You are here

802.11n vs 802.11AC

3 posts / 0 new
Last post
WB8NQW
802.11n vs 802.11AC

We have an existing network on 2.4 GHZ with mostly ManTbox 12-2 hardware. I see references to an upgrade in the 802.xxx protocol. Is the new protocol downward compatible with our existing network? Is our existing hardware still useable if we add the newer devices? This is very confusing.
Bob
 

w6bi
w6bi's picture
802.11ac vs 802.11n
The 802.11ac protocol isn't defined for the 2.4 GHz band, but rather only the 5 GHz  band.
 And yes on 5 GHz the protocols will interoperate.  And the 802.11ac gear is superior, being newer generation - faster CPU, more RAM, Gigabit Ethernet ports and maybe somewhat more sensitive receivers.

Orv W6BI
 
AE6XE
AE6XE's picture
While 802.11ac is a 5GHz only
While 802.11ac is a 5GHz only standard, if one does an "iw info" command on an AREDN device with the newer chipsets, it appears we are using 802.11ac in 2GHz.   These newer chipsets are using the ath10k open source driver only.   ath10k supports 802.11ac/n/a/g specifications and problaby 802.11b too.   On an hap ac2 on 2GHz, we see support for MCS8 and MCS9 rates with 1 and 2 antennas, and some beam forming features, which come with the 802.11ac specification.   We have 1 or 2 antennas and limited spectrum to ramp up to what 802.11ac is capable of -- living within the constraints.    

Double check the iw rates of a short distance link on 2GHz to confirm that it is getting higher than any 802.11n device is capable of...

Joe AE6XE
root@AE6XE-HapAC2-QTH:~# iw phy phy0 info
Wiphy phy0
        wiphy index: 0
        max # scan SSIDs: 16
        max scan IEs length: 195 bytes
        max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
        max # match sets: 0
        Retry short limit: 7
        Retry long limit: 4
        Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
        Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
        Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN
                 * monitor
                 * mesh point
                 * P2P-client
                 * P2P-GO
                 * P2P-device
        Band 1:
                Capabilities: 0x19ef
                        RX LDPC
                        HT20/HT40
                        SM Power Save disabled
                        RX HT20 SGI
                        RX HT40 SGI
                        TX STBC
                        RX STBC 1-stream
                        Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
                        DSSS/CCK HT40
                Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
                Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 8 usec (0x06)
                HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
                VHT Capabilities (0x339959b2):
                        Max MPDU length: 11454
                        Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
                        RX LDPC
                        short GI (80 MHz)
                        TX STBC
                        SU Beamformer
                        SU Beamformee
                        MU Beamformer
                        MU Beamformee
                        RX antenna pattern consistency
                        TX antenna pattern consistency
                VHT RX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9

                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                VHT TX MCS set:
                        1 streams: MCS 0-9
                        2 streams: MCS 0-9

                        3 streams: not supported
                        4 streams: not supported
                        5 streams: not supported
                        6 streams: not supported
                        7 streams: not supported
                        8 streams: not supported
                VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
                Frequencies:
                        * 2387 MHz [-4] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2392 MHz [-3] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2397 MHz [-2] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2402 MHz [-1] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2412 MHz [1] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2417 MHz [2] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2422 MHz [3] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2427 MHz [4] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2432 MHz [5] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2437 MHz [6] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2442 MHz [7] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2447 MHz [8] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2452 MHz [9] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2457 MHz [10] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2462 MHz [11] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2467 MHz [12] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2472 MHz [13] (30.0 dBm)
                        * 2484 MHz [14] (30.0 dBm)
        valid interface combinations:
                 * #{ managed } <= 16, #{ AP, mesh point } <= 16, #{ IBSS } <= 1,
                   total <= 16, #channels <= 1, STA/AP BI must match, radar detect widths: { 20 MHz (no HT), 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz }

        HT Capability overrides:
                 * MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
                 * maximum A-MSDU length
                 * supported channel width
                 * short GI for 40 MHz
                 * max A-MPDU length exponent
                 * min MPDU start spacing
        max # scan plans: 1
        max scan plan interval: -1
        max scan plan iterations: 0
        Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 32
        Supported extended features:
                * [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
                * [ RRM ]: RRM
                * [ SET_SCAN_DWELL ]: scan dwell setting
                * [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
                * [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
                * [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
                * [ AIRTIME_FAIRNESS ]: airtime fairness scheduling
                * [ AQL ]: Airtime Queue Limits (AQL)
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
                * [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
                * [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
                * [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support

Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer