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July 19, 2004

Shot Across Atheros (and Others) Bow

By Glenn Fleishman

This press release sounds obscure, but it’s not: you can’t call yourself Wi-Fi if your proprietary add-on interferes with Wi-Fi receivers: The Wi-Fi Alliance has taken action on the alleged interference caused by Atheros Super G Turbo mode. Broadcom has stated on many occasions and presented test results that they claim demonstrate that the Turbo mode (which binds two radio channels to produce a gross throughput of 108 Mbps an a net throughput in the mid-30 Mbps) can dramatically drop the speed of nearby Wi-Fi networks running 802.11b or 802.11g flavors.

Atheros has consistently denied that those tests reflect reality: they have said their own tests fail to demonstrate this problem. Testing by Tim Higgins of Tom’s Networking showed most clearly that Broadcom’s equipment was most heavily affected by Atheros’s Turbo mode, but only under limited, close-range circumstances. Anecdotally, I’ve heard more and more stories from home users finding their networks performing erratically, but I have been unable to track down in those cases whether new nearby networks—in apartment buildings or residential neighborhoods—were the culprit, whether Atheros-based or otherwise.

The Wi-Fi Alliance had promised months ago to take up this issue, which is a touchy one, given that Atheros and Broadcom are both members, and that most chipmakers and consumer manufacturers are deploying a range of proprietary and/or pre-standards extensions to Wi-Fi.

Starting today, if any extension impairs other Wi-Fi devices, the alliance can use its trademark control to pull its branding. The alliance’s director, Frank Hanzlik, says in this press release, “If a product extension significantly impacts the ability of other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment to operate as intended, the Alliance may withhold or revoke certification.”

Interestingly, more devices are heading to market without the Wi-Fi stamp, and with this latest tool, it might mean that Wi-Fi becomes Balkanized—Atheros could opt out and potentially see no problems with that decision. Some of its OEM partners already ship Wi-Fi-trademark-free equipment.

Posted by Glennf at July 19, 2004 10:38 AM

Categories: Financial, Standards

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