Distributing IPTV over Wi-Fi

EXLER ON WIRELESS IN THE
ENTERPRISE
09/28/05
Today's focus: Distributing IPTV over Wi-Fi

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Consider Wi-Fi for home backhaul
* Links related to Wireless in the Enterprise
* Featured reader resource
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IS IT THE NETWORK OR THE STORAGE THAT'S THE PROBLEM?

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Today's focus: Distributing IPTV over Wi-Fi

By Joanie Wexler

I've wondered in some recent newsletters whether the Wi-Fi
industry's myriad efforts to create QoS enhancements beyond
those in the 802.11e standard is indicative of shortcomings in
802.11e itself.

Following that line of reasoning, it would appear that start-up
Ruckus Wireless is one company that doesn't believe in the
fortitude of 802.11e, at least for streaming and real-time
traffic. Last week, the company, previously called Video54,
announced QoS-centric Wi-Fi products and technology aimed to
reliably support video (think IPTV) over 802.11.

In fact, says Dave Logan, vice president of products, 802.11e
"is inadequate for households with multiple receivers. And it
doesn't specify anything about multicast."

To compensate, the company has partnered with Wi-Fi chipmaker
Atheros, layering multiple-input multiple-output ( MIMO
http://www.networkworld.com/details/6830.html?rl ) smart antenna
technology it calls BeamFlex on top of an 802.11g chipset to
improve backhaul throughput and performance by two to three
times, says Logan. Second, the company put the chipset into a
Ruckus MF2900 wireless multimedia router and the Ruckus MF2501
wireless 802.11g-to-Ethernet multimedia adapter used to connect
to an Ethernet-equipped set-top box or video receiver.

So, for example, if you want to get IPTV from your home wireless
modem/router to your set-top box, you don't need a cable between
the two. Your MF2900 backhauls the video via Wi-Fi to the
MF2501.

Third, the Ruckus technology supports a feature the company
calls SmartCast, described as traffic management algorithms and
wireless multicast optimization technologies. The company says
that SmartCast automatically distinguishes applications and
traffic types and guarantees throughput using bandwidth
management techniques that can be applied on a per-station or
per-service basis.

Logan says the company's testing has shown that three MPEG2
video streams can be transported reliably throughout a
2500-square-foot household (to different receiving locations)
through up to four walls over an 802.11g backhaul network while
sharing the transmission medium with three 802.11b and/or
802.11g data clients. Nothing in the clients must change to make
Ruckus' QoS work, Logan says.

The company said that Hong Kong broadband service provider PCCW,
with 1 million IPTV subscribers, will be selling the Ruckus gear
as part of a managed multimedia service.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Skype: Hazardous to network health?
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7855
2. How to solve Windows system crashes in minutes
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7856
3. Commuting costs drive up telecommuting
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7857
4. McAfee,?Omniquad top anti-spyware test
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir6911
5. The rise of the IT architect
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir7035

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Joanie Wexler

Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology
writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley 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 mailto:joanie@jwexler.com.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia
Empower Your Mobile Enterprise

Nokia believes that business mobility will fundamentally change the way work

gets done-and for the better. To allow the entire organization to get the
most
from this paradigm shift in productivity, Nokia Enterprise Solutions focuses
on
delivering increased efficiency through enhanced mobility.
Learn more by downloading this white paper today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=116012
_______________________________________________________________
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE

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http://www.networkworld.com/go/trendmicro/trend_frr
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