The current mainstream WiFi specifications are mainly divided into two: 802.11 b/g/n for 2.4GHz and 802.11ac for 5GHz.
The theoretical maximum transmission speed of WiFi under the 802.11 b/g/n specification is only 72Mbps, while the theoretical maximum speed of single-channel 802.11ac WiFi is 433Mbps.
The reason why theoretical speed is mentioned earlier is that in actual use, users are basically surfing the internet at speeds of around 75% of the maximum or even slower. This is because there are other interfering devices nearby, so the same frequency is occupied, and the furniture in the room will absorb the network signal. Therefore, in practical use, it is impossible to use the theoretical maximum speed.
802.11b/g/n
When Unifi was still slow earlier, the 802.11 b/g/n specification for WiFi was more than enough! However, with the increase in Unifi and other Telco speeds in 2018, 72Mbps is no longer enough!
The 802.11 b/g/n specification is not entirely bad because the wavelength of the 2.4GHz frequency used in this specification is relatively short, so its penetration is better. Therefore, placing the router downstairs may still be able to receive the signal upstairs.
Currently, there are still many inexpensive phones that only support WiFi under the 802.11 b/g/n specification, and many users have not upgraded their routers after upgrading their Unifi speeds. Therefore, they cannot fully utilize the full speed of Unifi.
802.11ac
The only word to describe the 802.11ac specification for WiFi is – fast!
In a single channel, 802.11ac can achieve a theoretical maximum speed of up to 433Mbps. At the same time, if the receiver and router both support multiple channels, they can aggregate signals from several 802.11ac WiFis to achieve a theoretical maximum speed of 866Mbps or higher!
However, when using WiFi under the 802.11ac specification, due to the short wavelength, the signal can be easily blocked. The WiFi signal may be weakened when it is separated by a room, and it may not be able to reach both upstairs and downstairs like the 802.11 b/g/n specification!
802.11ax
The 802.11ax specification, also known as WiFi 6, is a WiFi specification that combines the advantages of 802.11 b/g/n and 802.11ac. Its selling point is stability and speed.
All electronic devices that support 802.11ax will automatically switch between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels. It ensures that when the signal is good, it has speed, and when it’s far away, it still has a signal!
However, to be honest, the 802.11ax specification has not yet become popular, and most people are still using these two specifications: 802.11 b/g/n and 802.11ac. At the same time, for Malaysia’s density, these two WiFi specifications are already sufficient!
