Communications: Wireless Access Points And Switch Deliver Interference-Free Data

May 26, 2005

An interference-free architecture dubbed WiFi Collaboration empowers a family of 5-GHz UltraThin wireless access points (APs) (EXRP10 and EXRP20) and an intelligent wireless eight-port 10/100-Mbit/s switch (the EXSW800). It lets the devices avoid co-channel interference and improve the range of wireless network connections using multiple radios to support 802.11a/b/g. The scheme monitors the quality of the signal from mobile clients and automatically and seamlessly switches APs on a packet-by-packet basis when a better signal can be obtained. This enables client systems to move from AP to AP without losing network connectivity. Also employed in the switch is the company's TrueReuse technology, which allows the switch to select multiple APs and then transmit simultaneously to the selected APs over the same channel without co-channel interference. This permits optimal frequency reuse while maintaining 802.11 compatibility. A full eight-port system (switch and eight APs) costs about $14,000.

Extricom Inc.www.extricom.com

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.