802.11aq PHYs
What is the PHY in IEEE 802.11aq?
802.11aq does not change or define a new PHY. It works with whichever PHY (physical layer) the WLAN uses; its modifications are above the PHY.
What modulation does 802.11aq use?
Since 11aq does not change the PHY, it does not alter modulation schemes. The existing modulation methods of the WLAN PHY (e.g. OFDM, etc.) remain.
What is OFDM in the context of 802.11aq?
OFDM remains a PHY method used by the underlying WLAN standard. 802.11aq merely overlays service‑discovery information in beacons or management frames; it does not change OFDM.
How many subcarriers are used in 802.11aq OFDM?
Not applicable — 11aq doesn’t define or alter subcarrier structure; that depends entirely on the underlying PHY being used.
What are pilot subcarriers in OFDM under 802.11aq?
Those are part of the PHY standard. 11aq doesn’t change pilot subcarriers or training symbols — it leverages existing PHY features.
What coding technique is used in 802.11aq PHY?
11aq does not specify coding or forward error correction; it inherits whatever coding techniques the WLAN PHY uses (convolutional, LDPC etc.).
What is interleaving in 802.11aq?
Same as above: interleaving is a PHY detail, not changed by 11aq. 11aq does not introduce or alter interleaving.
What data rates are supported by 802.11aq PHY?
802.11aq does not change data rates; those are determined by the underlying standard (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax etc.). 11aq is about service discovery pre‑association, not data transmission rates.
Which modulation corresponds to a particular Mbps in 802.11aq?
Not defined by 11aq. The mapping of modulation / coding to data rate remains according to the WLAN PHY in use.
What is the OFDM symbol duration in 802.11aq?
11aq does not define or change symbol duration; that remains as per the PHY standard being used.
What is a guard interval in 802.11aq?
Guard intervals are part of PHY layer specifications; 11aq doesn’t modify them.
What FFT size is used in 802.11aq?
Not applicable — FFT size is a PHY parameter not influenced by this amendment.
How wide is the WLAN channel in MHz under 802.11aq?
11aq does not specify channel widths; it uses whatever widths the existing PHY supports.
Why is OFDM suitable (or not) under 802.11aq?
OFDM is suitable because 11aq doesn’t change how the PHY works, so all PHY robustness and features remain; 11aq only adds additional information to management frames above PHY.
Is the 802.11aq PHY half‑duplex or full‑duplex?
Not relevant. Since 802.11aq does not define a PHY, the duplexing mode depends on the underlying WLAN PHY.
Does 802.11aq PHY support MIMO?
11aq does not define PHY features like MIMO — that is part of the underlying WLAN PHY if supported.
What is the function of the PHY preamble in 802.11aq?
The preamble is part of the underlying PHY functionality. 11aq does not alter the structure of the preamble.
What is the SIGNAL field in the PHY header under 802.11aq?
That is part of existing PHY specification; 11aq does not change the SIGNAL field format.
What is the service field in PHY under 802.11aq?
Same: 11aq does not add or change service field in PHY frames.
What is the tail field in PHY under 802.11aq?
Not modified by 11aq. Tail fields are PHY‑layer coding details.
Can PHY parameters change dynamically in 802.11aq?
11aq doesn’t change PHY adaptation behaviors. If the underlying PHY supports rate adaptation, etc., that’s still in effect. 11aq only adds management/service discovery enhancements.
How does 802.11aq handle multipath effects?
Multipath handling (through OFDM, guard intervals etc.) is entirely a PHY concern; 11aq uses whatever is in place. It doesn’t itself introduce new mechanisms for multipath.
What limits the range of 802.11aq PHY?
Range is limited by the underlying PHY (frequency band, power, antenna, etc.). 11aq doesn’t change RF propagation.
Does PHY impact latency in 802.11aq?
Latency due to the PHY (symbol duration, guard interval etc.) remains as per the underlying PHY. 11aq introduces some management/overhead for service discovery, which can add small delays, but PHY latency unchanged.
What is spectral efficiency in PHY terms for 802.11aq?
Spectral efficiency is determined by modulation, coding, channel width of underlying WLAN standard; 11aq doesn’t alter that.
How does PHY relate to MAC in 802.11aq?
802.11aq works at the MAC / management frame level above the PHY, enhancing service discovery. Thus, PHY remains unchanged, and MAC is extended.
Is the 802.11aq PHY backward compatible?
Since 11aq doesn’t define its own PHY, compatibility is inherited: any device supporting the base WLAN standard PHY is compatible; 11aq is a sup‑set in terms of management features.
Is 802.11aq still relevant today?
Yes, as a standard for enabling pre‑association service discovery. It’s part of IEEE 802.11‑2018/2020 amendments. But it is not a PHY‑enhancement — its relevance depends on device support for its management/service discovery features.
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