802.11ax 6E - Basics ======================= .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is 802.11ax 6E?** 802.11ax 6E, also known as Wi-Fi 6E, is the extension of the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard into the newly opened 6 GHz frequency band. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How is Wi-Fi 6E different from Wi-Fi 6?** Wi-Fi 6E operates in the 6 GHz band, providing more spectrum, less interference, and higher speeds compared to Wi-Fi 6, which operates in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Why was the 6 GHz band introduced?** To alleviate congestion and interference on the crowded 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands by providing more clean spectrum for faster, more reliable wireless connections. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What frequency range does Wi-Fi 6E cover?** Approximately 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz (depending on country regulations), offering up to 1200 MHz of additional spectrum. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How many channels are available in 6 GHz?** Up to 14 additional 80 MHz channels or 7 additional 160 MHz channels, greatly increasing channel availability. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is Wi-Fi 6E backward compatible?** Wi-Fi 6E devices support Wi-Fi 6 and older Wi-Fi standards but can only operate in 6 GHz if both devices support Wi-Fi 6E. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What devices support Wi-Fi 6E?** Newer routers, smartphones, laptops, and IoT devices that have Wi-Fi 6E-capable chipsets. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does Wi-Fi 6E improve speed?** Yes, the wider channels and additional spectrum allow for higher data rates and less interference, boosting speeds. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What are the main benefits of Wi-Fi 6E?** More bandwidth, lower latency, reduced interference, better performance in congested environments, and support for more simultaneous devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Can Wi-Fi 6E devices operate on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?** Wi-Fi 6E devices typically support multi-band operation on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is OFDMA and does Wi-Fi 6E support it?** Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) allows multiple users to share the same channel efficiently; yes, Wi-Fi 6E supports OFDMA. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does Wi-Fi 6E support MU-MIMO?** Yes, Wi-Fi 6E supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) for better simultaneous device communication. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Are all countries allowing Wi-Fi 6E use in 6 GHz?** No, regulations vary; some countries have opened the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, others are still evaluating. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is Wi-Fi 6E suitable for gaming and AR/VR?** Yes, the low latency and high throughput in 6 GHz make Wi-Fi 6E ideal for gaming, augmented reality, and virtual reality applications. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does Wi-Fi 6E consume more power?** Not necessarily; newer chipsets are optimized for efficiency, but wider bandwidth and higher data rates may increase power consumption in some cases. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is the maximum channel bandwidth in Wi-Fi 6E?** Up to 160 MHz channels are supported, allowing very high data rates. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How does Wi-Fi 6E handle interference?** The new 6 GHz spectrum is less crowded, so interference is lower; also, technologies like BSS Coloring help reduce interference. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Can Wi-Fi 6E help in dense environments?** Yes, with more spectrum and improved scheduling techniques, Wi-Fi 6E performs better in crowded spaces like stadiums or apartments. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Do I need a new router for Wi-Fi 6E?** Yes, to use the 6 GHz band, both router and client devices must support Wi-Fi 6E. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Can Wi-Fi 6E improve range?** The 6 GHz band generally has slightly shorter range than 5 GHz due to higher frequency, but higher speeds and lower interference help overall performance. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What kind of applications benefit most from Wi-Fi 6E?** High-definition video streaming, cloud gaming, video conferencing, AR/VR, and smart home devices benefit from Wi-Fi 6E. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Does Wi-Fi 6E improve security?** Wi-Fi 6E supports WPA3, the latest Wi-Fi security standard, providing stronger encryption and protection. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is Wi-Fi 6E only for new devices?** Yes, only devices with Wi-Fi 6E-compatible hardware can access the 6 GHz band. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How is Wi-Fi 6E related to Wi-Fi 7?** Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 into 6 GHz; Wi-Fi 7 is a future standard that will further improve speed and efficiency, possibly also in 6 GHz. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **When will Wi-Fi 6E become mainstream?** Adoption is growing fast, with many new devices launched since 2021; mainstream adoption depends on device availability and regional regulations. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow Topics in this section, * :ref:`Learnings in this section <802_11ax6e_step1>` * :ref:`Terminology <802_11ax6e_step2>` * :ref:`Version Info <802_11ax6e_step3>` * :ref:`802_11ax6e Version & IEEE Details <802_11ax6e_step4>` * :ref:`802_11ax6e Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <802_11ax6e_step5>` * :ref:`802_11ax6e Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 <802_11ax6e_step6>` * :ref:`Reference links <802_11ax6e_step16>` .. _802_11ax6e_step1: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section * In this section, you are going to learn .. _802_11ax6e_step2: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Terminology * Terminology .. _802_11ax6e_step3: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Version Info * Version Info .. _802_11ax6e_step4: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ax6e Version & IEEE Details * IEEE details and specifications .. _802_11ax6e_step5: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ax6e Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 * Setup instructions for IPv4 .. _802_11ax6e_step6: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ax6e Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 * Setup instructions for IPv6 .. _802_11ax6e_step16: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Reference links * Reference links