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No mention or review of Google WiFi [1]? Anybody try it? https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi

itsdrewmiller 10y ago
They do mention it - they explained they didn't test it because it isn't released.
codinghorror 10y ago
Not quite out yet, Amazon says Dec 9th?
- nodesocket 10y ago
  Do we know if it supports 802.11ac?
  - pash 10y ago
    Yes, it's 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. The -ac is "Wave 2," the newer version of the spec that supports wider channels and about twice the bandwidth of early -ac gear at near range.
mtgx 10y ago
Google Wi-Fi seems to be using 802.11s "mesh networking" protocol, but I think that's still mainly targeted at in-home/in-building mesh networking. The mesh networking era we'll all expecting could be enabled by the upcoming 802.11ah, which works in the 900Mhz spectrum, and should offer higher ranges. Although I think the target is only 2x of 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi N right now, which seems a little disappointing to me. I was expecting something along of 1KM range (I don't think Wi-Fi N actually reaches 500m in the real world). It may be because the Wi-Fi Alliance is trying to make this an "IoT"-enabling technology as well, rather than allow us to connect to each other's smartphones and notebooks at good speeds and longer ranges. Anandtech says there's quite a big push for 802.11ah from Wi-Fi silicon vendors. http://www.anandtech.com/show/9915/wifi-halow-longrange-lowpower-wifi-for-internetofthings-devices http://www.anandtech.com/show/9915/wifi-halow-longrange-lowp... http://www.anandtech.com/show/8253/thread-group-moots-new-ip-wireless-networking-protocol-for-iot http://www.anandtech.com/show/8253/thread-group-moots-new-ip...
- wmf 10y ago
  This article is about in-home mesh Wi-Fi, not long-range outdoor meshes.
shostack 10y ago
Are there any security/privacy concerns with this product? The paper on mapping people and identifying them in an interior space with a router that was on here not too long ago comes to mind...
wmf 10y ago
It does seem odd to release such a comprehensive review days before it may be obsoleted by a new product.
- joekrill 10y ago
  They typically try to re-review or amend their reivews when things get released/updated. The problem with waiting is: at what point do you stop waiting? Particularly when the vast majority of the time these release dates are pure speculation. If Google releases theirs next month, then word leaks that Amazon has one releasing shortly, should they then wait for that, too? And on and on ad infinitum? I'm sure that at any given moment in time there is _some_ company that is working on a competing product. I'd argue they are absolutely doing the right thing by reviewing what is available regardless of what is on the horizon, otherwise they'd be giving preference to whoever they are waiting on (Google in this case).
xpose2000 10y ago
I hope the review gets updated with Google Wi-Fi. Absolutely critical to figure out which one is the best

itsdrewmiller 10y ago

They do mention it - they explained they didn't test it because it isn't released.

codinghorror 10y ago

Not quite out yet, Amazon says Dec 9th?

nodesocket 10y ago
Do we know if it supports 802.11ac?
- pash 10y ago
  Yes, it's 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. The -ac is "Wave 2," the newer version of the spec that supports wider channels and about twice the bandwidth of early -ac gear at near range.

mtgx 10y ago

Google Wi-Fi seems to be using 802.11s "mesh networking" protocol, but I think that's still mainly targeted at in-home/in-building mesh networking. The mesh networking era we'll all expecting could be enabled by the upcoming 802.11ah, which works in the 900Mhz spectrum, and should offer higher ranges. Although I think the target is only 2x of 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi N right now, which seems a little disappointing to me. I was expecting something along of 1KM range (I don't think Wi-Fi N actually reaches 500m in the real world). It may be because the Wi-Fi Alliance is trying to make this an "IoT"-enabling technology as well, rather than allow us to connect to each other's smartphones and notebooks at good speeds and longer ranges. Anandtech says there's quite a big push for 802.11ah from Wi-Fi silicon vendors. http://www.anandtech.com/show/9915/wifi-halow-longrange-lowpower-wifi-for-internetofthings-devices http://www.anandtech.com/show/9915/wifi-halow-longrange-lowp... http://www.anandtech.com/show/8253/thread-group-moots-new-ip-wireless-networking-protocol-for-iot http://www.anandtech.com/show/8253/thread-group-moots-new-ip...

wmf 10y ago
This article is about in-home mesh Wi-Fi, not long-range outdoor meshes.

shostack 10y ago

Are there any security/privacy concerns with this product? The paper on mapping people and identifying them in an interior space with a router that was on here not too long ago comes to mind...

wmf 10y ago

It does seem odd to release such a comprehensive review days before it may be obsoleted by a new product.

joekrill 10y ago
They typically try to re-review or amend their reivews when things get released/updated. The problem with waiting is: at what point do you stop waiting? Particularly when the vast majority of the time these release dates are pure speculation. If Google releases theirs next month, then word leaks that Amazon has one releasing shortly, should they then wait for that, too? And on and on ad infinitum? I'm sure that at any given moment in time there is _some_ company that is working on a competing product. I'd argue they are absolutely doing the right thing by reviewing what is available regardless of what is on the horizon, otherwise they'd be giving preference to whoever they are waiting on (Google in this case).

xpose2000 10y ago

I hope the review gets updated with Google Wi-Fi. Absolutely critical to figure out which one is the best