From Problem To Prodigy Product

Radio Reflections, Once A Problem, Now Extend Wireless Net Range

(CBS)  Raleigh says that the technology behind these products takes advantage of radio reflections that appear in the environment. "Something people thought for a 100 years was a bad thing was the most incredible opportunity to improve wireless that we had seen."

The problem that we've all come across while listening to a portable or car radio is called "multipath fading," radio reflections that occur in the environment that cause interference. That's why you sometimes lose a signal on your car radio for a moment, until you move your car. Raleigh, while he was doing graduate work at Stanford in the 90s, found that "if you use multiple input multiple output signals — more than one signal over the air at the same time on the same frequency channel — you could actually multiply your speed and increase your reliability and range at the same time."

According to Raleigh, every time you have a multiple reflection it's another opportunity to send a new signal. "If I have ten bounces or multipath reflections, I can send 10 times the signal and get ten times the speed."

MIMO routers have multiple antennas to use the reflections to increase coverage area and improve speed. Linksys claims that its MIMO routers, when paired with MIMO adapters, can "maintain "wireless connections up to 3 times farther than standard Wireless-G." The company advertises that "the farther away you are, the more advantage you get — the higher data rate and reflection-friendly technology can yield up to 8 times more throughput than Wireless-G in some situations."

From a practical standpoint in my home network, the main advantage is that it has eliminated dead spots. Before I installed the MIMO adapter, accessing my network from several rooms away was a bit of a hit-or-miss. Now I don't have to worry about it and the speed doesn't dramatically drop off as I move my laptop away from the router. The advantage will become more obvious if you're trying to move a video signal from a cable box or TiVO to a remote TV. MIMO makes using a WiFI network far more practical for video.

My advice: If you have a WiFi network that's working fine, than don't bother upgrading now. Prices will come down over time so you may as well wait. But if you're getting marginal coverage, you might want to consider upgrading to a MIMO router and if you need even better range or speed, consider also getting a MIMO adapter for your remote device.

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A syndicated technology columnist for nearly two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."

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