802.11ae Channels

What is 802.11ae?

802.11ae is an amendment to the Wi-Fi standard that enhances Quality of Service (QoS) by managing transmission of QoS-related management frames.

Does 802.11ae define new wireless channels?

No, 802.11ae operates over existing 802.11 channels and does not create new frequency channels.

Which frequency bands does 802.11ae use?

It uses the same frequency bands as the underlying Wi-Fi standards, typically 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

What type of frames does 802.11ae prioritize?

It prioritizes management frames related to QoS signaling like transmission of user priorities and admission control.

Is 802.11ae mandatory for all Wi-Fi devices?

No, it is an optional enhancement focused on QoS management.

How does 802.11ae improve Wi-Fi performance?

By ensuring QoS management frames are delivered reliably and timely, it supports better overall QoS.

Does 802.11ae impact channel width?

No, it uses the channel widths defined by the underlying physical standard (20 MHz, 40 MHz, etc.).

Can 802.11ae frames be transmitted on 40 MHz or 80 MHz channels?

Yes, 802.11ae frames use the same channel bandwidth as the underlying PHY layer.

Is Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) relevant for 802.11ae?

DFS applies to all transmissions including 802.11ae frames, as per regulatory requirements.

Does 802.11ae require special transmit power controls?

No, it follows the same transmit power rules as the underlying 802.11 standard.

How does 802.11ae interact with other 802.11 amendments?

It complements them by improving QoS management without changing channel use or PHY operation.

Are there unique regulatory considerations for 802.11ae?

No, it complies with regulations applicable to the underlying frequency bands.

What devices benefit most from 802.11ae?

Devices requiring reliable QoS signaling like VoIP phones, video streaming devices, and enterprise APs.

Is 802.11ae supported on all Wi-Fi chipsets?

Support depends on chipset firmware and driver implementations.

Can 802.11ae improve latency?

Yes, by prioritizing QoS management frames, it reduces delays in QoS negotiation.

How does 802.11ae affect channel planning?

It does not change channel planning but enhances QoS on existing channels.

Is 802.11ae compatible with 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)?

Yes, it is designed to work alongside newer Wi-Fi standards.

Does 802.11ae require firmware updates?

Typically yes, to enable support for enhanced QoS frame handling.

Can 802.11ae improve Wi-Fi security?

It is focused on QoS management and does not directly enhance security.

Does 802.11ae affect battery life?

Minimal impact, as it only prioritizes certain management frames.

Is 802.11ae widely implemented?

Adoption is limited but present in enterprise-grade Wi-Fi devices.

How does 802.11ae handle frame retransmissions?

It ensures QoS frames have higher priority in retransmission queues.

Can 802.11ae coexist with non-QoS networks?

Yes, it operates alongside non-QoS networks without interference.

What is the relationship between 802.11ae and WMM?

802.11ae enhances QoS signaling, complementing Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) functions.

Does 802.11ae improve streaming quality?

Indirectly, by enabling better QoS management and prioritization.

Are firmware upgrades required for 802.11ae?

Yes, device manufacturers typically provide firmware to enable 802.11ae features.

What standards does 802.11ae build upon?

It builds on the IEEE 802.11 MAC and PHY layers, enhancing QoS frame management.

How can network admins benefit from 802.11ae?

By improved QoS signaling, admins can better manage traffic priorities and ensure performance for critical applications.

Topics in this section,

Channel Number (MHz)

Center Frequency (MHz)

Frequency Range

DFS Required

1

2412

2401 – 2423

No

2

2417

2406 – 2428

No

3

2422

2411 – 2433

No

4

2427

2416 – 2438

No

5

2432

2421 – 2443

No

6

2437

2426 – 2448

No

7

2442

2431 – 2453

No

8

2447

2436 – 2458

No

9

2452

2441 – 2463

No

10

2457

2446 – 2468

No

11

2462

2451 – 2473

No

12

2467

2456 – 2478

No (region dependent)

13

2472

2461 – 2483

No (region dependent)

14

2484

2473 – 2495

No (Japan only)

Channel Number (MHz)

Center Frequency (MHz)

Frequency Range

DFS Required

36

5180

5170 – 5190

No

40

5200

5190 – 5210

No

44

5220

5210 – 5230

No

48

5240

5230 – 5250

No

52

5260

5250 – 5270

Yes

56

5280

5270 – 5290

Yes

60

5300

5290 – 5310

Yes

64

5320

5310 – 5330

Yes

100

5500

5490 – 5510

Yes

104

5520

5510 – 5530

Yes

108

5540

5530 – 5550

Yes

112

5560

5550 – 5570

Yes

116

5580

5570 – 5590

Yes

120

5600

5590 – 5610

Yes

124

5620

5610 – 5630

Yes

128

5640

5630 – 5650

Yes

132

5660

5650 – 5670

Yes

136

5680

5670 – 5690

Yes

140

5700

5690 – 5710

Yes

144

5720

5710 – 5730

Yes

149

5745

5735 – 5755

No

153

5765

5755 – 5775

No

157

5785

5775 – 5795

No

161

5805

5795 – 5815

No

165

5825

5815 – 5835

No

  • channel widths

Band Name

Frequency Range (GHz)

Frequency Range (MHz)

Channels

2.4 GHz Band

2.400 – 2.485

2400 – 2485

1 – 14 (region dependent)

UNII-1

5.150 – 5.250

5150 – 5250

36, 40, 44, 48

UNII-2 (DFS)

5.250 – 5.350

5250 – 5350

52, 56, 60, 64

UNII-2 Extended (DFS)

5.470 – 5.725

5470 – 5725

100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 144

UNII-3

5.725 – 5.825

5725 – 5825

149, 153, 157, 161, 165

  • Reference links