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After all, it is all about sending signals through the air.
So, the next time you enter a coffee shop, you must ask for WiFi credentials to connect.
This article covers WiFi types, including 5, 6, 6E, and 7.
By the end of the topic, youll be able to have a good understanding of WiFi types.
What is a WiFi Standard?
Just like any other technology, WiFi is also open to interpretation.
Thats great, but only if you want to make WiFi work in a small space or project.
However, things can go haywire when WiFi transmissions occur among devices that support different WiFi standards.
Knowing the WiFi standards and getting devices that support the specifications is essential.
So, what exactly is a WiFi standard?
Three types of media can transmit WiFi signals.
These include:
The routers are mainly focused on converting the radio waves to binary code.
The binary code is then translated to the code required to surf the internet traffic.
How is 2.4GHz Different from 5 GHz WiFi?
WiFi works by transmitting electromagnetic signals.
These signals are separated into multiple channels to ensure data is transmitted with less interface and traffic.
The binary code that the user generates is wirelessly transmitted after it is converted to wireless signals.
And the WiFi chip on your gear receives, sends, encodes, and decodes the WiFi signals.
The standard ensures that proper communications between wireless devices and base stations wirelessly.
IEEEs job is to develop and maintain the standards while ensuring that the parties correctly understand the standards.
It also leads to reliable interoperation and makes the technology widely accepted worldwide.
Lets go through them below.
Old and Obsolete: WiFi 1, 2,3, 4
WiFi technology got introduced in 1997.
And in the same year, IEEE was responsible for standardizing WiFi technology.
The very first WiFi standard is WiFi 1.
WiFi standardization started in 1997 with the first WLAN standard called 802.11.
The name 802.11 is derived from the group that created the standard.
However, it is not the fastest WLAN standard, considering it came in 1997.
Next came the IEEE 802.11b, also known as WiFi 2.
It is crafted for home users.
In the same year, IEEE released 802.11a for commercial use.
It works on a 5 GHz frequency with a maximum bandwidth of 54 Mbps.
WiFi 3 (IEEE 802.11g) was released in 2003.
It made 2.4 GHz fast with 54 Mbps maximum speeds.
The increased speeds resulted in better adoption of the WiFi standard worldwide.
In 2009, the WiFi signals, the WiFi 4 (IEEE 802.11n) standard, introduced multi-channel usage.
It was released in 2014.
The adoption rate was also high as it increased the data throughput of WiFi devices to staggering 1300 Mbps.
It comes with 20+ devices support and 200 sq.
The WiFi 6E extended to the 6 GHz frequency band and builds on top of WiFi 6.
And thats why 6E offers an additional spectrum for data transmission.
The MU-MIMO also gets upgrades, allowing more simultaneous connections for better multiple-machine support.
WiFi 6/6E are emerging technologies.
We recommend checking out the following routers.
The router chipset can also handle multiple tasks, including streaming and gaming.
#2.Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E
The Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E mesh system can cover 9000 sq.
ft. and up to 200 devices.
It has a 10 Gig internet port making it an ideal choice for business.
The Netgear Orbi comes with 6E support, offering better spectrum support with higher data transmission efficiency.
The speeds over the 2.4 GHz channel are also incredible at 1148 Mbps.
Overall, The Deco Mesh is a great WiFi 6 mesh router.
The standard is still work-in-progress, and IEEE is working to release a final version for consumers and businesses.
It takes WiFi performance to new levels with improvements over WiFi 6 and 6E.
Technically, itll include 320 MHz channels and 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation).
The 320 MHz channel can send twice the data compared to the previous generation.
The 4K QAM makes data more densely packed in each signal than WiFi 6/6Es 1K QAM.
Even though WiFi 7 is not officially out, you’re free to already get WiFi 7-enabled routers.
These routers will support WiFi 7 once it is finalized.
#6.Meshforce M7
The Meshforce M7 is a tri-band whole home mesh system that supports WiFi 7.
It lets you cover 7+ rooms, connecting 75+ devices without any performance drop-offs over a 6000 sq.
Final Words
Just like any other technology, WiFi is constantly evolving.
Next, check out how to safely share a WiFi password from an iPhone.
