The time period Wi-Fi is synonymous with wi-fi LANs, regardless of the actual fact it’s a selected trademark owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a bunch devoted to certifying that merchandise meet the IEEE’s wi-fi requirements.
Within the IEEE’s naming conference, all requirements that specify protocols for implementing wi-fi LANs fall underneath the 802.11umbrella. Particular person requirements are assigned alphabetically, 802.11a, 802.11b, and so forth. Due to the widespread acceptance of wi-fi LANs, new requirements proceed to be developed at a fast tempo, making a complicated alphabet soup.
In an effort to assist most of the people perceive the requirements a bit higher, the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2018 started translating the technical names of requirements into an easy-to-remember numerical system (Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6) that mirrors the best way that mobile applied sciences are named (3G, 4G, 5G).
The next is an evidence of Wi-Fi requirements damaged into 4 sections: in style core requirements, future requirements which might be nonetheless underneath improvement, requirements which might be designed for area of interest functions and historic requirements which may not be in use anymore. You can even view a timeline of those requirements on the IEEE web site.
Core WLAN requirements
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Older house wi-fi routers are probably 802.1ac compliant and function within the 5 GHz frequency band. With A number of Enter, A number of Output (MIMO) expertise – a number of antennas working on each sending and receiving gadgets to scale back errors and enhance velocity – this normal helps knowledge charges as much as 3.46Gbps.
Some router distributors embody applied sciences that help the two.4GHz frequency through 802.11n or Wi-Fi 4, offering help for older consumer gadgets that will have 802.11b/g/n radios, but additionally offering further bandwidth for improved knowledge charges. Newer house routers and new gadgets now characteristic Wi-Fi 6 and/or 6E help.
Wi-Fi 6 and 6E (802.11ax): Excessive Effectivity WLAN
Generally known as Excessive Effectivity WLAN, 802.11ax goals to enhance efficiency in dense eventualities, reminiscent of sports activities stadiums and airports, whereas nonetheless working within the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 6 guarantees at the very least a 4X enchancment in throughput in comparison with 802.11n and 802.11ac., by means of extra environment friendly spectrum utilization. The usual was printed in Might 2021.
Wi-Fi 6E extends the protocol into the 6 GHz frequency band and may make the most of as much as 14 further 80 MHz channels, or seven further 160 MHz channels, for functions reminiscent of high-definition video and digital actuality. Gadgets that use 6E can ship larger community efficiency and help extra Wi-Fi customers directly, even in dense and congested environments, the Wi-Fi Alliance says. Further use instances embody unified communications, cloud computing and telepresence, in addition to speed up next-generation connectivity with 5G networks.
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): Extraordinarily Excessive Throughput
The successor to Wi-Fi 6 and 6E is the 802.11be normal, labeled by the Wi-Fi Alliance as Wi-Fi 7. This model continues to be within the draft phases with ultimate approval anticipated in 2024 (though merchandise will probably be out sooner as soon as the draft protocols are accredited).
This protocol focuses on indoor and outside operations with stationary and cellular speeds within the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz frequency bands, and a purpose of supporting a most throughput of at the very least 30 Gbps (with the potential of reaching 46 Gbps), whereas guaranteeing backwards compatibility.
The upper throughput would be capable of help video visitors within the 4K to 8K decision vary (uncompressed vary of 20 Gbps), in addition to high-throughput, low-latency functions reminiscent of augmented actuality, digital actuality, distant workplace and cloud computing.
Options being mentioned embody utilizing 320 MHz bandwidth (doubling the utmost channel measurement of 160 MHz) and extra environment friendly utilization of non-contiguous spectrum, multi-band/multi-channel aggregation, doubling the spatial streams by means of MIMO enhancements from eight to 16), multi-access level coordination, and enhanced hyperlink adaptation and retransmission protocol. Model Draft 2.0 was submitted July 2022, with an anticipated draft approval by November 2022, and ultimate approval anticipated by March 2024.
Wi-Fi requirements underneath improvement
802.11az: Subsequent Technology Positioning (NGP)
A examine group was fashioned in January 2015 to deal with the wants of a “station to determine its absolute and relative place to a different station or stations it’s both related or unassociated with.” The objectives of the group could be to outline modifications to the media entry management and bodily layers that allow “dedication of absolute and relative place with higher accuracy with respect to the Wonderful Timing Measurement (MTM) protocol executing on the identical PHY-type, whereas lowering current wi-fi medium use and energy consumption, and is scalable to dense deployments.” Remaining approval is predicted by December 2022.
802.11bd – Subsequent gen vehicle-to-vehicle communication
One of many ideas related to the world of sensible automobiles is that vehicles in shut proximity can create ad-hoc vehicular networks with a view to share data related to security and visitors administration. 802.11bd is being outlined as an modification to 802.11p to enhance for reliability, latency and throughput. Remaining approval is predicted by December 2022.
802.11bf – WLAN sensing
This normal explores using a WLAN that might sense wi-fi indicators with a view to detect options of an supposed goal in a given atmosphere, such because the vary, velocity, angle, movement, presence or proximity, or gestures. Objects might be human or animal, and environments might be in a room, home, car, or workplace. An preliminary draft is predicted in September 2022, with ultimate approval anticipated within the July to September 2024 timeframe.
802.11bh – Randomized and Altering MAC Addresses
The 802.11aq normal formalized MAC privateness for 802.11 stations, which incorporates altering their MAC deal with and/or utilizing a randomized MAC deal with. Nonetheless, this will have a variety of repercussions that affect not solely 802.11 networks, but additionally many associated providers. This working group was fashioned to develop an modification to mitigate these impacts, whereas persevering with to guard the person privateness benefits supplied by randomized and/or altering MAC addresses. An preliminary draft of those adjustments is predicted by September 2022.
802.11bi – Enhanced Knowledge Privateness
The purpose of this modification is to specify modifications to the 802.11 media entry management (MAC) specification to create new mechanisms that deal with and enhance person privateness. Customers and governments are involved about defending private data reminiscent of location, actions, contacts and actions. Being compliant with 80.211 doesn’t sufficiently shield customers from monitoring and profiling assaults. An preliminary draft proposal is predicted by March 2023.
Area of interest Wi-Fi requirements
802.11ah: Wi-Fi HaLow
802.11ah defines the operation of license-exempt networks in frequency bands under 1GHz (sometimes the 900 MHz band), excluding the TV White House bands. Within the U.S., this consists of 908-928MHz, with various frequencies in different international locations. The aim of 802.11ah is to create extended-range Wi-Fi networks that transcend typical networks within the 2.4GHz and 5GHz house (bear in mind, decrease frequency means longer vary), with knowledge speeds as much as 347Mbps.
As well as, the usual goals to have decrease power consumption, helpful for Web of Issues gadgets to speak throughout lengthy ranges with out utilizing plenty of power. Nevertheless it additionally might compete with Bluetooth applied sciences within the house as a result of its decrease power wants. The protocol was accredited in September 2016 and printed in Might 2017.
802.11ad: Excessive throughput, quick distance
Permitted in December 2012, 802.11ad could be very quick – it might present as much as 6.7Gbps of knowledge fee throughout the 60 GHz frequency, however that comes at a price of distance – you obtain this provided that your consumer gadget is located inside 3.3 meters (solely 11 ft) of the entry level.
802.11ay: Subsequent gen 60GHz
This normal helps a most throughput of at the very least 20 Gbps throughout the 60GHz frequency (802.11ad presently achieves as much as 7 Gbps), in addition to growing the vary and reliability. The usual was printed in July 2021.
Historic Wi-Fi requirements
802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)
The primary normal to specify MIMO, 802.11n was accredited in October 2009 and permits for utilization in two frequencies – 2.4GHz and 5GHz, with speeds as much as 600Mbps. Whenever you hear wi-fi LAN distributors use the time period “dual-band”, it refers to with the ability to ship knowledge throughout these two frequencies.
802.11g
Permitted in June 2003, 802.11g was the successor to 802.11b, in a position to obtain as much as 54Mbps charges within the 2.4GHz band, matching 802.11a velocity however throughout the decrease frequency vary.
802.11a
The primary “letter” following the June 1997 approval of the 802.11 normal, this one supplied for operation within the 5GHz frequency, with knowledge charges as much as 54Mbps. Counterintuitively, 802.11a got here out later than 802.11b, inflicting some confusion within the market as a result of individuals anticipated that the usual with the “b” on the finish could be backward suitable with the one with the “a” on the finish. Nope.
802.11b
Launched in September 1999, it’s almost certainly that your first house router was 802.11b, which operates within the 2.4GHz frequency and offers an information fee as much as 11 Mbps.
802.11-1997
The primary normal, offering an information fee as much as 2 Mbps within the 2.4GHz frequency. It supplied a spread of a whopping 66 ft indoors (330 ft outdoor), so if you happen to owned considered one of these routers, you in all probability solely used it in a single room.
Keith Shaw is a contract digital journalist who has written in regards to the IT world for greater than 20 years.
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