Quantenna vows long-reach, cheap 802.11n

California electronics newcomer Quantenna today said it has developed chipsets that it believes should end the problem of adequate Wi-Fi coverage in most homes. The QHS450, QHS600 and QHS1000 all use a unique four-by-four MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out) antenna setup that not only reduces the amount of interference that often crops up in walls and other wireless devices but theoretically allows much more bandwidth than regular Wi-Fi. Where current technology hits 300Mbps in peak conditions, a network blanketed with the QHS1000 chip could top out at 600Mbps in data transfers, Quantenna claims.

The technology is said to be crucial for HD home theaters and more advanced home networks, where Wi-Fi not only needs to reach further into the house but also needs to be more resilient against interruptions. Quantenna is focusing on networking devices and has developed a reference plug-in system that would let finished networking devices plug into power outlets and serve as either routers or local repeaters.

Chips are being supplied to device makers for testing during the fall and may result in finished products later in 2009. [via GigaOM]

Filed under: industry, networking
Other story tags: Quantenna