{"id":547659,"date":"2023-02-03T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/"},"modified":"2023-02-03T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T14:00:00","slug":"what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Is Wi-Fi 6? (802.11ax)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a70380ed2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a70380ed2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Wi-Fi_6_80211ax%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;What Is Wi-Fi 6? (802.11ax)&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Wi-Fi_Has_Version_Numbers_Now\" >Wi-Fi Has Version Numbers Now<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#What_Is_Wi-Fi_6\" >What Is Wi-Fi 6?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Faster_Wi-Fi\" >Faster Wi-Fi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Longer_Battery_Life\" >Longer Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Better_Performance_in_Crowded_Areas\" >Better Performance in Crowded Areas<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#How_Wi-Fi_6_Battles_Congestion\" >How Wi-Fi 6 Battles Congestion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Is_Wi-Fi_6_Secure\" >Is Wi-Fi 6 Secure?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#How_Do_You_Upgrade_to_Wi-Fi_6\" >How Do You Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#How_Big_Is_Your_Home_and_What_Is_It_Made_Of\" >How Big Is Your Home, and What Is It Made Of?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#How_Fast_Does_It_Need_to_Be_and_How_Many_Ports_Do_You_Need\" >How Fast Does It Need to Be, and How Many Ports Do You Need?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#How_Many_Advanced_Features_Do_You_Want\" >How Many Advanced Features Do You Want?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#What_Does_the_Router_Look_Like\" >What Does the Router Look Like?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#Which_Devices_Support_Wi-Fi_6\" >Which Devices Support Wi-Fi 6?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-wi-fi-6-802-11ax\/#What_Is_Wi-Fi_6E\" >What Is Wi-Fi 6E?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Wi-Fi_6_80211ax%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;What Is Wi-Fi 6? (802.11ax)&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<!-- UNCACHED CONTENT --><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-867457 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Router-Header.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A black router with four antennas. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"Jordan Gloor \/ How-To Geek\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Jordan Gloor \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 is the latest Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 brings faster connections, lower latency, and, for some devices, improved battery life. It also includes WPA3 &#8212; the latest security standard &#8212; and encrypted public Wi-Fi networks.<\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 is the current-generation wireless standard that\u2019s faster than 802.11ac. More than speed, it provides better performance in congested areas, from stadiums to your own device-packed home. Wi-Fi 6 officially arrived in late 2019, and Wi-Fi 6-enabled hardware is now the norm. It\u2019s also known by the name\u00a0802.11ax.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wi-Fi_Has_Version_Numbers_Now\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_0\">Wi-Fi Has Version Numbers Now<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 382px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-866376 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Wi-Fi-6-Logo.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The Wi-Fi Alliance logos for different Wi-Fi versions. \" width=\"382\" height=\"75\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/who-we-are\/our-brands\" data-credittext=\"The Wi-Fi Alliance\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/who-we-are\/our-brands\">The Wi-Fi Alliance<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yes, Wi-Fi now has version numbers! Even those old confusing Wi-Fi standard names like \u201c802.11ac\u201d have been renamed to user-friendly names like \u201cWi-Fi 5.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here are the versions of Wi-Fi you\u2019ll be seeing:<\/p>\n<div class=\"moka-mce-table-wrap\">\n<table class=\"moka-mce-table-styling\" style=\"height: 110px; width: 91.2644%; border-collapse: collapse;\" data-skiptableautocorrect=\"true\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 20px;\"><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 20px;\"><strong>IEEE Name<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 20px;\"><strong>Release Date<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 20px;\"><strong>Important Changes<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 4<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 20px;\">802.11n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 20px;\">2009<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 20px;\">MIMO<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 5<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 20px;\">802.11ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 20px;\">2014<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 20px;\">Added MU-MIMO, 160MHz Bandwidth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 6<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 20px;\">802.11ax<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 20px;\">2019<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 20px;\">Added OFDMA, WPA3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 6E<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 20px;\">802.11ax<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 20px;\">2020<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 20px;\">Added 6GHz Band<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 13.1496%; height: 10px;\">Wi-Fi 7<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 16.1126%; height: 10px;\">802.11be<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.252%; height: 10px;\">2023 or 2024<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 56.5764%; height: 10px;\">320MHz Bandwidth, and more<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Older versions of Wi-Fi are no longer in wide use and aren\u2019t retroactively being assigned new names. But, if they were, here\u2019s what they\u2019d be called:<\/p>\n<table class=\"moka-mce-table-styling\" style=\"height: 110px; width: 44.7058%; border-collapse: collapse;\" data-skiptableautocorrect=\"true\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 2.66041%; height: 20px;\"><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.69485%; height: 20px;\"><strong>IEEE Name<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.84195%; height: 20px;\"><strong>Release Date<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 2.66041%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 1<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.69485%; height: 20px;\">802.11b<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.84195%; height: 20px;\">1999<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 2.66041%; height: 20px;\">Wi-Fi 2<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.69485%; height: 20px;\">802.11a<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.84195%; height: 20px;\">1999<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 2.66041%; height: 20px;\">Wi-FI 3<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.69485%; height: 20px;\">802.11g<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 8.84195%; height: 20px;\">2003<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Wi-Fi Alliance also\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/news-events\/newsroom\/wi-fi-alliance-introduces-wi-fi-6\">announced<\/a>\u00a0that they would like to see these numbers appear in software so you can tell which Wi-Fi network is newer and faster while connecting on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. You may be seeing Wi-Fi numbers on your phone, tablet, or laptop soon.\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-368340 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_5bb504493b62d.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"730\" height=\"216\" data-credittext=\"Wi-Fi Alliance\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/download.php?file=\/sites\/default\/files\/private\/Generational_Wi-Fi_User_Guide_20181003.pdf\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/download.php?file=\/sites\/default\/files\/private\/Generational_Wi-Fi_User_Guide_20181003.pdf\">Wi-Fi Alliance<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We\u2019re thrilled about the version numbers. It\u2019s a simple, easy change that should have been made a long time ago. It should make it much easier for normal people to understand Wi-Fi. After all, many people can get faster Wi-Fi speeds by upgrading their home routers\u2014but not everyone knows that.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Wi-Fi Alliance has no power to force companies to use these version numbers, although they \u201cencourage\u201d companies to adopt them. Some manufacturers may ignore these version numbers and just call the new generation of Wi-Fi \u201c802.11ax\u201d instead. Many companies likely won\u2019t be in a rush to rename existing 802.11ac to Wi-Fi 5, either.<\/p>\n<p>We hope most companies will quickly get on board with the new naming scheme.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Wi-Fi_6\"><\/span>What Is Wi-Fi 6?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 is the sixth generation of wireless network protocols trademarked by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Based on the 802.11ax standard from the IEEE, Wi-Fi 6 is\u00a0designed to improve bandwidth, decrease network latency, and boost the battery life of wireless devices. Here are the details about the improvements Wi-Fi 6 brings to the table.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Wi-Fi 6 also has an extension \u2014 dubbed <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/519823\/wi-fi-6e-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-different-from-wi-fi-6\/\">Wi-Fi 6E \u2014 that is available on some devices. We discuss Wi-Fi 6E more below.\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Faster_Wi-Fi\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Faster Wi-Fi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-368407 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_5bb55b1081a78.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Intel infographic about Wi-Fi 6, or IEEE 802.11ax. \" width=\"730\" height=\"367\" data-credittext=\"Intel\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=e7eab128eb8d1c53e14db14f4c632447&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fitpeernetwork.intel.com%2Ffastest-wi-fi-three-things-know-about-802-11ax%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=e7eab128eb8d1c53e14db14f4c632447&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fitpeernetwork.intel.com%2Ffastest-wi-fi-three-things-know-about-802-11ax%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\">Intel<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As usual, the latest Wi-Fi standard offers faster data transfer speeds. If you\u2019re using a Wi-Fi router with a single device, maximum potential speeds should be up to 40% higher with Wi-Fi 6 compared to Wi-Fi 5.<\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 accomplishes this through more efficient data encoding, resulting in higher throughput. Mainly, more data is packed into the same radio waves. The chips that encode and decode these signals keep getting more powerful and can handle the extra work.<\/p>\n<p>This new standard even increases speeds on 2.4GHz networks. While the industry has shifted to 5GHz Wi-Fi for less interference, 2.4GHz is still better at penetrating solid objects. And there shouldn\u2019t be as much interference for 2.4GHz as old cordless telephones and wireless baby monitors are retired.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Longer_Battery_Life\"><\/span>Longer Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A new \u201ctarget wake time\u201d (TWT) feature means your smartphone, laptop, and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices should have longer battery life, too.<\/p>\n<p>When the access point is talking to a device (like your smartphone), it can tell the device exactly when to put its Wi-Fi radio to sleep and exactly when to wake it up to receive the next transmission. This will conserve power, as it means the Wi-Fi radio can spend more time in sleep mode. And that means longer battery life.<\/p>\n<p>This will also help with low-power \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/183431\/htg-explains-what-is-the-internet-of-things\/\">Internet of Things\u201d devices that connect via Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_Performance_in_Crowded_Areas\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Better Performance in Crowded Areas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Wi-Fi tends to get bogged down when you\u2019re in a crowded place with a lot of Wi-FI enabled devices. Picture a busy stadium, airport, hotel, mall, or even a crowded office with everyone connected to Wi-Fi. You\u2019re probably going to have slow Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n<p>The new Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, incorporates many new technologies to help with this.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=e7eab128eb8d1c53e14db14f4c632447&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fitpeernetwork.intel.com%2Ffastest-wi-fi-three-things-know-about-802-11ax%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\">Intel<\/a> trumpets that Wi-Fi 6 will improve each user\u2019s average speed by \u201cat least four times\u201d in congested areas with a lot of connected devices.<\/p>\n<p>This wouldn\u2019t just apply to busy public places. It could apply to you at home if you have a lot of devices connected to Wi-Fi, or if you live in a dense apartment complex.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What is WiGig, and How Is It Different From Wi-Fi 6?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Wi-Fi_6_Battles_Congestion\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_5\">How Wi-Fi 6 Battles Congestion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-368414 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/img_5bb562648a554.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Qualcom infographic about Wi-Fi 6. \" width=\"730\" height=\"299\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Qualcomm <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qualcomm.com\/media\/documents\/files\/802-11ax-transforming-wi-fi-to-bring-unprecedented-capacity-efficiency.pdf\">touts<\/a> various features that make up \u201c11ax,\u201d now Wi-Fi 6.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You don\u2019t really need to know the details. A Wi-Fi 6 access point with a Wi-Fi 6 device will work better. But here\u2019s what\u2019s going on under the hood:<\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 can now divide a wireless channel into a large number of subchannels. Each of these subchannels can carry data intended for a different device. This is achieved through something called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access, or OFDMA.\u00a0The Wi-Fi access point can talk to more devices at once.<\/p>\n<p>The new riderless standard also has improved MIMO \u2014 Multiple In\/Multiple Out. This involves multiple antennas, which let the access point talk to multiple devices at once. With Wi-Fi 5, the access point could talk to devices at the same time, but those devices couldn\u2019t respond at the same time. Wi-Fi 6 has an improved version of multi-user or MU-MIMO that lets devices respond to the wireless access point at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>Wireless access points near each other may be transmitting on the same channel. In this case, the radio listens and waits for a clear signal before replying. With Wi-Fi 6, wireless access points near each other can be configured to have different Basic Service Set (BSS) \u201ccolors.\u201d This \u201ccolor\u201d is just a number between 0 and 7. If a device is checking whether the channel is all clear and listens in, it may notice a transmission with a weak signal and a different \u201ccolor.\u201d It can then ignore this signal and transmit anyway without waiting, so this will improve performance in congested areas, and is also called \u201cspatial frequency re-use.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These are just some of the most interesting things, but the new Wi-Fi standard also includes many smaller improvements. Wi-Fi 6 will also include improved beamforming, for example.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Wi-Fi_6_Secure\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_6\">Is Wi-Fi 6 Secure?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, Wi-Fi 6 is secure, and it is even more secure than previous versions of Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi Alliance <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\/discover-wi-fi\/security\">requires Wi-Fi 6 Certified devices support Wi-Fi Protected Access 3<\/a> (WPA3), the latest security standard.<\/p>\n<p>WPA3 presents a few significant improvements over WPA2.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It makes weak passwords more resistant to brute-force attacks<\/li>\n<li>It encrypts your internet traffic on public Wi-Fi networks<\/li>\n<li>It makes stronger encryption schemes available for enterprise use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It means that the weak, easily memorable password you picked for your Wi-Fi network is less vulnerable to hackers than it used to be. However, just because technology is getting better doesn\u2019t mean you should be lax \u2014 always create the strongest password you can remember.<\/p>\n<p>Encrypting all of your traffic while on a public Wi-Fi network is also a huge win for privacy and security. Previously, public Wi-Fi networks would transmit your information unencrypted, which meant it could conceivably be read by eavesdroppers also connected to the network. Plenty of applications utilize their own encryption to protect your data, like encrypted chat apps, HTTPS, your VPN, and others, but it is nice to know that WPA3 creates an additional layer of protection between you and a malicious actor, even if your app <em>isn\u2019t<\/em> encrypted.<\/p>\n<p>The last change isn\u2019t something you\u2019ll experience at home unless you install enterprise-grade hardware, but it does still impact your life. We live in an era where almost all of our sensitive personal data is created and stored digitally, and it often needs to be transmitted to other devices for any number of reasons. Better enterprise encryption\u00a0helps ensure that your financial, health, and other sensitive data is more secure when transmitted wirelessly in professional environments.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Upgrade_to_Wi-Fi_6\"><\/span>How Do You Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You can <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/525698\/wi-fi-6-is-here-should-you-upgrade-to-wi-fi-6-in-2020\/\">upgrade to Wi-Fi 6\u00a0by replacing your router with a newer model that supports Wi-Fi 6.<\/p>\n<p>Physically, the upgrade process is pretty simple. Just connect your new router to your modem using a short Ethernet cable. Modems and routers often mark the port you should use to connect them in yellow, though that isn\u2019t universal. Routers will also typically mark the correct port \u201cInternet,\u201d while the corresponding port on the Modem is often labeled \u201cEthernet\u201d or \u201cLAN.\u201d Then configure the Wi-Fi router using the appropriate app or with a computer on the network.<\/p>\n<p>The real trick is figuring out which router you want. Wi-Fi 6 routers come in every shape and size, and router specs and features vary significantly between models. There really isn\u2019t a single router that would work for <em>every<\/em> circumstance, so here are some things to consider when planning a purchase.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Make sure you purchase a Wi-Fi 6E router instead of a regular Wi-Fi 6 router if you want access to the 6GHz band.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Big_Is_Your_Home_and_What_Is_It_Made_Of\"><\/span>How Big Is Your Home, and What Is It Made Of?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Wi-Fi signals weaken over distance, and if you have a large home, you might find that even a well-placed router struggles to deliver good coverage to every location. The materials your home is made of matter too \u2014 materials like\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/802892\/things-blocking-your-wi-fi-signal-at-home\/\">brick, concrete, and metal are great at blocking Wi-Fi signals, whereas drywall and wood don\u2019t typically dampen your signal very much.<\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 routers don\u2019t inherently provide a more powerful signal than Wi-Fi 5, so if your current router struggles to deliver the performance you want, you should consider a Mesh Wi-Fi System when you upgrade.<\/p>\n<p>Mesh Wi-Fi networks are composed of a main hub and several satellites. You connect the hub to your modem like you normally would, then you place the satellites in the parts of your home with poor Wi-Fi reception and connect them to the hub using some kind of \u201cbackhaul.\u201d Your wireless device, like a phone or laptop, connects to the satellite with the best connection, and then the satellite transmits the information to the hub over the backhaul. Typically, the backhaul connection will be a regular wired Ethernet connection or a Wi-Fi connection, but it could also be fiber optic cable, coaxial cable with MoCA, or even a powerline\u00a0adapter.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Fast_Does_It_Need_to_Be_and_How_Many_Ports_Do_You_Need\"><\/span>How Fast Does It Need to Be, and How Many Ports Do You Need?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not all routers are created equal. For example, some routers only have a 1 gigabit internet port on them, which means that the best speed you\u2019ll ever get will be limited to 1 gigabit. If you\u2019re lucky enough to have access to an internet plan that is faster than that, you wouldn\u2019t want to limit yourself by buying a router that can\u2019t utilize the faster connection.<\/p>\n<p>If you plan to use a lot of wired devices, you can also buy a router with extra ports. Just remember, you can always <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/753127\/how-to-add-more-ethernet-ports-to-your-router\/\">add more Ethernet ports to your router using an Ethernet switch. In that case, you should check the maximum speed of the LAN ports on your router, too, since they\u2019ll be what determines the maximum speed of wired devices attached to the switch.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Advanced_Features_Do_You_Want\"><\/span>How Many Advanced Features Do You Want?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>More expensive routers tend to have more fancy features built into them. They often have USB ports to connect a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device, advanced security and management features, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, support for VPNs, and more.<\/p>\n<p>If you just want to connect a few computers, your TV, and some mobile devices, then don\u2019t worry too much about these features. However, if you\u2019re into tinkering, self-hosting, or have other specific uses, the time you save fighting with your router might well be worth the extra cost.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_the_Router_Look_Like\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_11\">What Does the Router Look Like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Modern Wi-Fi routers are <em>really<\/em> varied in appearance. Some of them resemble miniature robots or spaceships that would look right at home in a dystopian sci-fi blockbuster, whereas others are unobtrusive orbs or boxes. If you\u2019ve decorated your home to match a specific aesthetic, a router that looks like it should be capable of fighting aliens might be off-putting.<\/p>\n<p>It is a relatively minor point, but if you\u2019re going to drop a few hundred dollars on a piece of technology, you should be okay looking at it, especially since Wi-Fi routers tend to be <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/428216\/where-to-place-your-router-for-the-best-wi-fi-speeds\/\">centrally located.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-867456 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Wi-Fi-Router-Simple.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"An Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router at CES 2023. \" width=\"730\" height=\"500\" data-credittext=\"Justin Duino \/ How-To Geek\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Wi-Fi 6 mesh router at CES 2023. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Justin Duino \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Devices_Support_Wi-Fi_6\"><\/span>Which Devices Support Wi-Fi 6?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, you\u2019ve upgraded your router, but how do you get Wi-Fi 6 on other devices?<\/p>\n<p>Things like cell phones, tablets, and most other small devices cannot be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 \u2014 you\u2019ll need to replace them if you want to use Wi-Fi 6. However, you probably shouldn\u2019t go out of your way to spend that money. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/842230\/will-my-wi-fi-6-devices-work-on-a-wi-fi-5-network\/\">Wi-Fi 6 routers are fully backward compatible with devices that use Wi-Fi 4 or Wi-Fi 5, so none of your gadgets will suddenly stop working because you upgraded your router.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, if you want Wi-Fi 6 performance on your phone, you\u2019ll need both a wireless router (access point) and a smartphone that supports Wi-Fi 6. If you connect a laptop that only supports Wi-Fi 5 to your Wi-Fi 6 router, that particular connection will operate in Wi-Fi 5 mode. But your router can still use Wi-Fi 6 with your phone at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>Most new wireless devices \u2014 like Apple\u2019s iPhones, Samsung\u2019s phones, a majority of laptops, and most other things you can think of \u2014 all support Wi-Fi 6. You don\u2019t need to go out of your way to get Wi-Fi 6-enabled hardware if you buy something produced in the last few years. Just keep an eye out for \u201cWi-Fi 6\u201d or \u201cWi-Fi 6 Certified\u201d in the spec sheet if you want to be absolutely sure.<\/p>\n<p>Larger devices with user-serviceable parts, like desktop PCs and some laptops, can be upgraded to support Wi-Fi 6 by adding a wireless network card. Not all laptops are user serviceable, however, and for those that aren\u2019t, you\u2019ll need a USB network adapter instead\u00a0if you want Wi-Fi 6. Just keep in mind that USB Wi-Fi 6 adapters tend to be pretty bulky devices compared to some Wi-Fi 5 wireless adapters you can buy.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> You might find products on Amazon that claim to be small Wi-Fi 6 USB adapters. At the time of writing in early 2023, the smallest, least expensive Wi-Fi 6 adapter\u00a0we could find from a reputable company is this unit from D-Link. Small Wi-Fi 6 adapters command a premium as of early 2023, and if you find a small, inexpensive adapter, there is a good chance it is a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/142496\/why-the-heck-is-amazon-selling-these-fake-16-terabyte-portable-hard-drives\/\">fake product<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Wi-Fi_6E\"><\/span>What Is Wi-Fi 6E?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/519823\/wi-fi-6e-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-different-from-wi-fi-6\/\">Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 standard. It keeps most of the same specifications as Wi-Fi 6, and even has the same IEEE\u00a0designation \u2014 802.11ax \u2014 as Wi-Fi 6. The major distinction is that Wi-Fi 6E incorporates the 6GHz band into the existing standard, allowing for faster, lower latency connections between devices that support the 6GHz band.<\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 devices are not compatible with the 6GHz band available to Wi-Fi 6E devices, but they can still connect via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands without an issue. That means you don\u2019t need to worry about upgrading your router, modem and router combo unit, or any of your wireless devices and being unable to connect to older hardware \u2014 they\u2019ll still work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Wi-Fi 6E: What Is It, and How Is It Different From Wi-Fi 6?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/368332\/wi-fi-6-what%E2%80%99s-different-and-why-it-matters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What Is Wi-Fi 6? (802.11ax)&#8221; Jordan Gloor \/ How-To Geek Wi-Fi 6 is the latest Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 brings faster connections, lower latency, and, for some devices, improved battery life. It also includes WPA3 &#8212; the latest security standard &#8212; and encrypted public Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi 6 is the current-generation wireless standard that\u2019s faster&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":547660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Router-Header.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-547659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=547659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/547660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=547659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=547659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=547659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}