
Wireless Wars
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Windows Vista
promises a slew of
enhanced networking
features, but it
remains to be seen
how many of these
will truly help end
users.
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Products such as
Linksys Wireless-G
Exterior Access
Point, which is
designed for outdoor
use, get their
electricity from PoE
technology, so
theyre easy to place
anywhere.
New Vistas
When you're budgeting for new 10GbE and high-speed
wireless networking hardware, be sure to save some
cash for Windows Vista. It should be available later this
year, and the developers are promising a slew of
networking enhancements. Most of the changes benefit
software developers or IT managers, but there are some
that will appeal to us power users.
Beyond Tomorrow
You can never have enough network bandwidth, and
optical networks that rely on fiber-optic cable have
incredible potential. In September 2005 Lucent
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Standards To Watch
802.11n and UWB might get most of the buzz these days, but be on the lookout
for other technologies that will change the way you use your network.
802.16e
WiMAX promises to bring high-speed wireless broadband Internet access to the
masses, and 802.16e promises to give you more than a 1Mbps connection from
your car or other moving vehicle.
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802.20
Much like 802.16e, 802.20 brings WiMAX to mobile users. The big difference?
Its designed to deliver a connection even if youre moving as fast as 155mph, so
now youll be able to shop online from your private helicopter.
BPL (Broadband over Power Line)
High-speed Internet access from any socket in the house? Where do we sign up?
HomePlug AV
More love for the power outlets: Network at up to 200Mbps using your existing
wiring.
ZigBee
Cheap, low-powered radios may let your electronics equipment network with one
another, from the fridge to the TV.
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beyondfar beyond.
More Power
Networking devices that get their electricity from the Ethernet cable using 802.3af
PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology should expand dramatically in the future
and make it much easier to place networking devices throughout your house, or
even outside it.
The main problem with PoE right now is that it only supplies a theoretical
maximum of 15.4 watts of power, but that will all change with PoE Plus
technology. The newer standard should deliver at least 30W, and probably more,
which is enough to run some notebook computers. Products using PoE Plus may
not appear until 2007 or later, but in the meantime companies such as
PowerDsine offer devices right now that deliver more power than PoE. The
companys 8012 High Power Midspan, for example, delivers up to 39W of power
to each attached device. Its as easy as running cables from your existing router
or hub to the midspan and then running them from the midspan out to your PoE
devices.
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