What are these new Wi-Fi names?

A new naming system, from the Wi-Fi Alliance, identifies Wi-Fi generations by a numerical sequence making it much easier to understand the technology on offer.

Wi-Fi6 are devices that support 802.11ax technology
Wi-Fi5 are devices that support 802.11ac technology
Wi-Fi4 are devices that support 802.11n technology

What’s so good about Wi-Fi6?

Wi-Fi has come a long way since the days of 802.11b. WiFi6 introduces better power control methods to avoid interference with nearby networks; there are also dependency improvements of power consumption and security protocols such as Target Wake Time and WPA3.  For dense deployments throughput speeds are almost 4 times higher than 11ac which means that if you are needing to cover wide areas you will see improved capacity, coverage and performance. A big plus is that Wi-Fi6 devices have lower battery consumption, great for home users and office users alike.

The WiFi Alliance explains:

“Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 devices bring enhanced performance to users in demanding environments, from IoT and smart home, to businesses running large-scale, mission critical deployments. Virtual and augmented reality applications such as e-Learning, telepresence, and healthcare monitoring become more attainable using Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 technology. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 also provides carriers and public Wi-Fi operators with more capabilities to support next generation connectivity uses in retail settings, stadiums, and transportation hubs, including a growing array of location-based applications and services and bandwidth intensive applications.”

What products are available?

Solwise are currently stocking two Wi-Fi6 access points from EnGenius.

 

EWS357AP
3 dBi integrated 2x2 antenna
Supports up to 1,200 Mbps in 5-GHz frequency band & 574 Mbps in 2.4-GHz frequency band

https://www.solwise.co.uk/el-ews357ap
 

EWS377AP
3 dBi integrated 4x4 antenna
Supports up to 2,400 Mbps in 5-GHz frequency band & 1,148 Mbps in 2.4-GHz frequency band

https://www.solwise.co.uk/el-ews377ap

 

Both access points can be used as standalone units or remotely managed over the EnGenius EWS management switches or the ezMaster solution with no fees.  Both of these units are covered by the EnGenius Limited Lifetime warranty*

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To sum up, the next generation WiFi 11ax is no longer just about speeds but also about stronger, steadier and more efficient wireless connections.
 

Click here to read our technical White Paper on Wi-Fi6 by Solwise's Ryan Johnson
 

* Limited Lifetime warranty

https://www.solwise.co.uk/engenius-lifetime-warranty.htm