HomeRF

HomeRF was a wireless networking technology standard developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s designed for home use. It was conceived as a complementary technology to Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) and Bluetooth, aiming to provide a unified networking platform for various home devices, including PCs, peripherals, and cordless telephones.

HomeRF used the 2.4 GHz frequency band, similar to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but employed a different technology called Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP). SWAP was designed to support both data and voice communication, a key differentiating factor from early Wi-Fi standards, which were primarily focused on data.

The HomeRF specification aimed for ease of use and affordability. It targeted data transfer rates of up to 10 Mbps in its initial specification (HomeRF 1.0) and later increased to 20 Mbps with HomeRF 2.0. It also incorporated support for DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) cordless telephones, allowing for voice communication over the network.

However, HomeRF ultimately failed to gain widespread adoption. Several factors contributed to its decline, including the rapid advancements and increasing affordability of Wi-Fi technology, which offered higher data rates and broader industry support. Bluetooth also emerged as the preferred standard for short-range wireless connectivity.

The HomeRF Working Group, the consortium responsible for developing the HomeRF standard, disbanded in 2003. The technology is now considered obsolete. While devices using HomeRF were once available, they are no longer manufactured or widely used.