802.11an - Basics ===================== .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is IEEE 802.11an?** 802.11an refers to devices or networks that support both 802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11n (higher speeds and MIMO) standards. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an an official IEEE standard?** No, 802.11an is an informal industry label for devices supporting both 802.11a and 802.11n technologies. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What frequencies does 802.11an use?** 802.11an operates in the 5 GHz band, combining the benefits of 802.11a with the performance improvements of 802.11n. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the maximum speed of 802.11an?** Up to 600 Mbps, depending on the number of spatial streams, channel width, and device capabilities. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does 802.11an support MIMO?** Yes, 802.11n introduced MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), which is used in 802.11an-capable devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an faster than 802.11g?** Yes, 802.11an supports higher data rates, better spectral efficiency, and operates in the less congested 5 GHz band. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an backward compatible?** It is backward compatible with 802.11a, and in many cases, also with 802.11g and b when using dual-band hardware. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the benefit of using 5 GHz in 802.11an?** The 5 GHz band offers more channels, less interference, and higher data rates compared to 2.4 GHz. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What type of devices support 802.11an?** Laptops, smartphones, routers, and access points manufactured after 2009 often support 802.11an. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What channel width is used in 802.11an?** It supports both 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels for increased bandwidth and throughput. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an good for video streaming or gaming?** Yes, its high data rate and lower interference make it well-suited for HD streaming and online gaming. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does 802.11an support dual-band operation?** Many 802.11an devices are dual-band, allowing operation on both 2.4 GHz (via 802.11n) and 5 GHz (via 802.11a/n). .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which OSI layer does 802.11an operate at?** It operates at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer), dealing with wireless MAC and PHY operations. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an more secure than older standards?** It supports WPA2 and WPA3 (depending on firmware), making it more secure than older 802.11a/b/g networks. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Can 802.11an coexist with other Wi-Fi standards?** Yes, it can coexist with 802.11b/g/n networks if the device supports dual-band or multi-mode operation. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does 802.11an support QoS?** Quality of Service is supported via 802.11e extensions, which are often implemented in 802.11n-capable devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an affected by interference?** 802.11an (5 GHz) experiences less interference from common household devices than 2.4 GHz standards. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is 802.11an still in use today?** While newer standards like 802.11ac and ax are preferred, 802.11an is still widely supported in legacy and mid-range devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What replaced 802.11an?** 802.11ac replaced 802.11an for high-speed 5 GHz Wi-Fi with faster throughput and beamforming. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Where can I find 802.11an specifications?** The features of 802.11an are defined in the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11n amendments, available on the [IEEE Standards Store](https://standards.ieee.org). .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow Topics in this section, * :ref:`Learnings in this section <802_11an_step1>` * :ref:`Terminology <802_11an_step2>` * :ref:`Version Info <802_11an_step3>` * :ref:`802_11an Version&IEEE Details <802_11an_step4>` * :ref:`802_11an Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <802_11an_step5>` * :ref:`802_11an Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 <802_11an_step6>` * :ref:`802_11an List of MAC features <802_11an_step7>` * :ref:`802_11an Medium Access Functions and their inner working <802_11an_step8>` * :ref:`802_11an Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11an <802_11an_step9>` * :ref:`802_11an List of Physical Features <802_11an_step10>` * :ref:`802_11an Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an <802_11an_step11>` * :ref:`802_11an Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an <802_11an_step12>` * :ref:`802_11an End-User Products that support 802.11an <802_11an_step13>` * :ref:`802_11an Protocol Packet Details <802_11an_step14>` * :ref:`802_11an Basic Features <802_11an_step15>` * :ref:`Reference links <802_11an_step16>` .. _802_11an_step1: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section * In this section, you are going to learn .. _802_11an_step2: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Terminology * Terminology .. _802_11an_step3: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Version Info * Version Info .. _802_11an_step4: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an Version&RFC Details * rfc details .. _802_11an_step5: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 * setup .. _802_11an_step6: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 * setup .. _802_11an_step7: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an List of MAC features * mac features .. _802_11an_step8: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an Medium Access Functions and their inner working * Medium Access Functions and their inner working .. _802_11an_step9: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11an * Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11an .. _802_11an_step10: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11an List of Physical Features * List of Physical Features .. _802_11an_step11: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an * Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an .. _802_11an_step12: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an * Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11an .. _802_11an_step13: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: End-User Products that support 802.11an * End-User Products that support 802.11an .. _802_11an_step14: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Protocol Packet Details in 802.11an * Protocol Packet Details .. _802_11an_step15: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Basic Features * Basic Features .. _802_11an_step16: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Reference links * Reference links