802.11ax - Basics

What is IEEE 802.11ax?

IEEE 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is a wireless networking standard designed to improve speed, efficiency, and capacity in dense environments.

When was 802.11ax finalized?

The standard was officially ratified in 2019.

What frequency bands does 802.11ax support?

It supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with future extensions into 6 GHz in Wi-Fi 6E.

What are the main benefits of 802.11ax?

Higher data rates, better performance in congested environments, improved battery life for devices, and increased network efficiency.

How does 802.11ax improve efficiency?

It uses technologies like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and MU-MIMO to allow simultaneous transmissions to multiple devices.

Is 802.11ax backward compatible?

Yes, it is backward compatible with previous Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a/b/g.

What is OFDMA in 802.11ax?

OFDMA divides channels into smaller subchannels, enabling multiple users to transmit data simultaneously, increasing efficiency.

What is MU-MIMO in 802.11ax?

Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output allows an access point to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, improving throughput.

Does 802.11ax improve battery life?

Yes, through Target Wake Time (TWT), devices can schedule when to wake up and communicate, saving battery power.

What is Target Wake Time (TWT)?

TWT allows devices to negotiate specific times to transmit or receive data, reducing power consumption.

Which OSI layer does 802.11ax operate on?

It operates mainly on the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) and Physical Layer (Layer 1).

Is 802.11ax suitable for dense environments?

Yes, it is designed to perform well in crowded spaces like stadiums, airports, and offices.

What maximum theoretical speed does 802.11ax offer?

It can reach up to 9.6 Gbps under ideal conditions.

Does 802.11ax require new hardware?

Yes, to fully benefit from 802.11ax features, compatible access points and client devices are needed.

How does 802.11ax improve latency?

OFDMA and scheduled transmissions reduce wait times, lowering latency in high-traffic networks.

Is 802.11ax secure?

Yes, it supports WPA3 security for enhanced protection.

Can 802.11ax be used in outdoor environments?

Yes, with appropriate hardware, it can be deployed outdoors.

Does 802.11ax support IoT devices?

Yes, features like TWT help improve connectivity and power efficiency for IoT devices.

Where can I find the official 802.11ax specification?

The full standard is available from the IEEE Standards Association.

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 802.11ax

  • List of Physical Features

  • Power Saving Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ax

  • Interoperability Mechanisms in IEEE 802.11ax

  • End-User Products that support 802.11ax

  • Protocol Packet Details

  • Basic Features

  • Reference links