Physical layer analysis of emerging IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard

In January 2004 IEEE announced that it had formed a new 802.11 Task Group N (TGn) to develop a new amendment to the 802.11 standard for wireless local-area networks that is known as the IEEE 802.11n standard. The real data throughput is at least 100 Mbps, with the possibility of even higher raw data rate at the physical layer (PHY), and should be up to 5 times faster than 802.11a or 802.11g, and perhaps 25 times faster than 802.11b in mandatory modes of operation. It is projected that 802.11n also offer better operating distance and full compatibility with current WLANs. There are two competing proposals of the 802.11n standard, expected to be ratified: WWiSE and TGnSync. This paper on PHY compares new technical solutions of these two proposals believing that the best of these proposals is incorporated in 802.11n standard. We also emphasize features and technical solutions on PHY that is inevitably built in the emerging 802.11n standard.