802.11ac

The previous IEEE Wi-Fi standard, which was designed to improve wireless services in the enterprise as well as support multiple streams of HD video in the home. Also known as "Wi-Fi 5," "Gigabit Wi-Fi" and "5G Wi-Fi," products became available in 2012 before the standard was approved in early 2014.

Operating only in the 5 GHz band, devices are backward compatible with 802.11n, which is expected to co-exist with 802.11ac until the 2020s. An 11ac access point employs beamforming, which uses feedback to aim the transmission at the receiving device. In addition, 11ac beamforming was standardized for vendor interoperability for the first time.

11ac Wave 2
The second generation Wave 2 supports multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) with a total of eight simultaneous streams and up to four per client. See beamforming, 2.5/5G Ethernet, 802.11n, 802.11ad, OFDM and QAM.

802.11ac and 802.11n SPECIFICATIONS     11ac         11n (Wi-Fi 5)    (Wi-Fi 4)Band  5 GHz       2.4/5 GHz

 Modulation    256-QAM       64-QAM

 MaxAntennas     8             4

 Channel MHz   20, 40,      20, 40
               80, 160

 11n(40 MHz channels)1 stream                   150 Mbps
 2 streams                  300 Mbps
 3 streams                  450 Mbps
 4 streams                  600 Mbps

 11ac Wave 1(80 MHz channels)1 stream     433 Mbps
 2 streams    867 Mbps
 3 streams    1.3 Gbps

 11ac Wave 2(160 MHz channels)1 stream     867 Mbps
 4 streams    3.39 Gbps
 8 streams    6.77 Gbps

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References in periodicals archive

Kamkhedkar, "IEEE 802.11ac: the new gigabit wi-fi standard," International Journal of Engineering Science Invention, vol.

Implementation and Evaluation of WLAN 802.11ac for Residential Networks in NS-3

Together, PCTEL's horizontally and vertically polarized omnidirectional antennas optimize MIMO performance and improve data throughput rates for 802.11ac access points on both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.

PCTEL launches Wi-Fi-boosting antennas

- ECW7212-O Indoor 802.11ac dual-radio access point with 2x2 MIMO.

EDGECORE BRINGS OPEN NETWORKING TO ACCESS NETWORK

According to the vendor, the new wireless network security solutions combine high-performance 802.11ac wireless technology with the new, next-generation wireless TZ series firewalls to deliver enterprise-class wireless performance and security, while dramatically simplifying network setup and management.

Dell releases new SonicWALL TZ Wireless Firewall Series

According to the company, the new Aerohive 802.11ac AP1130, designed to meet the growing demand for outdoor high-speed connectivity, provides highly resilient network access even in extremely challenging physical environments.

Aerohive introduces the new Aerohive AP1130 enabling extreme outdoor 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi

A simple answer to the question, "Why not just wait for Wave 2 products in late 2015?" is that Wave 1 802.11ac products offer features that solve huge problems that organizations face today.

Saudi wireless networks: Upgrade 'imperative for businesses'

The Telefonix PDT team is providing greater network performance for airline customers with the introduction of the CabinACe-2 wireless access point (WAP), the industry's first 802.11ac Wave 2 WAP for the aircraft cabin environment, the company said.

Telefonix PDT launches 802.11ac, Wave 2 WAP for aircraft cabins

The Avidity series is both compliant with IEEE 802.11ac and backwards-compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n.

SuperCom subsidiary Alvarion introduces Wi-Fi 802.11ac-standard access points

The ongoing transition from the older 802.11n standard to the newer and faster 802.11ac standard has been the driver for this segment.

WORLDWIDE WLAN MARKET SHOWS SLOWED GROWTH IN 1ST QTR

Aruba Networks Inc (Nasdaq:ARUN), a provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise, announced today the deployment by Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, a prestigious hotel, of a 802.11ac wireless network allowing guests to use gigabit Wi-Fi across its huge property.

Aruba Networks' wireless network solution deployed by Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi for gigabit Wi-Fi