Atheros Confidential
Atheros 802.11n Solutions
January 2006
Atheros Confidential
AgendaAgenda
Market Requirements
The Power of 3
Product Details
Standardization Update
Atheros Confidential
Market Requirements
Atheros Confidential
Increasing WLAN RequirementsIncreasing WLAN Requirements
Web surfing
Internet connectivity
In the beginning, there was a computer in the home…
Now, everyonein the family has their own…
WIRELESS REQUIREMENT:Sharing the broadbandsubscription
Can be effectivewith 54 Mbps if the data is simple, low priority traffic
Atheros Confidential
Increasing WLAN RequirementsIncreasing WLAN Requirements
Wireless printing
Web surfing
Internet connectivity
Music downloadsFile sharing
With everyone in the family having their own computer and the increased availability of digital media, the next level isSharing Content
This includes appssuch as wireless printing, sharing and storing photos,transferring audioand video files
WIRELESS REQUIREMENT: 54 Mbps 802.11 a or g are still adequate, although performance enhancements like 108 Mbps Super G/AG, speed all processes for a better user experience.
Atheros Confidential
Increasing WLAN RequirementsIncreasing WLAN Requirements
Web surfing
Internet connectivity
Music downloads
PVR TV streaming
PVR TV streaming
Internet gaming
Wireless printing
File sharing
File sharing
VoIP phone
WiFi PDA
Enter real-time applications: PVRs sendingmultiple streams of video throughout the home, VoIP, devices downloading and transmitting HD video files and real-time gaming…simultaneously.
WIRELESS REQUIREMENTS:Wire-like speeds uninterrupted duringtransmissionsor conversations.
Reliable Coverageat real throughput rates of 100Mbps or more.
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Atheros Response to Market Requirements….Atheros Response to Market Requirements….
Atheros’ 802.11n solution brings the WLAN user experience closer to that of the wired network
PHY rates exceeding fast ethernet Consistent, reliable throughput Multi-vendor interoperability
Achieved only with The Power of 3
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The Power of 3
Atheros Confidential
Introducing the World’s First Three-Radio ChipIntroducing the World’s First Three-Radio Chip
3 embedded 2.4 & 5.0 GHz radios
20MHz and 40MHz channels
300Mbps PHY rate
AR5133
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Atheros 802.11n Two-Chip SolutionAtheros 802.11n Two-Chip Solution
AR5416
MAC and BB MRC & spatial multiplexing
Two concurrent data streams
Legacy 802.11a/b/g support
AR5133
3 embedded 2.4/5.0 GHz radios
20MHz and 40MHz channels
300Mbps PHY rate
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The Power of 3: Best Rate over RangeThe Power of 3: Best Rate over Range
+44%
+51% +62%
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
PH
Y R
ate
266
185
136
90 89
55
Distance
50 feet 100 feet 150 feet
3x3
2 s
trea
ms
2x2
2 s
trea
ms
3x3
2 s
trea
ms
2x2
2 s
trea
ms
Downlink Throughput: 3x3 vs 2x2 AP to Client
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4000 sq ft home
Testing the Power of 3Testing the Power of 3
4000 square foot home: Acid test for the power of 3x3 over 2x2
Atheros Confidential
4000 sq ft home
Downlink Performance with 2x2Downlink Performance with 2x2
3x3
266
136
89
2x2
185
90
55
%Δ
+44%
+51%
+62%
50 ft
100 ft
150 ft
DOWNLINK DOWNLINK
300 Mbpsdata rate
Atheros Confidential
4000 sq ft home
Best Downlink Performance with 3x3 In The HomeBest Downlink Performance with 3x3 In The Home
3x3
266
136
89
2x2
185
90
55
%Δ
+44%
+51%
+62%
50 ft
100 ft
150 ft
DOWNLINK DOWNLINK
+51% throughput
+44% throughput
300 Mbpsdata rate
3x3, 40 MHz maximizes throughput across even large home environments
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4000 sq ft home
3x3 Coverage Extends Into Backyard 3x3 Coverage Extends Into Backyard
3x3
266
136
89
2x2
185
90
55
%Δ
+44%
+51%
+62%
50 ft
100 ft
150 ft
DOWNLINK DOWNLINK DOWNLINK
+62% throughput
+51% throughput
+44% throughput
300 Mbpsdata rate
Atheros Confidential
The Power of 3The Power of 3
+40%
+32%
+37%
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
PH
Y R
ate
182
130
7960
4130
Distance
50 feet 100 feet 150 feet
2x3
2 s
trea
ms
2x2
2 s
trea
ms
2x3
2 s
trea
ms
2x2
2 s
trea
ms
Uplink Throughput: 2x3 vs. 2x2 Client to AP
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Third Party Confirmation of 3x3 Versus 2x2 BenefitsThird Party Confirmation of 3x3 Versus 2x2 Benefits
Data rate vs. SNR (40 MHz)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
SNR (dB)
Ove
r th
e A
ir T
hro
ug
hp
ut
(Mb
ps) 3x3-40, 2 stream
2x2-40, 2 stream
Large gap in performancefor 2x2 -> 3x3
Source: Intel
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The Power of 3: Maintaining Two StreamsThe Power of 3: Maintaining Two Streams
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Pro
bab
ilit
y
32 50 110 175
Feet
2x2
Two Streams
One Stream
Probability of two stream transmission is greater with 3x3
00.20.40.60.8
1
Pro
bab
ility
46 50 110 175
Feet
3x3
Atheros Confidential
Product Details
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Atheros: Experience with 802.11n TechnologiesAtheros: Experience with 802.11n Technologies
Super G launched highest 802.11 data rates to date with40 MHz channels, packet bursting,packet aggregation
2003
Atheros launches first 2.4/5.0 GHzband chipset
2002
5.0 GHz ultimatelyenables dual-band when combined with 2.4 GHz
2000
Atheros AR5005VL chip for video & data applicationslaunched withMF/RC
2005
Atheros Spatial Multiplexing11n Product Family, Pending final IEEE spec determination
2005
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Time-to-Market: 802.11n RadioTime-to-Market: 802.11n Radio
Radios have been undergoing in-house testing for ~3 months Thoroughly tested in stand-alone and FPGA emulation
environments Joint testing with MAC/BB silicon in progress
No issues found on first silicon, potentially production worthy
11n
Radio
2.4GHz 2.4/5GHz 2x2 2x3
3x3AR2133
AR5133
AR2122
AR5122
Atheros Confidential
MAC/BB in-house Basic functionality has been checked
2x2 and 3x3 chains, single and dual streams, 20 and 40MHz channels Emulation testing before tape-out is a contributing factor to positive
progress on first silicon
PCI
PCI-Express
Time-to-Market: 802.11n MAC/BBTime-to-Market: 802.11n MAC/BB
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802.11n Client Roadmap – 2.4GHz802.11n Client Roadmap – 2.4GHz
ShippingQ1 2006 2H 2006
2x3
2x2
AR5416AR2133
AR5416AR2122
AR5513
AR2112
AR2112
AR5418AR2133
AR5418AR2122
PCI PCI-Express
PCI PCI-Express
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Atheros Confidential
802.11n Client Roadmap – 2.4/5GHz802.11n Client Roadmap – 2.4/5GHz
ShippingQ1 2006 2H 2006
2x3
2x2
AR5416AR5133
AR5416AR5122
AR5513
AR5112
AR5112
AR5418AR5133
AR5418AR5122
PCI PCI-Express
PCI PCI-Express
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Atheros Confidential
802.11n Client Reference Design Roadmap802.11n Client Reference Design Roadmap
Q1 2006 Q2 2006
2x3
2x2
2.4GHz
2.4GHzDe-pop option of 2x3
2.4/5GHzDe-pop option of 2x3
2.4/5GHz
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802.11n AP/Router Roadmap – 2.4GHz802.11n AP/Router Roadmap – 2.4GHz
Shipping Q1 2006 2H 2006
3x3
2x2
AR5513
AR2112
AR2112
AR7100
AR5416
AR2122
AR7100
AR5416
AR2133
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Atheros Confidential
802.11n AP/Router Roadmap – 2.4/5GHz802.11n AP/Router Roadmap – 2.4/5GHz
Shipping Q1 2006 2H 2006
3x3
2x2
AR5513
AR5112
AR5112
AR7100
AR5416
AR5122
AR7100
AR5416
AR5133
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Next Gen SiliconUnder definition
Atheros Confidential
802.11n Router Reference Design Roadmap802.11n Router Reference Design Roadmap
Q1 2006 Q2 2006
3x3
2x2
2.4GHzDe-pop option of 3x3
2.4GHz 2.4/5GHz
2.4/5GHzDe-pop option of 3x3
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Reference DesignsReference Designs
3x3 802.11b/g/n AP/Router
2x3 802.11b/g/n Cardbus client
2x3 802.11b/g/n Minicard client
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Early Software DevelopmentEarly Software Development
Driver code complete All 11n features are code complete Actual driver code running on 802.11n silicon
Passing bi-directional 11n traffic
Low risk software development path Software development completed BEFORE tape-out
Driver fully tested on 802.11n emulation platform Only bring-up and testing on silicon remains
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802.11n Software Roadmap802.11n Software Roadmap
Q1 2006 Q2 2006
AP
ST
A
6.0 Release- Based on 5.0 release- Linux 2.6- 11n 300Mbps- 20/40MHz - 11n Aggregation - 11n UI upgrades- WMM- WPA-Personal
6.1 Release- Based on 5.1 release- Linux 2.6- mBSSID- WDS- WPA-Enterprise
6.0 Release- Based on 4.2 release- NDIS 5.1 (XP-32/2K)- 11n 300Mbps- 20/40MHz - 11n Aggregation - 11n UI upgrades- WMM- WPA-Personal
6.1 Release- Based on 5.0 release- NDIS 5.1 (XP-32/2K)- CCXv4.0- WPA-Enterprise- WoW- ACAU- Legacy Ad Hoc
Q3 2006
Atheros Confidential
SummarySummary
Increasing demands on WLAN experience High throughput (100Mbps) with reliable coverage throughout the
home
Atheros’ 802.11n will provide the best performance with 3x3 World’s first 3-radio chip Offering ~50% performance improvement Providing reliable coverage throughout even large homes
Atheros will be first to market with an EWC compliant solution
Atheros Confidential
Standardization Update
Atheros Confidential
EWC: Special Interest Group (“SIG”) for 802.11nEWC: Special Interest Group (“SIG”) for 802.11n
Atheros 802.11n solution is EWC-compliant
Successful launch on Oct 10, 2005
Well received by the market Driving adoption of next-generation high performance WLAN
solutions Establishing interoperable 11n solutions within the market
Current membership stands at 49 companies Participants from both TGn Sync and WWiSE groups Cross industry players: Semiconductors, PC OEMs, Enterprise,
Retail and CE
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EWC – Industry-wide SupportEWC – Industry-wide Support
EnterpriseEnterprise
RetailRetail
ConsumerElectronicsConsumerElectronics
PC OEMPC OEM
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EWC – OrganizationEWC – Organization
Main charter Accelerate the IEEE 802.11n process Develop and promote a technology specification for
interoperability of next generation WLAN products
Accelerate 802.11n IEEE strategy sub-group
Drive interoperability Interoperability sub-group
Paul Petrus (Atheros) is co-chair of this group Responsible for creating the interoperability test plan and driving its
adoption in the Wi-Fi Alliance
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EWC – Key Technical HighlightsEWC – Key Technical Highlights
PHY transmission rates up to 600Mbps
Enhanced efficiency MAC with frame aggregation Brings actual throughput closer to the raw PHY rate
2.4/5GHz dual band support
20/40MHz channel support
Mixed mode interoperability with 802.11a/b/g networks Enhanced performance while maintaining compatibility with
legacy devices
Spatial multiplexing
Support for 1 to 4 concurrent data streams
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Latest Progress At IEEELatest Progress At IEEE
Joint Proposal (JP) group formed to force a compromise spec between TGn Sync and WWiSE Portions of the EWC spec have been introduced and adopted by
the JP
IEEE confirmation vote for first draft will take place on next Thursday (1/19) EWC expected to get 75% majority need to be adopted as the
first draft 802.11n spec Vote taken in JP on 1/11 as to whether to recommend the EWC
spec for the confirmation vote Landslide victory for EWC within the JP Yes: 40, No: 0, Abstentions: 2
Atheros Confidential
Thank You