Broadcom Corp. has unwrapped two new 54g wireless LAN chipsets with BroadRange technology, enabling WiFi users to maintain high-speed wireless connections at distances up to 50 percent greater than previous-generation solutions. Equipped with this innovative signal processing technology, Broadcom's new single-chip 802.11g client solution (the BCM4318E) and router system-on-a-chip (the BCM5352E) extend wireless LAN coverage throughout the home or office.

Article Tools

• 

BroadRange technology uses advanced digital signal processing techniques to provide the highest receive sensitivity for its 802.11g chipset. As a wireless client device moves away from an access point or router, it becomes more difficult to receive (or "hear") data transmissions—forcing the system to downshift to lower data rates to maintain error-free communication. By improving a device's ability to receive transmissions, BroadRange technology allows products based on 54g technology to stay connected longer at top speeds before stepping back to lower data rates and also improves maximum range at lower data rates.

The technology is expected to be embedded into a wide range of current and future Wi-Fi products—from notebook PCs and wireless routers to cell phones and other handheld devices.

Broadcom has enhanced its latest 54g client and router chipsets with the new BroadRange technology. The BCM4318E is the third-generation product in Broadcom's line of single-chip client solutions. The highly integrated chip reduces the size, cost and power consumption of a wireless LAN module and can power down to consume as little as 9 mW in idle mode. The BCM5352E combines high-performance 54g wireless routing, fast Ethernet switching and a MIPS instruction set processor into a single system-on-a-chip (SoC). "Broadcom has not only achieved cost-effective integration, but has also improved wireless LAN performance in a standards-compliant way," said Bob Wheeler, senior analyst from The Linley Group. "We recommend standards-based range enhancements over proprietary approaches because they improve the user experience for both new and existing networks."

The BCM4318E is now in production, and Broadcom offers the BCM94318E client reference designs in mini PCI and PC card versions, as well as a package option with an SDIO interface for embedded designs. Broadcom is sampling the BCM5352E and the BCM95352E router reference designs in a variety of configurations. All reference designs with BroadRange technology provide two high-output-power options, allowing manufacturers to use the power amplifier that best suits the needs of their wireless device.