WiFi Standards Chart

When you’re setting up a Wi-Fi network, it’s important to understand the different Wi-Fi standards that are available. These standards determine the maximum speed and range of your network, and can affect the reliability of your connection. Read this blog post to find more technical information about Wifi Standards Chart. With the introduction of new WiFi standards, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest advancements and understand their impact on our connectivity. This blog post aims to provide a comprehensive guide to standards, covering everything from their history and specifications to their practical applications.

WiFi Standards Overview

Today, every home and business owners have a WiFi Router and looking for a reliable network. But Because of the rapid growth of this technology they face many sorts of acronyms for WiFi standards. You should be familiar with wifi standards specifications, they all basically mean a few things:

  • How far can the wireless signal reach
  • How much data can the signal send
  • Is it backwards compatible with other standards

To make it easier to understand, Just think how far can a wireless signal go, and how fast can it transmit data. Now the standards will make more sense. Wifi standards rapidly changed every few years to bring faster internet, better connections and more simultaneous users. Read More: How to Extend WiFi Range

What is “WiFi” and “IEEE 802.11” ?

WiFi, which stands for Wireless Fidelity, has evolved through a series of standards, each introducing significant improvements in speed, range, and efficiency. WiFi is a specific trademark owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a group dedicated to certifying that WiFi products meet the IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

  • You’ve likely heard of both IEEE 802.11 and Wi-Fi standards. While they’re closely related, they’re not the same thing. Think of it like this: 802.11 is the technical blueprint, like a recipe, outlining how devices communicate wirelessly. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is the brand name for products and services that comply with the 802.11 standard. In simpler terms, 802.11 is the “what” and Wi-Fi is the “how”. So, while both terms might get used interchangeably in marketing or blogs, understanding their subtle difference helps you navigate the tech world with confidence.

WiFi Standards Specifications

Speed and Frequency are two fundamental changes in WiFi standards: 

  • Speed means How much data the wireless network can transmit.
  • Frequency means what radio frequency the data is carried on. These are either 2.4Ghz , 5 Ghz and 6Ghz.

Here’s a WiFi standards chart (Table) of each 802.11 standards type based on its designation:

WiFi Standards Overview

802.11a

a Wi-Fi standard from the early 2000s, offered faster speeds (54 Mbps) than its predecessor but operated on the less congested 5 GHz band with slightly shorter range (around 150 feet). While largely replaced by newer options, it’s still found in some older devices. This standard uses 5GHz frequency band.

802.11b

the first commercially successful Wi-Fi standard (released in 1999), offered speeds up to 11 Mbps and a range of about 300 feet. While slow by today’s standards, it paved the way for faster and more reliable wireless networking. This standard uses 2.4GHz frequency band.

802.11g

A popular Wi-Fi standard in the mid-2000s, bridged the gap between the speedy but limited 802.11a and the widespread but slow 802.11b standard. 802.11g has a maximum speed of 54 Mbps and a range of about 300 feet. This standard is still used today, but is being phased out in favor of newer standards. This standard uses 2.4GHz frequency band.

802.11n

A newer Wi-Fi standard that debuted in 2009, 802.11n has a maximum speed of 600 Mbps and a range of about 300 feet. This standard is still common today, but is being replaced by even newer standards. But 802.11n wasn’t just fast; it was smart, introducing innovative technologies like beamforming (to focus signals directly toward the client) and MIMO (to use multiple antennas to send and receive data simultaneously), boosting both speed and reliability. This standard uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands.

802.11ac

The current Wi-Fi standard for high-speed connections, 802.11ac has a maximum speed of 1 Gbps and a range of about 300 feet. This standard is ideal for streaming video or other bandwidth-intensive tasks. While not the latest, many devices still use 802.11ac, enjoying its significant speed and reliability before upgrading to newer standards. This standard uses 5GHz frequency band.

802.11ax

The upcoming Wi-Fi standard for even faster connections, 802.11ax promises to deliver speeds of up to 10 Gbps. This standard is still in development and is not yet widely available. Its clever innovations, like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, ensure smooth performance even in crowded environments. This standard uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands.

WiFi-6E

From April 2020, the WiFi 6E standard was officially introduced, It’s the latest upgrade to the powerful Wi-Fi 6 standard and the uncongested 6Ghz frequency band was added to the allowed frequencies of WiFi networks. This unlocked spectrum, offered 7 additional 160 MHz channels, significantly reducing interference from neighboring networks and ensuring smooth, reliable connections even in crowded environments.

802.11be

Wi-Fi 7, the successor to Wi-Fi 6, is gearing up to take wireless connectivity to warp speed. While still in development, it promises to reaching up to 40Gbps and beyond, making downloads near-instantaneous and VR experiences even more immersive. Its secret weapon? Expanded 6 GHz frequency band and innovations like Multi-link Operation, 16 × 16 MU-MIMO and 320MHz channel width ensuring smooth sailing even in crowded networks. Buckle up, the future of Wi-Fi is almost here!

WiFi Standards Overview 2024

What is WiFi 6 Technology?

Technically, WiFi 6 is the successor to the WiFi5 (802.11ac) standard and operates in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum. This standard enables WiFi Routers and Clients to send more data in one transmission stream, resulting in speed improvements of up to20% to 40%  with higher modulation rate (1024-QAM). Higher modulation increases the efficiency and speed of data transmission on your network.

The 2.4GHz Frequency is back

The 2.4Ghz band is available in WiFi6 standard, while the industry has shifted to 5GHz WiFi for less interference. 2.4GHz is still better at penetrating solid objects. And there shouldn’t be as much interference for 2.4GHz as old wireless (non-WiFi but 2.4GHz) equipment like cordless telephones and wireless baby monitors are retired. The advantages of Wi-Fi 6 at a glance:

      • Stable Wireless connections: Due to use of Beamforming technology.
      • Less Latency: Using technologies such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO.
      • Longer Battery Life: The client’s WiFi radio only turns on when needed.
      • More Speed: Due to use of 1024-QAM modulation.
      • More Security: By using the WPA3 security protocol.

WiFi 6E: The Latest WiFi Technology

WiFi 6E builds upon the success of WiFi 6, adding the powerful 6 GHz band to the mix. This unlocks a whole new level of performance and efficiency, making it a worthy upgrade for demanding users.

While its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), primarily operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E expands into the less congested 6 GHz spectrum. This translates to significantly faster speeds, with improvements ranging from 20% to 40% thanks to advanced modulation techniques like 1024-QAM. Think smoother streaming, faster downloads, and lag-free online gaming.

  • The real magic lies in the new 6 GHz band. This vast, uncongested spectrum offers 7 additional 160MHz channels, significantly reducing interference and boosting your network’s capacity. Imagine a multi-lane highway for your data, where multiple devices can operate simultaneously without slowing each other down.

WiFi 7: The Future of WiFi

Get ready to leap into the next generation of wireless with Wi-Fi 7, the successor to the powerful Wi-Fi 6. Officially known as 802.11be, this standard promises to redefine your online experience, pushing the boundaries of speed, efficiency, and reliability.

Imagine downloading movies in seconds, seamlessly streaming 8K content without buffering, and enjoying lag-free gaming in virtual worlds. Wi-Fi 7 makes these dreams a reality, boasting speeds exceeding up to 46Gbps – a significant leap from its predecessor. This unprecedented speed is fueled by several groundbreaking technologies:

  • Ultra-wide bandwidth: Wi-Fi 7 introduces a wider 320 MHz channel, compared to the 160 MHz in Wi-Fi 6, allowing for more data to be transmitted simultaneously.
  • Advanced modulation: 4096-QAM modulation packs more data into each transmission, further boosting efficiency and speed.
  • Multi-link operation: This innovative feature allows devices to connect to multiple Wi-Fi bands simultaneously, maximizing bandwidth and minimizing congestion.
  • 16 × 16 MU-MIMO: It can send or receive with up to 16 streams.

Overall, while WiFi 7 is still in its early stages, it promises to be a revolutionary leap forward in wireless technology, offering unprecedented speed, capacity, and efficiency.

WiFi Standards Compatibilities

When selecting a Wi-Fi router, understanding compatibility with your devices is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of different router standards and their capabilities:

  • 802.11ax WiFi 6E Router is a Dual-band or Tri-band router(2.4Ghz, 5Ghz , 6Ghz bands), supporting 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax and 6Ghz-compatible clients.
  • 802.11ax WiFi 6 Router is a Dual-band or Tri-band router(2.4Ghz ,5Ghz bands) and can communicate with 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax clients.
  • 802.11ac WiFi Router is a Dual-Band or Tri-band router and can communicate with 802.11b/g/n/ac clients.
  • 802.11n dual band WiFi Router(2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands), supports the 802.11 b/g/n clients in both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequency bands.
    • 802.11n single band WiFi Router (2.4Ghz band), supports 802.11b/g/n clients in 2.4Ghz frequency band.
  • 802.11g WiFi Router(2.4Ghz band) can communicate with 802.11b/g client devices.
  • 802.11b WiFi Router(2.4Ghz band) can communicate with only 802.11b client devices.

Read More:  What is WiFi Channel and Channel Width

New WiFi Standards Naming Convention

Remember the alphabet soup of Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ac and 802.11ax? Confusing, right? Well, the Wi-Fi Alliance has heard our cries and introduced a new, consumer-friendly naming convention based on generations.

Previously, the same format applied to both the generation of a router’s communication and its specific capabilities. This could be quite confusing for users trying to understand the differences, as in the following examples:

  • 802.11ac: as router’s communication generation.
  • 802.11k: as router’s communication capability (for roaming issues in enterprise WiFi networks).

This dual-purpose system could be confusing, as users had to remember both the alphabet combination and its meaning. The new naming convention offers a simpler solution: Wi-Fi generations numbered sequentially. So, instead of memorizing “802.11ac” you can easily understand “Wi-Fi 5”. Similarly, “Wi-Fi 6” replaces “802.11ax”.

WiFi Standards New Naming Convention

Conclusion

WiFi standards have played a pivotal role in shaping the way we connect to the internet. By understanding the history and specifications of these standards, we can better appreciate their impact on our daily lives and anticipate the advancements that lie ahead. As WiFi technology continues to advance, we can look forward to even more seamless and efficient wireless connectivity, enabling us to embrace the possibilities of a truly connected future.

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