More on HomeRF vs. 802.11b

Last time we discussed whether businesses should consider HomeRF wireless LAN products, given that they were designed primarily for home use. In addition to the size of your environment and user base, there are several other factors to consider. Among them are voice support and breadth of vendor choice.

One thing to consider is whether you want to integrate voice onto the wireless LAN and, if you do, how many users you'll need to support. The 1.6M bit/sec HomeRF technology available today is designed to support four phone lines within a home or small office. Four users with handsets can communicate simultaneously across the WAN over a broadband DSL or cable modem connection, for example. (Note, though, that you'd be hard-pressed to find HomeRF handsets for purchase today. More on this in an upcoming newsletter.) HomeRF supports voice through the reservation of 100K bit/sec time slots, so that voice traffic never has to fight for bandwidth and thus gets the quality of service it requires. The next generation of HomeRF technology, for which the specification is slated to be complete by year-end, will run at 10M bit/sec and will be able to support eight simultaneous phone conversations, according to the HomeRF Working Group. HomeRF is ahead of 802.11b on this front, so if wireless integration of voice and data in a very small office - at comparatively inexpensive prices - is your goal, take a look at HomeRF first.

On the other hand, would greater choice of vendors make you feel comfortable about your investment and future options? The 802.11b-compliant products certified by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance are available from about 50 vendors. HomeRF has a lengthy member roster, too, but standard products are available from only a handful of vendors: IBM, Intel, Cayman Systems and Compaq.

Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in Campbell, Calif., who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com.

Network World Wireless archive
Past newsletters.

About HomeRF working group Web site

Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance Web site

Seimens Press Release 09/11/00: FCC approved speed upgrade:

Compaq bundles wireless home nets
PC World, 05/09/00

Intel to ship wireless LAN gear
IDG News Service, 06/05/00

Intel enhances home network protection
IDG News Service, 08/16/00