Introduction to Wireless-N

Wireless networking has become so common in the average household; virtually everyone is connected  to the internet wirelessly with their laptops, game consoles, and other devices. More recently, it's become important for users to have the speed to stream large quantities of data - either for HD video, VoIP, online gaming, or even all of those at the same time. With standard 802.11b or g equipment, this can be pretty tough to do smoothly.

What will Wireless-N do for me?

Overall, Wireless-N has been shown to display real world speeds of almost twice that of Wireless-G, and better range as well; so you can get the most out of your system with the new technology. The enhanced speed will allow you to have the best and fastest connections for your HD video streams, internet phone connections, and online games. The enhanced range and decreased interference will make in-home connectivity easier and faster. If you're wondering how Wireless-N does all of this great stuff, read on!

Multiple Channels

The 802.11n standard can use two channels at once. Both can send and receive data, and this raises the rate at which data can be sent. In addition, 802.11n can take advantage of the 5 GHz band to reduce interference, and give you better connections and range.

MIMO

Wireless-N utilizes MIMO, also known as "Multiple Input, Multiple Output," which comes into play especially when large amounts of data are being sent from multiple sources. Multiple receiving and transmitting antennae can be used, rather than just one. This allows the standard to use separate streams of data all at once. Not only will you get better range, but data will be sent faster.

Compatibility

One of the things about Wireless-N that many will take for granted is that it will live comfortably with other network devices in your home, such as your 802.11a, b, and g devices; they will not interfere with each other. This means that integrating Wireless-N will be much easier for many users.

Wireless-N And The TouchSmart

You're probably wondering how all of this cool stuff will help you get the most from your HP TouchSmart.  Fortunately, the TouchSmart IQ500 series has Wireless-N technology baked right in, so as long as you're using a Wireless-N router, you're set to take advantage of it.  Here are some of the ways that Wireless-N will work for your TouchSmart:

• Coverage:  A Wireless-N router will help you if you have a large home, and your TouchSmart is located a longer distance from your router.  Since Wireless-N can provide many times the range of Wireless-G, you're much more likely to get the fastest speeds if you're in that situation.
• Speed:  Wireless-N can provide many times the speed of Wireless-G, ensuring that your streaming video and other high-bandwidth applications don't run out of breath.
• Multiple Activities at Once:  Wireless-N really starts to strut its stuff if you're doing lots of things at once - and who doesn't?  If you're using Skype, playing World of Warcraft, streaming a movie, checking the weather in the TouchCenter, and downloading large files on your TouchSmart all at the same time, Wireless-N ensures they'll all run smoothly.
• Streaming Video From Multiple PC's:  Maybe you have more than one TouchSmart in your home, or just have a lot of PC's that you want to view videos on all at the same time.  In any case, Wireless-N technology will help ensure that all of your video or HD streams keep going strong.

Follow the links below to learn even more about Wireless-N.

Wi-Fi.org - The Wi-Fi Alliance

Wireless Standards Comparison Chart from Wikipedia