Different Wi-Fi Protocols and Data Rates
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IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi protocol summary
Protocol | Frequency | Channel Width | MIMO | Maximum data rate (theoretical) |
802.11ax | 2.4 or 5GHz | 20, 40, 80, 160MHz | Multi User (MU-MIMO) | 2.4 Gbps1 |
802.11ac wave2 | 5 GHz | 20, 40, 80, 160MHz | Multi User (MU-MIMO) | 1.73 Gbps2 |
802.11ac wave1 | 5 GHz | 20, 40, 80MHz | Single User (SU-MIMO) | 866.7 Mbps2 |
802.11n | 2.4 or 5 GHz | 20, 40MHz | Single User (SU-MIMO) | 450 Mbps3 |
802.11g | 2.4 GHz | 20 MHz | N/A | 54 Mbps |
802.11a | 5 GHz | 20 MHz | N/A | 54 Mbps |
802.11b | 2.4 GHz | 20 MHz | N/A | 11 Mbps |
Legacy 802.11 | 2.4 GHz | 20 MHz | N/A | 2 Mbps |
2 2 Spatial streams with 256-QAM modulation.
3 3 Spatial streams with 64-QAM modulation.
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- Supports both 2.4 & 5 GHz
Mode | Maximum rate | Antenna transmit / receive arrangements |
1x1 20 MHz | 143 Mbps | 1 TX (Transmit, Upload) 1 RX (Receive, Download) |
2x2 20 MHz | 287 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 40 MHz | 287 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 40 MHz | 574 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 80 MHz | 601 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 80 MHz | 1.2 Gbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 160 MHz | 1.2 Gbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 160 MHz | 2.4 Gbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
802.11ac wave2
- Released in June 2016.
- Key New Features for Wi-Fi clients:
- Multi-User MIMO
- 160 MHz channels
Mode | Maximum rate | Antenna transmit / receive arrangements |
1x1 40 MHz | 200 Mbps | 1 TX (Transmit, Upload) 1 RX (Receive, Download) |
2x2 40 MHz | 400 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 80 MHz | 433 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 80 MHz | 866 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 160 MHz | 866 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 160 MHz | 1.73 Gbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
802.11ac wave1
- Released in January 2014.
- Data rates varying modulation types and number of spatial streams; 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, 433 Mbps, 600 Mbps, 867 Mbps. See table below.
- 24 non-overlapping unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII) channels in 5 GHz frequency band.
Mode | Maximum rate | Antenna transmit / receive arrangements |
1x1 40 MHz | 200 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 40 MHz | 400 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
1x1 80 MHz | 433 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 80 MHz | 866 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
802.11n
- Data rates with varying modulation types: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps (see table below)
- Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) using multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) and channel bonding (CB)
- Three non-overlapping channels in industrial, scientific, medical (ISM) frequency band at 2.4 GHz
- 12 non-overlapping unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII) channels in 5 GHz frequency band with and without CB
Note | We recommend channel bonding for the 5 GHz because there are a limited number of non-overlapping channels available in the 2.4 GHz band. |
Mode | Maximum rate | Antenna transmit / receive arrangements |
1x1 20 MHz | 72.2 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
1x1 40 Mhz | 150 Mbps | 1 TX 1 RX |
2x2 20 MHz | 144.4 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
2x2 40 MHz | 300 Mbps | 2 TX 2 RX |
3x3 20 MHz | 216.7 Mbps | 3 TX 3 RX |
3x3 40 MHz | 450 Mbps | 3 TX 3 RX |
802.11g
- Released in 2003.
- Data rates with varying modulation types: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps; can revert to 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps using DSSS and CCK.
- Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) with 52 subcarrier channels; backwards compatible with 802.11b using DSSS and CCK.
- Three non-overlapping channels in industrial, scientific, medical (ISM) frequency band at 2.4 GHz.
802.11a
- Released in 1999.
- Data rates with varying modulation types: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps.
- Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) with 52 subcarrier channels.
- 12 non-overlapping unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII) channels in 5 GHz frequency band.
802.11b
- Released in 1999.
- Data rates with varying modulation types: 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps.
- High-rate direct-sequence spread spectrum (HR-DSSS).
- Three non-overlapping channels in industrial, scientific, medical (ISM) frequency band at 2.4 GHz.
Legacy 802.11
- Released in 1997.
- Two raw data rates of 1 and 2 Mbps.
- Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) or direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS).
- Three non-overlapping channels in industrial, scientific, medical (ISM) frequency band at 2.4 GHz.
- Originally defined carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA).