Wireless AC or IEEE 802.11ac has been available for quite some time. However, is it time to upgrade to Wireless AC? The following are some factors for you to consider before you make the switch.
Why would you want Wireless AC?
1. Wireless AC runs on 5Ghz.
Currently, 5Ghz has relatively less interference compared to 2.4Ghz. 5Ghz has more channel as well.
2. Extended Channel Binding
The new 80 MHz channel bandwidth allows you to get the maximum speed of 433Mbps for single antenna.
3. More MIMO spatial streams
The new Wireless AC allows you to have maximum 8 spatial streams compared to 4 in Wireless N.
4. Multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO)
Each antenna can transmit or receive independent data streams simultaneously. Basically this means that your router can now communicate with multiple clients simultaneously. However, both client and access point must support MU-MIMO in order to benefit from it.
5. Beamforming
This technology uses multiple antenna to extend the signal range.
*The above are the key features. There are much more benefits with Wireless AC. You can take a look at Wikipedia for more information.
What is the status of Wireless AC
IEEE has just been approved in January 2014. There are two types of hardware devices in the market currently, Wave 1 and Wave 2. The Wave 2 products supports MU-MIMO and Beamforming. There are currently no Wireless AC Final approved device in the market. I would called the Wave 2 products 95% finalised which I will explain later
How are the Wireless AC marketed
All the Wireless AC products are marked with speed rating like AC3200, AC2400, AC1750 etc. Although they are marked as 3200Mbps, it is impossible for you to get the linking speed of 3200Mbps with a normal client Wi-Fi card. The rating is basically made up of the combination of the maximum speed in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. For example, 2.4Ghz has maximum speed of 450mbps and 5Ghz has maximum speed of 1300Mbps, that makes up 1750Mbps. In reality, most of the AC clients can only receive up to 866Mbps for 2 spatial streams.
AC3200 or AC2400
AC3200 uses Broadcom’s new 5G XStream chipset which broadcast two 1300Mbps signal in 5Ghz channel. The reason for this is because broadcasting Wireless AC and Wireless N on a single channel will slow down the performance. By broadcasting 2 signals, the router will direct the Wireless N product to one channel and Wireless AC to another. However, this method is not “approved” by IEEE Standards Association but it does solve the problem. Hence, AC3200 products are not exactly consider a Wave 2 product.
AC2400 broadcast 1750Mbps on 5Ghz and 600Mbps on 2.4Ghz. Most of the AC2400 uses Quantenna’s QSR1000 chipset solution which has 4 streams and MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) support. This is consider the true Wave 2 product.
Why do I call Wave 2 products 95% finalised?
There are much more benefits about Wireless AC. There are optional features like 160MHz channel bandwidth and 8 spatial streams which allows you to have more speed and serve more clients at the same time. Quantenna has demoed 10Gbps via Wi-Fi using 8×8 MIMO and 160Mhz channel bandwidth during CES 2015. 8 spatial streams products are planned to release by the end of 2015.
What type router should you buy?
If you are consider to buy a new router. I will recommend you to get the Wave 2 products. If you have many 5Ghz clients at home, you should get the router with Broadcom’s 5G XStream. Else, I will recommend router with Quantenna’s QSR1000 chipset.
What kind of speed will I get in reality
For a typical 2 spatial stream Wireless AC client which has a maximum connection speed of 866Mbps. You can get up to 300Mbps in reality.
Lastly, the final question.
Is it time to upgrade to Wireless AC?
Yes if you are not the hardcore user. I believe the current Wave 2 products are enough for most of the user. Even for laptop, most of the clients only has 2 or 3 spatial stream and only supports 80Mhz channel bandwidth. There is no need to wait for the 8 spatial stream products. Unless you are willing to spend more than S$500 on a router and have more than 10 devices connected to the router at the same time. Else, the current AC2400 products will serve you well.
Cheers Lungic \(^o^)/
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