Date: 19/10/2010

Home n/w solutions from Atheros support Wi-Fi, HomePlug AV powerline and Ethernet

Atheros has unveiled a new family of hybrid home networking solutions supporting Wi-Fi, HomePlug AV powerline and Ethernet standards and protocols.

Atheros' hybrid portfolio is aimed to solve complicated installation, spotty coverage and inadequate bandwidth for media applications.

The release quotes "According to ABI Research, the number of home networks will grow 65 percent globally to nearly 280 million in the next five years. With the influx of Internet-based media and growing demand for whole-home digital content, it is even more important that home networking equipment offers better performance and simple installation - at a reasonable cost".

The combination of networking standards: IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 1901 (HomePlug AV) and IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) are provided to ensure that networked devices can connect anywhere in the home through wired or wireless interface.

Atheros is launching four new reference designs, including a router and three adapters that use various combinations of its XSPAN wireless LAN, AMP powerline and ETHOS Ethernet technologies. These designs are for networking OEMs to offer complete hardware and software solutions helping the consumers with better choice.

Atheros' hybrid solutions include software that adds "behind the scenes" intelligence to simplify network setup and management for mainstream consumers, enabling push-button pairing and security between the router and all Atheros-based adapters on the network (whether installed now or added in the future).

The combination of Wi-Fi and powerline is designed to support future home area networking and smart energy applications enabling smart grid connected homes.

Product Highlights:
The new family of designs includes:
Hybrid Router Reference Design- Designed to be the hub of the digital home, routers based on Atheros' first hybrid solution.

Powerline/Ethernet Adapter Reference Designs - Available in single-port and four-port versions, Atheros' PLC adapters are ideal for connecting the home's media center, with broadband access for up to four non-wireless devices (such as televisions, Blu-ray disc players, set-top boxes and storage devices).

Wi-Fi/Powerline Range Extender Reference Design - By simply plugging the range extender into an electrical outlet, consumers can extend their wireless network to reach mobile Wi-Fi products in the far corners and other trouble-spots in the home. Like the PLC adapters, range extenders can also connect non-wireless devices that have an Ethernet port.

"Rather than trying to solve every home networking problem with one technology, Atheros is drawing upon its broad expertise and industry-leading portfolio to deliver solutions that combine the strengths of Wi-Fi, HomePlug AV and Ethernet. Improving the consumer network is the first step, but the benefits of hybrid networking will soon enhance the ability of service providers to deliver next-generation services to the digital home." said Dan Rabinovitsj, vice president and general manager of Atheros' Networking Business Unit

"Consumers are less concerned about technology than they are about getting up and running quickly with a home network that just works. By combining the best of what wired and wireless technologies have to offer, Atheros' hybrid approach has the potential to deliver true 'plug-and-play' home networking products that provide the reliable connectivity that consumers need everywhere in the home." said Craig Mathias, a principal with Farpoint Group, a wireless and mobile advisory firm

Availability: All of Atheros' hybrid reference designs will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010.