Re: Inter-operability of Draft-n equipment

LR <lrme@xxxxxxxxxxx> hath wroth:
The Wi-Fi Alliance, as usual, keep their interoperability test
procedures for Draft N under wrap.

Well yes. The test procedures are their primary asset. If anyone can
obtain the procedures and perform their tests, then someone might
discount their rather high cost of certification (About $25K). Of
course, that won't stop someone from trying:
<http://www.azimuthsystems.com/solutions-wi-fi-certified.htm>
<http://www.azimuthsystems.com/97710dd2-94ae-44f8-9b57-4f97befcfaef/news-press-detail.htm>
There are other vendors, but as usual, I can't find them in my
bookmark mess.

Meanwhile, I'm still dealing with WEP ASCII/BINARY conversion
incompatibilities and regularly find wireless clients that can't seem
to get a DHCP assigned IP from certified wireless routers. There are
a few other big holes in Wi-Fi certification.

So, when all the products are certified and largely indistinguishable,
vendors are competing on the basis of buzzwords and unsubstantiated
claims. That attract class action suits:
<http://www.belkin.com/class_notice/classnotice.asp>
<http://www.techworld.com/mobility/news/index.cfm?NewsID=4873&inkc=0>
<http://www.buffalotech.com/files/Official%20Notice.pdf>
Everybody lies, but that's ok because nobody listens.

As an aside I did find this web site which does have a pdf. of how they
did it for 11a,11b and 11g.
<http://www.iol.unh.edu/services/testing/wireless/testsuites/temp.html#802.11n%20Draft%202.0%20MAC%20STA%20Conformance%20Test%20Suite>

Never mind interoperability. Just getting MIMO to work in the first
place is somewhat of a challenge:
<http://rfdesign.com/next_generation_wireless/broadband_technologies/radio_challenges_testing_mimo/>

Most of the vendors are assuming that MIMO will go the way of DOCSIS
certification, where there is no interoperability testing between the
DSLAM and the DOCSIS modem. Instead, there are certification tests,
performed with a standardized (CableLabs) test suite, on each device.
In theory, if they communicate reliably with the test equipment, they
should talk reliability to each other. In general, that has worked
well.
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@xxxxxxxxxx
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
.

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