SoC cuts wireless access points down to size

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 16, 2003

The ISL3893 WiSOC is reckoned to be the world's most highly integrated access point chip solution.

The ISL3893 WiSOC is reckoned to be the world's most highly integrated AP chip solution that provides both wireless LAN and Ethernet functionality for Prism GTT (draft 802.11g) or Prism Duette dual-band (802.11a, b and g) access point (AP) designs.

Powered by an ARM9 microprocessor core, the ISL3893 WiSOC eliminates the requirement for a separate network processor and enables Intersil to offer the lowest total bill of materials in the industry for an AP design.

The ISL3893 is sampling with strategic partners and full production starts this quarter.

"The combination of Intersil's WiSOC and Prism GT or Prism Duette provides a new level of wireless networking performance for draft 802.11g and dual band (802.11a, b and g) access points and routers.

Our testing, in fact, shows performance improvement of 1.5x better data rates up to 100ft and 2x better from 100 to 200ft as compared to other commercially available products", said Larry Ciaccia, Vice President and General Manager of Intersil's Wireless Networking Product Group.

"This innovative new design will allow our customers to market access points and routers with the industry's best price/performance ratio".

WiSOC is completely backwards compatible with the over 40 million existing 802.11b WLAN products shipped to date while providing a seamless upgrade path to higher performing 802.11g - 54Mbit/s technology.

WiSOC fully supports protection mechanisms as required by IEEE TGg version 7.1, the most recent update to the 802.11g draft standard.

Full protection mechanism support ensures complete co-existence and optimal performance when operating in the presence of legacy 802.11b equipment.

The ISL3893 (WiSOC) is designed with two MII interfaces.

This allows flexible AP and router implementations with either single-port or multiport Ethernet PHYs.

The ISL39300A reference design supports power over Ethernet (PoE) enabling enterprise or public hot spot deployment using 48V DC over an unused twisted pair.

This feature reduces installation costs by eliminating the need for an electrical outlet near the AP.

The reference design includes a royalty free, small footprint uClinux operating system that provides customers with a robust software feature set that is customisable using included development tools.

The innovative ISL39300A reference design enables manufacturers to build an 802.11a/g AP or router, or by adding a 2nd radio in the mini-PCI slot, designers can create simultaneous 802.11a, b and g dual-band operations.

Intersil provides all the hardware and software elements to enable customers to quickly bring new 802.11 WLAN products to market.

The Linux based operating system allows customers to take advantage of the extensive feature set that Intersil has developed and tested, as well as port existing applications using the included tools.

Additional applications can be easily obtained from the open source community or developed in-house.

This flexible hardware and software strategy enables Intersil's customers to design products for the enterprise, SOHO, public "hot spots" and the home markets.

The software platform includes cutting edge features such as WPA, 802.1x, IAPP, 802.11d, and WDS.

In addition, AES (as specified by the 802.11i draft) will be supported via the integrated hardware accelerator functionality in the ISL3893.

By providing complete standards-based features, Intersil enables the original design manufacturers to focus on value added features for their particular customer base.

Through the Prism Partner Initiative, Intersil is working with third party software companies to create a developer "ecosystem" whereby customers can obtain references to a variety of solutions developed by third parties to suit the needs of a particular end customer or target market.