Wi-Fi® (MAC/PHY)

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6®

Wi-Fi 6 provides enhanced capacity, efficiency, coverage, and performance required by users today in the most demanding Wi-Fi environments, including large public venues, enterprises, and Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios. Wi-Fi 6 offers higher data rates, increased capacity, stronger performance in dense environments, and improved power efficiency.

Wi-Fi 6E certification as part of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, extended to the 6 GHz band. Wi-Fi 6E delivers improvements that enable Wi-Fi devices to operate efficiently in the most dense, bandwidth-intensive, and dynamic connectivity environments. 

Key features of Wi-Fi 6 include:

• Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) effectively shares channels to increase network efficiency and lower latency
• Multi-user multiple input, multiple output (multi-user MIMO) allows more data to be transferred at one time, enabling APs to concurrently handle more devices
• 160 MHz channel utilization capability increases bandwidth to deliver greater performance with low latency
• Target wake time (TWT) significantly improves network efficiency and device battery life
• 1024 QAM increases throughput for emerging, bandwidth intensive uses by encoding more data in the same amount of spectrum
• Transmit beamforming enables higher data rates at a given range to increase network capacity

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® ac

Wi-Fi 5 is based on IEEE 802.11ac and offers higher capacity, improved power management, and lower latency, delivering multi-gigabit per second data rates while enabling devices to handle demanding applications such as ultra HD and 4K video, multimedia streaming, gaming devices, handsets, and many others. Most Wi-Fi 5 products are dual-band, operating in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Dual-band networks double capacity because devices can use the less crowded 5 GHz band for high performance applications, and the 2.4 GHz band for basic needs such as web surfing and IoT applications. Smaller devices are connecting to each other and the Internet, requiring long battery life, and Wi-Fi 5 introduces power saving features such as longer sleep periods and a reduction in the need to communicate with infrastructure too frequently.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n

Wi-Fi 4 is based on IEEE 802.11n and ensures a product has passed rigorous testing and can deliver the very best user experience with advanced Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi 4 can deliver plenty of throughput for bandwidth-hungry applications like music and video, extend reach throughout the home, and support many users at the same time. Wi-Fi Alliance has introduced power saving features that enable devices to benefit from native connectivity to Wi-Fi networks and the Internet without concern for power consumption. Wi-Fi power saving features bring longer sleep periods and reduce the need for devices to communicate with infrastructure too frequently. Features of Wi-Fi 4 include:

• Enhanced performance and speed
• Extended reach throughout the home
• Support for many users without sacrificing signal strength

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow™

Wi-Fi HaLow™ — the designation for products incorporating IEEE 802.11ah — augments Wi-Fi by operating in spectrum below 1 GHz to offer longer range of approximately 1 kilometer and low power connectivity necessary for applications including sensor networks and wearables. Wi-Fi HaLow meets the requirements for a range of use cases, including industrial, agricultural, smart building, and smart city environments, providing the connectivity necessary for IoT, sensor networks, and wearables. Wi-Fi HaLow also provides a more robust connection in challenging environments where the ability to penetrate walls or other barriers is an important consideration. Some of the many benefits that come with Wi-Fi HaLow include multi-vendor interoperability, easy setup without disrupting existing Wi-Fi networks, support for coin cell battery devices for months or years, and no need for proprietary hubs or gateways.

Wi-Fi HaLow leverages the following capabilities to produce these benefits:

• Narrow band OFDM channels
• Several device power saving modes
• Native IP support
• Latest Wi-Fi security

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig™

WiGig allows Wi-Fi devices to access the uncongested 60 GHz frequency band, expanding the Wi-Fi experience for virtual reality, multimedia streaming, gaming, wireless docking, and enterprise applications. Users benefit from the expanded capacity, reduced interference, and multi-gigabit per second speeds. 

Popular uses for WiGig products include:

• Wireless docking between devices like smartphones, laptops, projectors, and tablets
• Simultaneous streaming of multiple, ultra-high definition videos and movies
• More immersive gaming, augmented reality, and virtual reality experiences
• Fast download of HD movies
• Convenient public kiosk services
• Easier handling of bandwidth intensive applications in enterprise environments

AFC DUT

When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened the 6 GHz band for use by Wi-Fi devices, it mandated the requirement for an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) System that would prevent interference by Wi-Fi devices with incumbent licensed operators in the 6 GHz band. The AFC DUT Compliance Test Plan provides a test program for AFC device communication with an AFC System, including location information, and in turn implements the instructions received from the AFC System.