IEEE 802.11ac-2013 explained

IEEE 802.11ac-2013 or 802.11ac is a wireless networking standard in the IEEE 802.11 set of protocols (which is part of the Wi-Fi networking family), providing high-throughput wireless local area networks (WLANs) on the 5 GHz band. The standard has been retroactively labelled as Wi-Fi 5 by Wi-Fi Alliance.[1] [2]

The specification has multi-station throughput of at least 1.1 gigabit per second (1.1 Gbit/s) and single-link throughput of at least 500 megabits per second (0.5 Gbit/s).[3] This is accomplished by extending the air-interface concepts embraced by 802.11n: wider RF bandwidth (up to 160 MHz), more MIMO spatial streams (up to eight), downlink multi-user MIMO (up to four clients), and high-density modulation (up to 256-QAM).[4] [5]

The Wi-Fi Alliance separated the introduction of 802.11ac wireless products into two phases ("waves"), named "Wave 1" and "Wave 2".[6] [7] From mid-2013, the alliance started certifying Wave 1 802.11ac products shipped by manufacturers, based on the IEEE 802.11ac Draft 3.0 (the IEEE standard was not finalized until later that year).[8] Subsequently in 2016, Wi-Fi Alliance introduced the Wave 2 certification, which includes additional features like MU-MIMO (down-link only), 160 MHz channel width support, support for more 5 GHz channels, and four spatial streams (with four antennas; compared to three in Wave 1 and 802.11n, and eight in IEEE's 802.11ax specification).[9] It meant Wave 2 products would have higher bandwidth and capacity than Wave 1 products.[10]

New technologies

New technologies introduced with 802.11ac include the following:[11]

Features

Mandatory

Optional

New scenarios and configurations

The single-link and multi-station enhancements supported by 802.11ac enable several new WLAN usage scenarios, such as simultaneous streaming of HD video to multiple clients throughout the home, rapid synchronization and backup of large data files, wireless display, large campus/auditorium deployments, and manufacturing floor automation.[12]

To fully utilize their WLAN capacities, 802.11ac access points and routers have sufficient throughput to require the inclusion of a USB 3.0 interface to provide various services such as video streaming, FTP servers, and personal cloud services.[13] With storage locally attached through USB 2.0, filling the bandwidth made available by 802.11ac was not easily accomplished.

Example configurations

All rates assume 256-QAM, rate 5/6:

Scenario Typical client
form factor
PHY link rate Aggregate
capacity
(speed)
One-antenna AP, one-antenna STA, 80 MHz Handheld 433 Mbit/s 433 Mbit/s
Two-antenna AP, two-antenna STA, 80 MHz Tablet, laptop 867 Mbit/s 867 Mbit/s
One-antenna AP, one-antenna STA, 160 MHz Handheld 867 Mbit/s 867 Mbit/s
Three-antenna AP, three-antenna STA, 80 MHz Laptop, PC 1.30 Gbit/s 1.30 Gbit/s
Two-antenna AP, two-antenna STA, 160 MHz Tablet, laptop 1.73 Gbit/s 1.73 Gbit/s
Four-antenna AP, four one-antenna STAs, 160 MHz
(MU-MIMO)
Handheld 867 Mbit/s to each STA 3.39 Gbit/s
Eight-antenna AP, 160 MHz (MU-MIMO)
  • one four-antenna STA
  • one two-antenna STA
  • two one-antenna STAs
Digital TV, Set-top Box,
Tablet, Laptop, PC, Handheld
  • 3.47 Gbit/s to four-antenna STA
  • 1.73 Gbit/s to two-antenna STA
  • 867 Mbit/s to each one-antenna STA
6.93 Gbit/s
Eight-antenna AP, four 2-antenna STAs, 160 MHz
(MU-MIMO)
Digital TV, tablet, laptop, PC 1.73 Gbit/s to each STA6.93 Gbit/s

Wave 1 vs. Wave 2

Wave 2, referring to products introduced in 2016, offers a higher throughput than legacy Wave 1 products, those introduced starting in 2013. The maximum physical layer theoretical rate for Wave 1 is 1.3 Gbit/s, while Wave 2 can reach 2.34 Gbit/s. Wave 2 can therefore achieve 1 Gbit/s even if the real world throughput turns out to be only 50% of the theoretical rate. Wave 2 also supports a higher number of connected devices.[10]

Data rates and speed

+Modulation and coding schemes
MCS
index
Spatial
Streams
Modulation
type
Coding
rate
Data rate (Mbit/s)[14]
20 MHz channels40 MHz channels80 MHz channels 160 MHz channels
800 ns 400 ns GI800 ns GI 400 ns GI800 ns GI 400 ns GI800 ns GI 400 ns GI
0 1 BPSK 1/2 6.5 7.2 13.5 15 29.3 32.5 58.5 65
1 1 QPSK 1/2 13 14.4 27 30 58.5 65 117 130
2 1 QPSK 3/4 19.5 21.7 40.5 45 87.8 97.5 175.5 195
3 1 16-QAM 1/2 26 28.9 54 60 117 130 234 260
4 1 16-QAM 3/4 39 43.3 81 90 175.5 195 351 390
5 1 64-QAM 2/3 52 57.8 108 120 234 260 468 520
6 1 64-QAM 3/4 58.5 65 121.5 135 263.3 292.5 526.5 585
7 1 64-QAM 5/6 65 72.2 135 150 292.5 325 585 650
8 1 256-QAM 3/4 78 86.7 162 180 351 390 702 780
9 1 256-QAM 5/6 180 200 390 433.3 780 866.7
0 2 BPSK 1/2 13 14.4 27 30 58.5 65 117 130
1 2 QPSK 1/2 26 28.9 54 60 117 130 234 260
2 2 QPSK 3/4 39 43.3 81 90 175.5 195 351 390
3 2 16-QAM 1/2 52 57.8 108 120 234 260 468 520
4 2 16-QAM 3/4 78 86.7 162 180 351 390 702 780
5 2 64-QAM 2/3 104 115.6 216 240 468 520 936 1040
6 2 64-QAM 3/4 117 130.3 243 270 526.5 585 1053 1170
7 2 64-QAM 5/6 130 144.4 270 300 585 650 1170 1300
8 2 256-QAM 3/4 156 173.3 324 360 702 780 1404 1560
9 2 256-QAM 5/6 360 400 780 866.7 1560 1733.3
0 3 BPSK 1/2 19.5 21.7 40.5 45 87.8 97.5 175.5 195
1 3 QPSK 1/2 39 43.3 81 90 175.5 195 351 390
2 3 QPSK 3/4 58.5 65 121.5 135 263.3 292.5 526.5 585
3 3 16-QAM 1/2 78 86.7 162 180 351 390 702 780
4 3 16-QAM 3/4 117 130 243 270 526.5 585 1053 1170
5 3 64-QAM 2/3 156 173.3 324 360 702 780 1404 1560
6 3 64-QAM 3/4 175.5 195 364.5 405 1579.5 1755
7 3 64-QAM 5/6 195 216.7 405 450 877.5 975 1755 1950
8 3 256-QAM 3/4 234 260 486 540 1053 1170 2106 2340
9 3 256-QAM 5/6 260 288.9 540 600 1170 1300 2340 2600
0 4 BPSK 1/2 26 28.8 54 60 117.2 130 234 260
1 4 QPSK 1/2 52 57.6 108 120 234 260 468 520
24QPSK3/47886.8162180351.2390702780
3416-QAM1/2104115.62162404685209361040
4416-QAM3/4156173.232436070278014041560
5464-QAM2/3208231.2432480936104018722080
6464-QAM3/42342604865401053.2117021062340
7464-QAM5/6260288.85406001170130023402600
84256-QAM3/4312346.86487201404156028083120
94256-QAM5/672080015601733.331203466.7

Several companies are currently offering 802.11ac chipsets with higher modulation rates: MCS-10 and MCS-11 (1024-QAM), supported by Quantenna and Broadcom. Although technically not part of 802.11ac, these new MCS indices became official in the 802.11ax standard, ratified in 2021.

160 MHz channels are unavailable in some countries due to regulatory issues that allocated some frequencies for other purposes.

Advertised speeds

802.11ac-class device wireless speeds are often advertised as AC followed by a number, that number being the highest link rates in Mbit/s of all the simultaneously-usable radios in the device added up. For example, an AC1900 access point might have 600 Mbit/s capability on its 2.4 GHz radio and 1300 Mbit/s capability on its 5 GHz radio. No single client device could connect and achieve 1900 Mbit/s of throughput, but separate devices each connecting to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios could achieve combined throughput approaching 1900 Mbit/s. Different possible stream configurations can add up to the same AC number.

Type 2.4 GHz band
Mbit/s
2.4 GHz band config
[all 40 MHz]
5 GHz band
Mbit/s
5 GHz band config
[all 80 MHz]
AC450[15] - - 433 1 stream @ MCS 9
AC600 150 1 stream @ MCS 7 433 1 stream @ MCS 9
AC750 300 2 streams @ MCS 7 433 1 stream @ MCS 9
AC10003002 streams @ MCS 76502 streams @ MCS 7
AC1200 300 2 streams @ MCS 7 867 2 streams @ MCS 9
AC1300 400 2 streams @ 256-QAM 867 2 streams @ MCS 9
AC1300[16] - - 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9
AC1350[17] 450 3 streams @ MCS 78672 streams @ MCS 9
AC1450 450 3 streams @ MCS 7 975 3 streams @ MCS 7
AC1600 300 2 streams @ MCS 7 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9
AC1700 800 4 streams @ 256-QAM 867 2 streams @ MCS 9
AC1750 450 3 streams @ MCS 7 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9
AC1900 600 3 streams @ 256-QAM 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9
AC2100 800 4 streams @ 256-QAM 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9
AC2200 450 3 streams @ MCS 7 1,733 4 streams @ MCS 9
AC2300 600 4 streams @ MCS 7 1,625 3 streams @ 1024-QAM
AC2400 600 4 streams @ MCS 7 1,733 4 streams @ MCS 9
AC2600 800 4 streams @ 256-QAM 1,733 4 streams @ MCS 9
AC2900 750 3 streams @ 1024-QAM 2,167 4 streams @ 1024-QAM
AC3000 450 3 streams @ MCS 7 1,300 + 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9 x 2
AC3150 1000 4 streams @ 1024-QAM 2,167 4 streams @ 1024-QAM
AC3200 600 3 streams @ 256-QAM 1,300 + 1,300 3 streams @ MCS 9 x 2
AC5000 600 4 streams @ MCS 7 2,167 + 2,167 4 streams @ 1024-QAM x 2
AC5300[18] 1000 4 streams @ 1024-QAM 2,167 + 2,167 4 streams @ 1024-QAM x 2

Products

Commercial routers and access points

Quantenna released the first 802.11ac chipset for retail Wi-Fi routers and consumer electronics on November 15, 2011.[19] Redpine Signals released the first low power 802.11ac technology for smartphone application processors on December 14, 2011.[20] On January 5, 2012, Broadcom announced its first 802.11ac Wi-Fi chips and partners[21] and on April 27, 2012, Netgear announced the first Broadcom-enabled router.[22] On May 14, 2012, Buffalo Technology released the world’s first 802.11ac products to market, releasing a wireless router and client bridge adapter.[23] On December 6, 2012, Huawei announced commercial availability of the industry's first enterprise-level 802.11ac Access Point.[24]

Motorola Solutions is selling 802.11ac access points including the AP 8232.[25] In April 2014, Hewlett-Packard started selling the HP 560 access point in the controller-based WLAN enterprise market segment.[26]

Commercial laptops

On June 7, 2012, it was reported that Asus had unveiled its ROG G75VX gaming notebook, which would be the first consumer-oriented notebook to be fully compliant with 802.11ac[27] (albeit in its "draft 2.0" version).

Apple began implementing 802.11ac starting with the MacBook Air in June 2013,[28] [29] followed by the MacBook Pro and Mac Pro later that year.[30] [31]

Hewlett-Packard incorporates 802.11ac compliance in laptop computers.[32]

Commercial handsets (partial list)

Commercial tablets

Chipsets

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wi-Fi Alliance introduces Wi-Fi 6 .
  2. Web site: Here Come Wi-Fi 4, 5 and 6 in Plan to Simplify 802.11 Networking Names – The Wi-Fi Alliance Wants to Make Wireless Networks Easier to Understand and Recognize . Shankland . Stephen . 2018-10-03 . . 2020-02-13 .
  3. Van Nee. Richard. 2011. Breaking the Gigabit-per-second barrier with 802.11ac . IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine.
  4. Web site: Cheat Sheet: What You Need to Know about 802.11ac . Kassner . Michael . 2013-06-18 . . 2013-06-20 .
  5. Web site: 802.11ac: A Survival Guide . Chimera.labs.oreilly.com . 2014-04-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703105148/http://chimera.labs.oreilly.com/books/1234000001739/ch04.html . 2017-07-03 . dead .
  6. Web site: 802.11AC WAVE 2 A XIRRUS WHITE PAPER.
  7. Web site: 802.11ac Wi-Fi Part 2: Wave 1 and Wave 2 Products.
  8. Web site: 802.11ac: The Fifth Generation of Wi-Fi Technical White Paper. March 2014. Cisco.
  9. Web site: Wi-Fi Alliance launches 802.11ac Wave 2 certification. RCR Wireless. 29 June 2016.
  10. Web site: 6 things you need to know about 802.11ac Wave 2 . techrepublic.com . 2016-07-13 . 2018-07-26.
  11. IEEE 802.11ac: from channelization to multi-user MIMO. 2013-10-08 . 10.1109/MCOM.2013.6619570. Bejarano. Oscar. Knightly. Edward. Park. Minyoung. IEEE Communications Magazine. 51. 10. 84–90. 317094 .
  12. Web site: 802.11ac Usage Models Document . 2008-11-10 . Rolf . de Vegt.
  13. Web site: ASUS RT-AC56U & USB-AC56 802.11AC Review . Hardwarecanucks.com . 2014-04-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140424061000/http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/63773-asus-rt-ac56u-usb-ac56-802-11ac-review.html . 2014-04-24 . dead .
  14. Web site: IEEE Std 802.11ac™-2013 - 22.5 Parameters for VHT-MCSs . IEEE . 2015-04-13 . 323–339 . 2013-12-11.
  15. Web site: AC580 USB Wireless Adapter Roundup . SmallNetBuilder.com . 2014-11-04 . 2018-01-02.
  16. Web site: Linksys WUMC710 Wireless-AC Universal Media Connector Reviewed . SmallNetBuilder.com . 2014-01-28 . 2016-08-08.
  17. Web site: Archer C59. TP-LINK.com. 2017-03-19. 2017-03-19.
  18. Web site: Ngo . Dong . Netgear R8500 Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart WiFi Router review . CNET.com . 2016-08-08.
  19. Quantenna Launches World's First 802.11ac Gigabit-Wireless Solution for Retail Wi-Fi Routers and Consumer Electronics . Quantenna . 2011-11-15 .
  20. Redpine Signals Releases First Ultra Low Power 802.11ac Technology for Smartphone Application Processors . Redpine Signals . 2011-12-14 . 2013-03-15.
  21. Broadcom Launches First Gigabit Speed 802.11ac Chips - Opens 2012 CES with 5th Generation (5G) Wi-Fi Breakthrough . Broadcom . 2012-01-05 . 2013-03-15.
  22. Web site: Netgear's R6300 router is first to use Broadcom 802.11ac chipset, will ship next month for $200. Engadget. 10 September 2014.
  23. Buffalo's 802.11ac Wireless Solutions Available Now . Buffalo Technology (via PRNewswire) . Austin, Texas . May 14, 2012 . 2013-03-15.
  24. News: Huawei Announces Commercial Availability of Industry's First Enterprise-level 802.11ac Access Point. Huawei . 6 December 2012.
  25. Web site: Motorola Modular Access Points Performance Review. broadbandlanding.com. en. 2017-03-02.
  26. Web site: HP Launches the HP 560 802.11ac Access Point . HP . 2014-03-31 .
  27. News: Asus gaming notebook first to feature full 802.11ac . Electronista . 2012-06-07. 2013-03-15.
  28. News: Apple unveils new MacBook Air lineup with all-day battery life, 802.11ac Wi-Fi . . 2013-06-11. 2013-06-11.
  29. Web site: Apple - Macbook Air. Apple.com. 10 September 2014.
  30. Web site: MacBook Pro with Retina display - Technical Specifications. Apple . 10 January 2014.
  31. Web site: Mac Pro - Technical Specifications. Apple . 10 January 2014.
  32. Web site: HP ENVY TouchSmart 17-j043cl Notebook PC Product Specifications HP ENVY TouchSmart 17-j043cl Notebook PC . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221223411/http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03904324&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=5447282#N364 . 2014-02-21 . HP Support . 2014-04-17 .
  33. Web site: HTC One Teardown . iFixit.com . 25 March 2013 . 2016-08-08.
  34. Web site: HTC One M8 | HTC United States | HTC United States . Htc.com . 2016-08-08.
  35. Web site: Inside the Samsung Galaxy S4 - Recent Teardowns. https://web.archive.org/web/20130427084156/http://www.chipworks.com/blog/recentteardowns/2013/04/25/inside-the-samsung-galaxy-s4/. dead. 27 April 2013. 27 April 2013. 15 May 2018.
  36. Web site: Cellular, WiFi, Speaker & Noise Rejection - Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review . Anandtech.com . 2016-08-08.
  37. Web site: LG Nexus 5 - Full phone specifications . Gsmarena.com . 2016-08-08.
  38. Web site: Nexus 5 Teardown . iFixit.com . 31 October 2013 . 2016-08-08.
  39. Web site: Nokia Lumia 1520 Specifications - Microsoft - USA . Microsoft.com . 2014-07-23 . 2016-08-08.
  40. Web site: Nokia Lumia Icon. Nokia . 2014-11-10.
  41. Web site: HTC One (M8) Teardown . iFixit.com . 25 March 2014 . 2016-08-08.
  42. Web site: Samsung Galaxy S5 Hits Stores, Chock Full of Broadcom Tech - Broadcom Connected. https://web.archive.org/web/20140422123554/http://blog.broadcom.com/wireless-technology/samsung-galaxy-s5-hits-stores-chock-full-of-broadcom-tech/. dead. 22 April 2014. 22 April 2014. 15 May 2018.
  43. LG Electronics G2 Powered by ANADIGICS 802.11ac WiFi FEIC. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304052942/http://www.anadigics.com/news/press_releases/lg_electronics_g2_powered_anadigics_80211ac_wifi_feic. 2014-03-04. ANADIGICS. 2013-08-15.
  44. Web site: First Look: LG G3 Teardown – uBreakiFix Blog . Ubreakifix.com . 2014-05-30 . 2016-08-08.
  45. Web site: Amazon Fire Phone - 13MP Camera, 32GB - Shop Now . Amazon.com . 2016-08-08.
  46. Web site: Amazon Fire Phone Teardown . iFixit.com . 25 July 2014 . 2016-08-08.
  47. Web site: Samsung Note 4 & Alpha Teardown . Techinsights.com . 2014-09-10 . 2016-08-08.
  48. Web site: Exclusive Video Teardown: Apple iPhone 6 | Electronics360 . Electronics360.globalspec.com . 2014-09-23 . 2016-08-08.
  49. Web site: Nexus 6 Teardown . iFixit.com . November 2014 . 2016-08-08.
  50. Web site: WiFi Performance, GNSS, Misc. - The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review . Anandtech.com . 2016-08-08.
  51. Web site: Video Performance, WiFi Performance, and GNSS Performance - The Samsung Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ Review . Anandtech.com . 2016-08-08.