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Apple Hiring for Wireless 802.11ac System Test Engineers

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Adding to existing rumors that Apple is planning to add high speed 802.11ac wireless networking to its lineup later in 2013, AppleBitch notes that Apple has posted a job listing for a System Test Engineer with expertise with 802.11ac network environments.

airportextreme.jpg
System Test Engineer - Wi-Fi (802.11)

System Test Engineering is looking for an experienced test engineer with excellent problem solving and communications skills. In this role, you will be testing, automating, leading, and working closely with the entire cross-functional team to ensure quality for Macintosh products.

- Technical knowledge of WiFi (802.11a,b,g, ac) and Ethernet network environments
Click to expand...
802.11ac should roughly triple the speeds seen with the current 802.11n standard, supporting up to 450 Mbps on one antenna and up to 1.3 Gbps when used with three antennas as on Apple's latest Macs.

There is no indication of when Apple will begin introducing the new standard into existing products.

Article Link: Apple Hiring for Wireless 802.11ac System Test Engineers
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/07/apple-hiring-for-wireless-802-11ac-system-test-engineers/
mattopotamus

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,666
5,879
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any different when surfing the web?
Click to expand...

Only if your ISP's link is more than the current 802.11n speeds of 150/300/450/600 mbps.

Which it probably isn't.

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Prof. said:
Surfing the web will probably stay the same. However, downloading and uploading... :eek:
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No, downloading and uploading either, unless again, you're one of the few lucky guys to get an Internet connection at more than the 802.11n bandwidth ratings.

This is for home networking improvements. Your ISP is most probably your current bottleneck to the Internet.
 
S

skate71290

macrumors 6502a
Jan 14, 2009
556
0
UK
YES :) In Layman's terms this will not improve the speed of web browsing, but it will seriously improve Home Sharing (and related uses) when streaming to multiple devices simultaneously and streaming high bit-rate (high quality) and high resolution videos :) please include QoS when this is incorporated into your router product line!
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
skate71290 said:
YES :) In Layman's terms this will not improve the speed of web browsing, but it will seriously improve Home Sharing (and related uses) when streaming to multiple devices simultaneously and streaming high bit-rate (high quality) and high resolution videos :) please include QoS when this is incorporated into your router product line!
Click to expand...

Multiple streams is right. A Blu-ray disc's bitrate is what ? 40 mbps ? 50 mbps ?

This is more for network backups/transfer of large files in your home, basically replacing your Gigabit Ethernet.
 
D.T.

D.T.

macrumors G4
Sep 15, 2011
11,050
12,460
Vilano Beach, FL
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
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Like [WRX] pointed out above, the external link speed to your ISP is likely far less vs. even your current gear. Generally internet access is limited by your internet speed not your local network speeds.

This is great for someone moving large files between computers on the same network, backing up (to a local network resource), etc.

[edit]

My reply was a little late since another couple of posts snuck in while I discussed hot chocolate with my 4 year old :)
 
B

b0fh

macrumors regular
May 14, 2012
152
62
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
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Think of it in terms of pipes :D:D:D

You have one pipe coming in (DLS/Cable/FIOS/whatever). That's usually between 1Mbps to 30Mbps.

Now, inside the house, you have a giant hose, capable of 150/300/450 Mbps and now 1.3 Gbps.

Will your uploads and downloads go any faster? Why? Why not?

However, if you had multiple wireless devices in the house, and assuming they all support the new standard, then where you were not able to wirelessly stream (from your media server inside the house) 1080p under 802.11a/b/g, but you could with 802.11n, now you can stream it to multiple devices...
 
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I

iRCL

macrumors 6502
Nov 2, 2011
284
0
What's all this "Likely" weasel word crap? Name a single ISP who has a commercial line even purely downstream above 150-600mbps. Nobody asking about whether or not it will affect them at home has that kind of connection, so give them the right answer.

The answer is no, this isn't going to improve your Internet experience one bit
 
ckeck

ckeck

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2005
717
65
Texas
No, downloading and uploading either, unless again, you're one of the few lucky guys to get an Internet connection at more than the 802.11n bandwidth ratings.

This is for home networking improvements. Your ISP is most probably your current bottleneck to the Internet.
Click to expand...

This...will help a lot with your internal network if you transfer a lot between computers or a home NAS for example. 802.11ac may also have a broader range/penetration and handle other signal noise better.
 
blackhand1001

blackhand1001

macrumors 68030
Jan 6, 2009
2,599
33
I'd like to see what the real speeds end up being cause even with N wireless file transfers are still slower than they would be on fast ethernet (100mbps) and way slower than gigabit. The real rates are never anywhere close to what they say in the specs.
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
iRCL said:
What's all this "Likely" weasel word crap? Name a single ISP who has a commercial line even purely downstream above 150-600mbps. Nobody asking about whether or not it will affect them at home has that kind of connection, so give them the right answer.

The answer is no, this isn't going to improve your Internet experience one bit
Click to expand...

I want to make no assumptions about people's internet connection. There is 1 Gbps connections offered by ISPs (Google Fiber) to some limited number of markets.

Of course, if you don't know, you most likely don't have a 1 Gbps connection to the Internet, but again, let's not make assumptions. Likely is not a weasel word, it's simply indicating that the responses applies to the vast majority, but not the totality of users.
 
P

Penn Jennings

macrumors 6502
Apr 22, 2010
350
48
Michigan
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
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No, you will not notice the difference while surfing.


It will make a huge difference for backups and large file transfers though. It should be about 3 times faster I'd guess. Today, when I have to move more than a few GB of data around on the network, I actually go plug into a Gigabit ethernet port because it is 4 times faster than wireless.
 
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
153
This seems to only serve a purpose if you're one of the many who stream digital content on your home network. I can see this being pretty awesome for that. My ISP isn't going to allow those speeds for upload/downloading, ever.
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
blackhand1001 said:
I'd like to see what the real speeds end up being cause even with N wireless file transfers are still slower than they would be on fast ethernet (100mbps) and way slower than gigabit. The real rates are never anywhere close to what they say in the specs.
Click to expand...

On my base 150 mbps 802.11n wireless (I have a 20$ AP), I get about 8 MB/sec transfer, vs 10 MB/sec transfer over 100 Mbps Ethernet to my NAS.

So it's not as bad as you make it out to be.
 
S

swb1192

macrumors 6502
Dec 4, 2007
258
0
KnightWRX said:
Only if your ISP's link is more than the current 802.11n speeds of 150/300/450/600 mbps.

Which it probably isn't.

----------



No, downloading and uploading either, unless again, you're one of the few lucky guys to get an Internet connection at more than the 802.11n bandwidth ratings.

This is for home networking improvements. Your ISP is most probably your current bottleneck to the Internet.
Click to expand...

Three words: local area networking. Internet speeds won't be affected for most people, but computer to computer or computer to local server could be faster with this tech.
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
jessica. said:
This seems to only serve a purpose if you're one of the many who stream digital content on your home network.
Click to expand...

Again folks, unless we're talking streaming multiple Blu-ray disc's, this isn't even going to help really. Bitrates are not that high for digtal content, especially not the kind you download.

(and for music ? completely unnoticeable. A 256 kbps AAC file does not require 150 mbps of bandwidth to stream).

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swb1192 said:
Three words: local area networking.
Click to expand...

Check the last line of the post you quoted. ;)
 
Yvan256

Yvan256

macrumors 603
Jul 5, 2004
5,081
998
Canada
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
Click to expand...

If you want a comparison, my cable modem downloads things at around 2 Mbps.

Please no comment about my connection being slow, I'm choosing the lowest monthly bill and that gives me 2 Mbps.
 
P

paradox22

macrumors newbie
Apr 15, 2011
20
0
mattopotamus said:
could someone put those speeds in laymen terms? Would an average user notice any difference when surfing the web?
Click to expand...

Yes, you will notice a difference. Previous routers limit the connection because of their wireless nature. Because "ac" uses different technology, the limitations that come with a wireless connection will nearly be eliminated and would be equivalent to hooking your connection up directly in terms of speed and available bandwidth. It also caries a better signal which eliminates dead spots. So while you may notice a difference, that difference may vary. Needless to say, your overall connection will be improved.
 
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