802.11ac - Basics

What is IEEE 802.11ac?

802.11ac is a wireless networking standard that operates in the 5 GHz band and supports high-throughput Wi-Fi, offering speeds up to several Gbps using advanced technologies like MU-MIMO and wider channels.

When was 802.11ac introduced?

802.11ac was officially approved in December 2013 by the IEEE.

What frequency does 802.11ac use?

802.11ac operates exclusively in the 5 GHz frequency band.

What is the maximum speed of 802.11ac?

Theoretically, 802.11ac supports speeds of up to 6.9 Gbps with Wave 2 and 8 spatial streams.

What is MU-MIMO in 802.11ac?

MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) allows a router to transmit data to multiple devices simultaneously, improving efficiency and speed.

What are Wave 1 and Wave 2 in 802.11ac?

Wave 1 supports up to 3 spatial streams and 80 MHz channels, while Wave 2 adds MU-MIMO and optional 160 MHz channels for higher throughput.

Does 802.11ac support 2.4 GHz band?

No, 802.11ac is a 5 GHz-only standard. However, many dual-band routers support both 802.11n (2.4 GHz) and 802.11ac (5 GHz).

What modulation does 802.11ac use?

It uses 256-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) for increased data rates.

What channel widths are supported in 802.11ac?

802.11ac supports 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and optional 160 MHz channel widths.

Is 802.11ac backward compatible?

Yes, 802.11ac is backward compatible with 802.11a/n devices in the 5 GHz band.

Does 802.11ac support beamforming?

Yes, 802.11ac includes support for standardized beamforming to focus signals toward specific devices for better performance.

What is the typical range of 802.11ac?

The range is slightly less than 802.11n due to 5 GHz propagation limitations, but performance is superior at short distances.

Is 802.11ac suitable for 4K streaming and gaming?

Yes, its high bandwidth and low latency make it ideal for streaming UHD content and online gaming.

Which OSI layers does 802.11ac operate on?

802.11ac operates at Layer 1 (Physical) and Layer 2 (Data Link) of the OSI model.

Does 802.11ac improve battery life on devices?

Yes, by reducing transmission times through faster data rates, it can help reduce power usage on client devices.

What security standards are supported by 802.11ac?

802.11ac devices typically support WPA2 and WPA3, depending on firmware and OS support.

What is the main advantage of 802.11ac over 802.11n?

802.11ac offers significantly faster data rates, MU-MIMO support, wider channels, and improved spectral efficiency.

Can 802.11ac routers support legacy devices?

Yes, if the router is dual-band or supports legacy modes, it can serve 802.11a/n devices as well.

Is 802.11ac still in use today?

Yes, 802.11ac is widely used and supported in consumer and enterprise networks, although newer standards like 802.11ax are gaining popularity.

Where can I find the official 802.11ac specification?

The IEEE 802.11ac specification can be accessed from the [IEEE Standards Store](https://standards.ieee.org).

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • mac features

  • Medium Access Functions and their inner working

  • Supported Frequency Bands in 802.11ac

  • List of Physical Features

  • Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ac

  • Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ac

  • End-User Products that support 802.11ac

  • Protocol Packet Details

  • Basic Features

  • Reference links