Professor Messer 2.4 | Wireless Standards

Wireless standards

Managed under the IEEE 802.11 family by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee (IEEE 802). These standards have seen numerous updates to enhance speed, security, and reliability. As the technology evolves, it's important to check with IEEE for the most current standards and specifications. The Wi-Fi trademark, overseen by the Wi-Fi Alliance, ensures interoperability between devices through rigorous testing

802.11a | Wi-Fi 2

Introduced in October 1999, was one of the original wireless networking standards. It operates in the 5 GHz frequency range, offering speeds up to 54 megabits per second (Mbit/s). However, it has a smaller range compared to its 2.4 GHz counterpart, 802.11b, with roughly one-third of the range due to the higher frequency. This standard isn't commonly used today.

Frequencies: 5 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: Not applicable

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 54 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 54 Mbps

802.11b | Wi-Fi 1

Introduced in October 1999, operates in the 2.4 GHz range with a speed of 11 Mbps. It offers better range and fewer absorption issues compared to 802.11a, as its frequencies tend to bounce off objects rather than being absorbed. However, it faces more frequency conflicts due to the many devices that use the 2.4 GHz range, such as baby monitors, cordless phones, microwaves, and Bluetooth devices. Today, 802.11b is not commonly seen.

Frequencies: 2.4 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: Not applicable

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 11 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 11 Mbp

802.11g | Wi-Fi 3

Released in June 2003, was an "upgrade" to 802.11b, operating in the 2.4 GHz range with a speed of 54 Mbps. It is similar to 802.11a but is backwards compatible with 802.11b, allowing both B and A devices to connect to the same access point. However, it shares the same frequency conflict issues as 802.11b due to the crowded 2.4 GHz range.

Frequencies: 2.4 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: Not applicable

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 54 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 54 Mbps

802.11n | Wi-Fi 4

Introduced in October 2009 as an update to 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a. It operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies with channel widths of 40 MHz and speeds up to 600 Mbps. Uses Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology, which utilizes multiple transmit and receive antennas to increase data throughput and improve network efficiency.

Frequencies: 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: 4

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 150 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 600 Mbps

802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5

Was approved in January 2014 and offers significant improvements over 802.11n. It operates in the 5 GHz band, which is less crowded, and supports channel bandwidths up to 160 MHz. With increased channel bonding and denser signaling modulation, enables faster data transfers, allowing for nearly 7 Gbps. It also features eight MU-MIMO downlink streams, doubling the number from 802.11n, which enhances the ability to send more information quickly.

Frequencies: 5 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: 8 x Downlink MU-MIMO

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 867 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 6.9 Gbps

802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6

Approved in February 2021, is the successor to 802.11ac/Wi-Fi 5. It operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies and supports channel widths of 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz, with speeds up to 1,201 Mbps per channel. Introduces eight bi-directional MU-MIMO streams and Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), allowing efficient data transmission to multiple users simultaneously, similar to cellular communications. It significantly improves performance in high-density environments.

Frequencies: 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz

Maximum MIMO Streams: 8 x Downlink and Uplink MU-MIMO

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Per Stream): 1,201 Mbps

Maximum Theoretical Throughput (Total): 9.6 Gbps