802.11n MAC Functions
=========================


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        **What is the role of MAC functions in IEEE 802.11n?**

        MAC functions manage frame delivery, addressing, error detection, and access to the wireless medium.

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        **How does 802.11n MAC differ from previous standards like 802.11a/b/g?**

        It includes enhancements like frame aggregation, block acknowledgments, and MIMO support for higher throughput.

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        **What is frame aggregation in 802.11n MAC?**

        Aggregating multiple MAC frames into one larger frame to reduce overhead and increase efficiency.

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        **What types of frame aggregation are supported?**

        A-MPDU (Aggregated MAC Protocol Data Unit) and A-MSDU (Aggregated MAC Service Data Unit).

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        **How does block acknowledgment improve MAC performance?**

        It allows acknowledgment of multiple frames with a single response, reducing ACK overhead.

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        **What MAC mechanisms handle retransmissions in 802.11n?**

        The MAC layer uses selective retransmissions coordinated with block acknowledgments for lost frames.

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        **How does 802.11n MAC support MIMO?**

        It negotiates spatial stream capabilities and manages frame transmission across multiple antennas.

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        **What is the role of the RTS/CTS mechanism in 802.11n MAC?**

        It reduces collisions by reserving the medium before transmitting large aggregated frames.

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        **How does MAC handle Quality of Service (QoS) in 802.11n?**

        Through Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) providing prioritized medium access.

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        **What is the function of the MAC sequence control field?**

        It orders frames correctly and detects duplicates for reliable data delivery.

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        **How does MAC fragmentation work in 802.11n?**

        It breaks large frames into smaller fragments to improve reliability over noisy channels.

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        **Does 802.11n MAC support power management?**

        Yes, MAC coordinates power save modes and wake cycles with the AP to conserve energy.

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        **How is MAC security handled in 802.11n?**

        MAC works with security protocols like WPA2 to encrypt frames and authenticate devices.

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        **What is the role of the MAC address field?**

        It identifies source, destination, and BSS for correct frame delivery.

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        **How does the MAC layer interact with the PHY layer?**

        It coordinates frame transmission timing, modulation, and error correction with the PHY layer.

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        **What MAC timing parameters are crucial in 802.11n?**

        SIFS, DIFS, backoff timers, and acknowledgement timing for efficient medium access.

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        **How does the MAC layer support roaming in 802.11n networks?**

        It handles reassociation and handoff procedures to maintain connectivity.

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        **What is the role of management frames in MAC?**

        To manage network operations like association, authentication, and beaconing.

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        **How does MAC error detection work?**

        Using CRC checksums to detect corrupted frames before passing to higher layers.


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        Topics in this section,

                * :ref:`Reference links <mac_functions_n_step17>`

.. _mac_functions_n_step17:

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    .. tab-item:: Reference links

       * Reference links