802.11ac ==================== .. toctree:: :maxdepth: 1 :hidden: :includehidden: 802_11ac/802_11ac 802_11ac/mac_functions 802_11ac/mac_timings 802_11ac/packet_formats 802_11ac/power_save 802_11ac/interoperability 802_11ac/physical_rates 802_11ac/ppdu 802_11ac/channels 802_11ac/PHYs IEEE 802.11ac is a Wi-Fi standard that operates in the 5 GHz band, providing high-throughput wireless communication with wider channels, multiple spatial streams, and advanced modulation techniques. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 60 20 :header-rows: 1 * - Category - Description - Use Case * - MAC Functions - Core MAC layer responsibilities like frame delimiting, addressing, error checking. - Managing wireless communication and reliable data delivery * - MAC Timings - Timing parameters like SIFS, DIFS, backoff timers controlling transmission. - Coordination of medium access and collision avoidance * - Packet Formats - Structure of 802.11ac frames including header, payload, and control frames. - Frame parsing and network management * - Power Save - Power saving mechanisms allowing devices to enter low power modes. - Extending battery life while maintaining connectivity * - Interoperability - Mechanisms for compatibility with other 802.11 standards and vendors. - Seamless multi-vendor and multi-standard network operation * - Physical Rates - Supported data rates and modulation schemes of 802.11ac. - Flexible throughput options and efficient spectrum use * - PPDU - Physical Protocol Data Unit format including preamble and data fields. - Synchronization and efficient data transmission * - Channels - Frequency bands and channel bonding in 802.11ac (5 GHz) with 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channels. - Efficient spectrum planning, channel bonding, and interference mitigation * - PHY Overview - Overview of the Physical Layer in 802.11ac, OFDM-based with MIMO and MU-MIMO support. - High-speed wireless data delivery using advanced modulation and spatial multiplexing .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac (Very High Throughput – Wi-Fi 5) **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band - Introduces **Very High Throughput (VHT)** PHY - Supports wider channels (up to 160 MHz) - Utilizes **MU-MIMO** (Multi-User MIMO) - Enables up to **8 spatial streams** - Higher modulation rates with **256-QAM** - Beamforming support for better signal strength and range - Offers theoretical throughput up to **6.9 Gbps** **Use Cases:** - High-speed home and enterprise wireless networking - Ultra-HD/4K/8K video streaming - Real-time applications (AR/VR, video conferencing) - Dense Wi-Fi environments (stadiums, conference halls) - Low-latency gaming and media **Related Concepts:** - MU-MIMO vs SU-MIMO - VHT PHY layer and MAC frame formats - Channel bonding (80 MHz and 160 MHz) - Dynamic bandwidth operation - Beamforming and sounding frames - Power-saving in high-throughput networks .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the capabilities and architecture of 802.11ac:** * :ref:`Learnings in this section <802_11ac_step1>` * :ref:`Terminology <802_11ac_step2>` * :ref:`Version Info <802_11ac_step3>` * :ref:`802_11ac Version&IEEE Details <802_11ac_step4>` * :ref:`802_11ac Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <802_11ac_step5>` * :ref:`802_11ac Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 <802_11ac_step6>` * :ref:`Reference links <802_11ac_step16>` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/802_11ac.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Basics" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac MAC Functions **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Enhanced MAC layer for higher throughput and efficiency on 5 GHz band - Supports multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) for simultaneous data streams - Manages frame aggregation (A-MPDU and A-MSDU) for improved efficiency - Implements advanced error detection and retransmission techniques - Coordinates dynamic bandwidth management (20/40/80/160 MHz channels) - Works closely with Physical Layer enhancements for faster data rates **Use Cases:** - High-speed Wi-Fi for video streaming, gaming, and large file transfers - Managing multi-user wireless environments with high density - Enhancing quality of service (QoS) for latency-sensitive applications **Related Functions:** - Frame control with advanced aggregation and block acknowledgments - Sequence and power management optimized for high throughput - Advanced error correction and retransmission policies - Traffic differentiation and prioritization for QoS .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac MAC Functions:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/mac_functions.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac MAC Functions" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac MAC Timings **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Defines precise timing parameters for high throughput frame exchanges - Includes enhanced Interframe Spaces (SIFS, DIFS, and extended AIFS) adapted for multi-user MIMO and frame aggregation - Specifies slot times and contention windows optimized for wider channel bandwidths (up to 160 MHz) - Ensures efficient collision avoidance with dynamic backoff adjustments - Manages timing for block acknowledgments and aggregated frame transmissions - Synchronizes MAC and PHY layers for improved efficiency in dense wireless environments **Use Cases:** - Coordinating transmissions in high-speed 5 GHz WLANs with MU-MIMO - Reducing collisions and optimizing throughput in multi-user scenarios - Supporting enhanced QoS for streaming, gaming, and low-latency applications **Related Timing Parameters:** - Short Interframe Space (SIFS) - Distributed Interframe Space (DIFS) - Arbitration Interframe Space (AIFS) - Slot time and adaptive backoff timers .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac MAC Timings:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/mac_timings.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac MAC Timings" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac Packet Formats **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Defines the structure of MAC and PHY layer frames specific to 802.11ac - Supports enhanced frame formats for high throughput including aggregation (A-MPDU, A-MSDU) - Includes Frame Control, Duration, Address fields, Sequence Control, and CRC with added QoS support - Uses OFDM symbols with wider channel bandwidths (20, 40, 80, 160 MHz) at the PHY layer - Supports data frames, management frames, control frames, and block acknowledgments - Frame formats facilitate MU-MIMO and beamforming operations **Use Cases:** - Structuring wireless packets for high-speed 5 GHz WLANs with multi-user capabilities - Efficient data delivery using frame aggregation and block acknowledgments - Enabling interoperability and backward compatibility with legacy 802.11 standards **Related Frame Types:** - Management frames (e.g., Beacon, Probe Request) - Control frames (e.g., ACK, RTS, CTS) - Data frames with QoS and aggregation support .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac Packet Formats:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/packet_formats.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Packet Formats" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac Power Saving **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Implements advanced Power Save Mode (PSM) for enhanced energy efficiency - Supports both legacy and modern sleep/wake mechanisms coordinated with AP - Uses Buffer Status Reports and Trigger frames to optimize power usage in MU-MIMO - Access Point buffers data and informs clients via TIM and DTIM elements - Enables Target Wake Time (TWT) scheduling for negotiated sleep intervals (introduced in 802.11ax but supported for compatibility) - Designed to extend battery life in high-throughput 5 GHz WLANs **Use Cases:** - Prolonging battery life of mobile devices in dense high-speed Wi-Fi environments - Reducing power consumption during idle or low traffic periods in MU-MIMO networks - Efficient power management for IoT devices leveraging 802.11ac **Related Mechanisms:** - Beacon frame scheduling and delivery indications - Trigger-based power save and wake notifications - Integration with MAC-layer power management protocols .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac Power Saving mechanisms:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/power_save.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Power Saving" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac Interoperability **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Ensures compatibility between devices from various vendors operating in the 5 GHz band - Maintains backward compatibility with legacy 802.11a/n devices to support mixed networks - Defines standardized frame formats and signaling to enable seamless cross-vendor communication - Implements enhanced coexistence mechanisms for operation alongside other wireless standards - Supports clear channel assessment (CCA) and CSMA/CA for coordinated medium access - Uses uniform management and control frames for association, roaming, and handoff processes **Use Cases:** - Supporting multi-vendor Wi-Fi deployments in modern enterprise and consumer environments - Enabling seamless roaming and handoff between 802.11ac and legacy devices - Allowing coexistence with legacy 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks and other technologies **Related Mechanisms:** - Management frame interoperability - Backward compatibility procedures - Frequency and channel coordination - Standardized PHY and MAC layer protocols .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac Interoperability mechanisms:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/interoperability.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Interoperability" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac Physical Rates **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Supports data rates from 6.5 Mbps up to several Gbps (up to 6.93 Gbps in Wave 2) - Utilizes advanced modulation techniques including 256-QAM - Supports multiple spatial streams (up to 8 streams) with MIMO (Multi-User MIMO in Wave 2) - Employs channel bonding up to 160 MHz wide channels in the 5 GHz band - Adapts rates dynamically based on channel conditions and device capabilities - Enhances throughput and efficiency with higher modulation and coding schemes (MCS) **Use Cases:** - Ultra-high-speed wireless networking for HD video streaming, gaming, and large file transfers - Enterprise and carrier-grade Wi-Fi deployments requiring gigabit speeds - Backhaul links and dense device environments with enhanced spatial multiplexing **Related Concepts:** - Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) indexes for rate adaptation - Channel bonding (20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz) - Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) and beamforming - Rate scaling and link adaptation algorithms .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac Physical Rates:** * :ref:`physical_rates in 802.11ac ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/physical_rates.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Physical Rates" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac PPDU **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Defines the Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) structure for 802.11ac - Incorporates a VHT (Very High Throughput) preamble for synchronization and channel estimation - Includes SIGNAL fields (VHT-SIG A and B) specifying MCS, spatial streams, and length - Supports wide channel bandwidths: 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz with channel bonding - Payload is encoded with OFDM modulation using up to 256-QAM - Enables Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) transmissions for increased efficiency and throughput - Provides robust error correction and adaptive modulation for high-speed wireless data transmission **Use Cases:** - High-throughput data encapsulation for modern Wi-Fi applications - Synchronization and channel estimation in 5 GHz WLANs with wide channels - Supporting gigabit wireless links and dense device environments **Related Concepts:** - VHT preamble and signaling fields - OFDM symbol structure with enhanced coding and modulation - MU-MIMO and beamforming integration - Channel bonding and spatial stream allocation .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac PPDU:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/ppdu.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac PPDU" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac Channels **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Operates exclusively in the 5 GHz UNII bands with flexible channel bandwidths: 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz - Supports channel bonding to combine multiple 20 MHz channels for higher throughput - Provides up to 8 non-overlapping 20 MHz channels (depending on regulatory domain and channel bonding) - Includes Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) and Transmit Power Control (TPC) for interference mitigation - Utilizes wider channels and spatial multiplexing to achieve gigabit speeds - Designed to optimize performance in dense environments with high device density **Use Cases:** - High-speed wireless networks in enterprise, campus, and home environments - Channel planning with bonded channels to maximize throughput - Reducing interference through DFS and efficient spectrum utilization **Related Concepts:** - UNII bands (UNII-1, UNII-2, UNII-3, UNII-2 Extended) - DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) and TPC (Transmit Power Control) - Channel bonding and aggregation (20, 40, 80, 160 MHz) - MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) enabled spatial streams .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac Channels:** * :ref:`List of channels ` * :ref:`List of channel widths ` * :ref:`List of Bands ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/channels.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac Channels" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ac PHY **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ac (2013) **Main Features:** - Uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with Very High Throughput (VHT) enhancements - Provides data rates from 6.5 Mbps up to several Gbps with adaptive modulation and coding - Employs up to 256 subcarriers depending on channel bandwidth (20, 40, 80, 160 MHz) - Supports advanced modulation schemes up to 256-QAM for increased spectral efficiency - Implements Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coding and beamforming for improved error resilience and range - Supports Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) spatial multiplexing - Uses a flexible channel bandwidth in the 5 GHz band, enabling wider channels and higher throughput **Use Cases:** - Delivering ultra-high-throughput, low-latency wireless communication - Enabling gigabit wireless speeds for video streaming, VR/AR, and large data transfers - Enhancing reliability and efficiency in dense and high-interference environments **Related Concepts:** - OFDM and VHT signal structures - LDPC coding, beamforming, and MU-MIMO technology - Preamble design, SIGNAL field, and advanced synchronization mechanisms .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ac PHY:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ac/PHYs.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ac PHY"