What you need to know about the new WiFi standards.

Now that the WiFi Alliance has ratified the latest 802.11ac standard, it's time to talk about a few things that you need to know.

Wireless AC (802.11ac) only operates on the 5 GHz frequency

So what, you say? Well, due to the physical properties of the 5 GHz band, this is very important. Most people have become accustomed to their WiFi signal having no issues in regards to penetrating through walls and other obstacles. This is due to the fact that most WiFi signals have been operating on the 2.4 GHz band. While it's true that the 2.4 GHz band is becoming increasingly saturated and congested, it is worth noting that this band also has a greater ability to penetrate through most walls. 5 GHz? Not so much. Also, the 5 GHz band cannot travel the same distances that a 2.4 GHz signal can. So what does this all mean to you? Well...

You will have faster throughput, less coverage, and more problems when you don't have a line of sight connection between the access point and the client (i.e. your tablet, smartphone, or laptop).

Why would anyone adopt the new standard?

Manufacturers are not dummy's. Well, most of the time. Almost all of the manufacturers, that we have researched, are designing access points that are capable of backwards compatibility with 802.11n standards. While 802.11n can operate on the 5 GHz band, most also operate on the 2.4 GHz band as well. It is important to understand the difference. 

At Colishay Technologies, we keep these things in mind. All of our access points are compatible with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz clients. While the 802.11ac standard offers better throughput, the 802.11n standard ensures better compatibility. For now, we suggest that if you are looking to purchase a new 802.11ac access point, please make sure that you are aware of the different frequencies that the access point will work with.

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Colishay Technologies at service@colishay.com