- WiFi 6E in Brief
- WiFi 6E Features
- Is there a catch?
In case you are looking at the market now for a new router or any WiFi device, then it is worth your while to understand the new WiFi 6E standard. In a gist, WiFi 6E paves the way for faster internet speeds with lower latencies compared to the WiFi 6 and other earlier iterations.
WiFi 6E in Brief
WiFi 6E is introduced by WiFi Alliance and it enables the operation of features in the unlicensed 6GHz band. This is in addition to the currently supported 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. What this means is that there is an additional 1200MHz of spectrum available for use for WiFi applications, with the WiFi 6E devices operating in the 14 extra 80MHz channels and 7 extra 160MHz channels. As a result, users can expect less network congestion.
Aside from the increased capacity, WiFi 6E networks will still leverage the 802.11ax features which include 8x8 uplink/downlink MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and BSS colour, target wake time (TWT), as well as 1024 quadrature amplitude modulation mode (1024-QAM). The uplink/downlink specification will provide more capacity to handle more devices while the TWT can improve the network efficiency and device battery life. On the other hand, 1024-QAM will tend to increase throughput for bandwidth-intensive uses.
WiFi 6E Features
One of the primary features of WiFi 6E that you need to be aware of is a more contiguous spectrum. Aside from this, you also get to enjoy wider channels and of course less interference. With these features, you get to enjoy gigabit speeds and extremely low latency for online games, video calls, or virtual computing sessions. You also get to experience high capacity. Nevertheless, the overall experience still depends on the connection provided by your Internet Service Provider. It is imperative to choose from WiFi plans that offer stable internet service.
Is there a catch?
WiFi 6E seems to be too good to be true but perhaps the main drawback of this technology is that short wavelengths have a harder time travelling over long distances. Apart from this, short wavelengths also suffer from a greater interference that is brought about by physical obstructions like dense walls. Keep in mind that the 6GHZ wireless spectrum uses shorter wavelengths which are prone to these drawbacks.
WiFi 6E devices are generally backward compatible with WiFi 6 and earlier WiFi standards. However, to use this technology, you need a WiFi 6E router and client compatible device. Since these are only starting to hit the market, it is better to wait a while before you get your hands on the WiFi 6E technology.
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