What is HomeRF?

Home Radio Frequency Working Group

     HomeRF supports up to four bandwidth-protected voice lines, simultaneous with data networking. This makes it attractive to set-top box and gateway developers and to service providers with broadband networks that want to offer more phone lines in homes wired for just two. Recent developments hint at this broader HomeRF vision, where wireless networks extend the resources of PCs, Internet gateways and wired networks. In one example, Cayman Systems has developed a solution with Proxim that lets broadband service providers, e.g. RBOCs, ILECs, CLECs, ISPs, etc. offer shared ADSL services and wireless LAN functions in a low-cost modem / gateway configuration. In another example, Motorola is adding SWAP-based wireless networking to its cable modem technology for PC and TV set-top devices.
     On to the wireless world: In the face of the wild success of 802.11b, the HomeRF Working Group has recently changed its tune to one of cooperation, not competition - at least on the data side. To achieve higher than HomeRF 2.0 technology's 10M bit/sec data rates, the group plans to write application briefs describing how to bridge between 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz technologies, and how to handle differences in quality of service.
     Wayne Caswell, the group's communications chairman, also sees a bright future for HomeRF technology in multimode chips. There are more than 10 chip vendors making multimode chipsets - which support more than one technology. "Embedded Wireless Devices makes a chip that lets you use Bluetooth and 802.11b together," Caswell says. "Why not one that supports 802.11b and HomeRF?"
     On the voice side, HomeRF is as vocal as ever in its superiority over 802.11b. Its voice technology is derived from the cordless phone technology DECT and supports eight voice connections. The specification supports call features such as call waiting, caller ID, forwarding and distinctive ring. In January, Siemens introduced its HomeRF-based Voice Data Gateway to service providers, but product availability - and market interest - is still fuzzy.

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