Jul 24, 2022
Optimizing Wi-Fi (802.11x)-based connectivity – Understanding Network and Security for Far-Edge Computing
Wi-Fi was designed to allow laptops, smartphones, and tablets to connect to the internet and/or communicate with each other on a local area network (LAN). It uses RF to transmit data over relatively short distances, typically within a home or office – although permutations intended for outdoor use are becoming more common.
Wi-Fi is based on the IEEE 802.11 standards, which operate at Layer 1 of the OSI model (physical). Introduced in the late 1990s, it was the first commercially successful wireless networking technology that was designed to work seamlessly with Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) – which almost all LANs use at Layer 2.
Wi-Fi-1 through Wi-Fi-6
The following table shows us the comparison of 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax:
| 802.11 (b) Wi-Fi-1 | 802.11 (a) Wi-Fi-2 | 802.11 (g) Wi-Fi-3 | 802.11 (n) Wi-Fi-4 | 802.11 (ac) Wi-Fi-5 | 802.11 (ax) Wi-Fi-6 | |
| Max Speed | 11 Mbps | 54 Mbps | 54 Mbps | 600 Mbps10 10 Requires the use of vendor-specific proprietary beamforming/spatial streams. | 1.3 Gbps11 11 Refers to per-station throughput. The whole network theoretical maximum is 6.9 Gbps. | 1.7 Gbps12 12 Refers to per-station throughput. The whole network theoretical maximum is 9.6 Gbps. |
| Range Indoor (2.4) | 35 m | N/A | 45 m | 60 m | N/A | 60 m |
| Range Indoor (5) | N/A | 30 m | 30 m | 45 m | 45 m | 45 m |
| Range Outdoor (2.4) | 70 m | N/A | 90 m | 120 m | N/A | 120 m |
| Range Outdoor (5) | N/A | 60 m | 75 m | 90 m | 90 m | 90 m |
| 2.4 GHz Band | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 5 GHz Band | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OFDM | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MU-OFDMA | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| SU-MIMO | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | 8×8 |
| MU-MIMO (d) | No | No | No | No | 4×4 | 8×8 |
| MU-MIMO (u/d) | No | No | No | No | No | 8×8 |
| Spatial Streams | No | No | No | No | 4 | 8 |
Figure 3.29 – Comparison of 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
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