Stanford scientists to double Wi-Fi speeds

Scientists at Stanford University said they have found a way to double the speed of Wi-Fi networks. The technology could send and receive information at the same time where it previously had to work in a single direction. Philip Levis, the assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering at Stanford and in charge of the project, likened it to people shouting at each other at the same time: oth people in such a shouting match can screen out the sound of their own voice, but hear the other person, he said.

BThe new technology uses two transmitters at each transceiver, and they work in a similar concept as noise-cancelling headphones.

"The two transmit signals interfere destructively at the receive antenna to create a dead signal that the receiver can't 'hear'," Lewis said. "So you create this null position where the receiver can’t hear that signal and so is able to receive packets from other areas."

Just based on this, the technology would be twice as quick as current Wi-Fi, and even faster with more tweaks. While current phone networks let users talk and listen at the same time, they use an expensive way of doing so. The new way is said to be much cheaper.

When the technology will appear in hardware hasn't been revealed, but a patent was applied for and work is being done to commercialize the format. Signal strength needs to be improved before can be used for Wi-Fi networks, however, which need to reach as far as 300 feet for 802.11n. [via PCPro]

By Electronista Staff