802.11aj - Basics

What is IEEE 802.11aj?

802.11aj is an IEEE Wi-Fi amendment designed to enhance 802.11ad for operation in the 45 GHz and 60 GHz bands, especially for regulatory domains like China.

When was 802.11aj ratified?

IEEE 802.11aj was officially ratified in 2018.

Which frequency bands does 802.11aj support?

802.11aj supports both the 45 GHz and 59–64 GHz bands.

Is 802.11aj backward compatible with 802.11ad?

Yes, 802.11aj maintains backward compatibility with 802.11ad for 60 GHz operations.

What is the primary use case for 802.11aj?

It is mainly intended for high-speed short-range wireless communication in regions like China that regulate different mmWave bands.

What modulation schemes are supported in 802.11aj?

Similar to 802.11ad, 802.11aj supports modulation from π/2-BPSK up to 64-QAM.

Does 802.11aj use beamforming?

Yes, beamforming and sector-level sweep techniques are used for directional transmission.

What PHY types are used in 802.11aj?

802.11aj continues to use Single Carrier PHY and OFDM PHY, with enhancements for 45 GHz.

What is the typical data rate for 802.11aj?

It supports rates comparable to 802.11ad, up to 6.75 Gbps.

Does 802.11aj use the same channel bandwidth as 802.11ad?

Yes, it uses 2.16 GHz channel bandwidth for high throughput.

Why was 802.11aj introduced?

It was developed to support WiGig-like operation in the 45 GHz band, primarily for China, while ensuring compatibility with existing 802.11ad devices.

Is 802.11aj part of WiGig?

Yes, it can be considered part of the broader WiGig family due to its high-speed mmWave operation.

Does 802.11aj work globally?

No, it is mainly targeted at specific regional regulatory domains such as China.

Can 802.11aj be used for VR and AR?

Yes, its high-speed short-range capabilities make it suitable for VR/AR streaming and similar applications.

What enhancements are made over 802.11ad in 802.11aj?

Enhancements include PHY/MAC changes for 45 GHz support, modified preambles, and regulatory compliance features.

What are the typical applications of 802.11aj?

High-throughput wireless docking, media streaming, fast file transfers, and in-room cable replacement.

Does 802.11aj support fast session transfer?

Yes, similar to 802.11ad, it can support fast session transfer between bands for seamless user experience.

What is the beam training method used in 802.11aj?

It uses sector-level sweeps and beam refinement similar to 802.11ad.

Is 802.11aj suitable for outdoor use?

No, it is primarily designed for indoor short-range use due to high-frequency attenuation.

Are there dedicated hardware devices for 802.11aj?

Yes, some Wi-Fi chipsets are designed specifically for China’s 45 GHz operation with 802.11aj compliance.

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