(SANTA CLARA, CA) Atheros today launched its "highest performance 802.11n solution to date". The AR5008AP-3NX2 chipset, combines Atheros XSPAN draft 802.11n technology with a newWireless Network Processor Unit (WNPU). The chipset supports concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN and is said to deliver "up to 600 Mbps aggregate physical data rates"

The new chipset consists of dual AR5416 MAC/baseband ICs, AR2133 and AR5133 radios and a new AR7161 wireless network processor. The solution is based on Atheros' 3x3 (three complete RF transmit and receive chains) MIMO XSPAN with "Signal-Sustain Technology" architecture.

The AR7161 processor features dual 10/100/1000 gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 ports. It uses a MIPS32 24K processor core clocked at 600 MHz and sports 33/66 MHz PCI, PCM and I2S interfaces.

Other members of the new AR7100 WNPU family include the AR7141, essentially a 400 MHz version of the AR7161 for dual-band 3x3 MIMO applications and the AR7130, which is clocked at 300 MHz, has 10/100 Ethernet support and is aimed at 2x2 MIMO applications.

The AR5008AP-3NX2 chipset is currently sampling to key customers. Pricing was not announced. Atheros will be demonstrating the chipset at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Tags: 802.11n, Atheros, CES 2007, WiFi,

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