Comparison of Wireless Technologies for the Home Multimedia

Abstract:
This paper describes the actual standards and technologies for wireless home networks and their implications. A major focus of this paper is the provisioning of QoS through the use of these standards. While Wireless LAN (802.11), Bluetooth (802.15.1), Ultra Wide Band (802.15.5) and WiMax (802.16) are considered regarding this topic, a detailed analysis of QoS provisioning using the latest 802.11 standards is given. The latest draft of the 802.11e enhancement is used as the basis for providing QoS in the local wireless domain of a home network, while still being compatible with other QoS standards that could be used by the ISPs to offer an end-to-end QoS. The current research in the 60 GHz ISM-band and the "no new wires" Powerline technology will also be included. After an analysis of all technologies and simulations a hybrid approach is proposed, using one technology’s strength to cover for another technology’s weakness in order to achieve an integral home multimedia network.