802.11ac Packet Formats
==========================


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        **What is the basic structure of an 802.11ac packet?**

        An 802.11ac packet consists of a MAC header, Frame Body (payload), and Frame Check Sequence (FCS).

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        **What types of frames are used in 802.11ac?**

        Management frames, control frames, and data frames make up the types of packets used.

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        **How does the MAC header in 802.11ac differ from previous standards?**

        It includes additional fields to support features like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and frame aggregation.

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        **What is the purpose of the PHY preamble in 802.11ac packets?**

        The PHY preamble allows synchronization, channel estimation, and informs the receiver about modulation and coding schemes.

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        **What new fields are introduced in 802.11ac packet formats?**

        Fields supporting Very High Throughput (VHT), such as VHT-SIG-A and VHT-SIG-B, are included for signaling enhanced capabilities.

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        **How does frame aggregation work in 802.11ac packets?**

        Multiple data frames can be aggregated into a single transmission to improve efficiency, using A-MPDU and A-MSDU formats.

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        **What role does the Frame Check Sequence (FCS) play?**

        FCS is used for error detection, ensuring the integrity of received packets.

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        **Are there legacy fields in 802.11ac packet formats?**

        Yes, legacy fields are preserved for backward compatibility with older 802.11 devices.

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        **How does 802.11ac handle QoS in packet formats?**

        QoS is supported via the QoS Control field in the MAC header, facilitating traffic prioritization.

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        **What is the VHT-SIG field?**

        The VHT-SIG (Very High Throughput Signal) field carries transmission parameters specific to 802.11ac.

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        **Does 802.11ac use extended sequence control?**

        Yes, extended sequence control fields help manage packet ordering and retransmissions in high throughput scenarios.

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        **How is MU-MIMO reflected in packet formats?**

        Special signaling in the packet header coordinates simultaneous transmissions to multiple clients.

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        **Are encryption details part of the packet format?**

        Encryption headers and trailers are added when security protocols like WPA2/WPA3 are used.

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        **What is the maximum packet size supported in 802.11ac?**

        With frame aggregation, packets can be aggregated up to several megabytes, greatly increasing throughput.

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        **How does 802.11ac ensure compatibility with older packet formats?**

        It uses legacy preamble and headers at the beginning of packets so older devices can detect and defer transmissions.

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        **How are control frames formatted in 802.11ac?**

        Control frames remain similar to earlier standards but may include additional flags to support new features.

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        **Where can I find detailed 802.11ac packet format specifications?**

        In the IEEE 802.11ac amendment to the 802.11 standard and related Wi-Fi Alliance documentation.


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        Topics in this section,

                * :ref:`Learnings in this section <packet_formats_step1>`

                * :ref:`Terminology <packet_formats_step2>`

                * :ref:`Version Info <packet_formats_step3>`

                * :ref:`packet_formats Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <packet_formats_step18>`

                * :ref:`Reference links <packet_formats_step17>`

.. _packet_formats_step1:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section

        * In this section, you are going to learn

.. _packet_formats_step2:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Terminology
        
       * Terminology


.. _packet_formats_step3:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Version Info
    
         * Version Info


.. _packet_formats_step18:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: packet_formats Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4

       * setup


.. _packet_formats_step17:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Reference links
     
       * Reference links