5 inquiries to reply earlier than deploying Wi-Fi 6

The Wi-FI 6 normal (802.11ax) is bringing many thrilling enhancements to Wi-Fi that make it an attractive choice. These embody velocity, within the type of real-world multi-gigabit wi-fi connections, but additionally assist for high-density networks like these in stadiums. Nonetheless, it should take some cautious thought and planning to know when to take the leap to Wi-Fi 6.

Do you want the velocity?

To make multi-gigabit wi-fi speeds doable, most Wi-Fi 6 entry factors (AP) ship with a 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps LAN connection, whereas practically all Wi-Fi 5 APs have a 1Gbps interface. Connecting a Wi-Fi 6 AP to a typical gigabit community is feasible however will bottleneck the speeds of the Wi-Fi so purchasers received’t be capable to understand connection speeds over 1Gbps to the interior LAN or web.

Then again, you won’t want such quick Wi-Fi-access speeds. For informal Wi-Fi utilization by smartphones and laptops in an workplace you most likely don’t. However it might assistance on networks with a high-density of customers or these with delicate or high-throughput purposes like streaming 4K movies – particularly if the content material is coming from throughout the LAN as an alternative of the Web.

Is your wired community prepared?

Consider your present community to see what wants upgrading on the wired aspect with the intention to get the multi-gigabit assist. Right here’s what to search for:

• Switches: Examine the utmost knowledge charge supported by any switches positioned between the APs and the router. If the Wi-Fi purchasers might be accessing community shares on the LAN, observe the trail that the visitors will journey, and consider these switches as effectively.
• Energy-over-Ethernet: If utilizing PoE through the change or exterior injectors to energy the APs, verify which PoE normal and knowledge charges they assist. Needless to say most Wi-Fi 6 APs would require compliance with at the least the PoE+ normal (802.3at). Although some APs will assist the legacy PoE normal (802.3af), it should often cut back the efficiency of the AP and almost certainly solely assist a most knowledge charge of 1Gbps. For future-proofing your PoE, think about the newer PoE++ normal (802.3bt) if it’s accessible on a change or injector.
• Cabling: To get higher than 1Gbps on the wired aspect, you want