Differences Between WiFi Standards 802.11ac and 802.11n

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Introduced in 2013, 802.11ac can be found in smartphones, laptops, computers, and smart TVs. It builds upon the successful 802.11n standard from 2007, offering significant benefits. In the article below, Free Download will highlight the disparities between WiFi standards 802.11ac and 802.11n, as well as how to achieve the best results from your current wireless signal.

When purchasing any device, users typically seek familiar specifications like screen size, resolution, megapixels, memory size, and processing speed. But one of the most crucial yet often overlooked factors is WiFi, especially the latest standard, 802.11ac. Therefore, we need to compare the differences between WiFi standards 802.11ac and 802.11n to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these two standards.

Compatibility - Everything Works Together

Great news for you is that chipsets with 802.11ac capability are fully backward compatible with previous Wifi standards.

This means it works seamlessly with 802.11a (introduced in 1999), 802.11b (2000), 802.11g (2003), and 802.11n (2007) standards.

However, the downside is you'll be limited in performance with older standards and will only reap the full benefits of Wireless AC or Wifi AC when connecting from 802.11ac to 802.11ac.

So, what are the advantages of the 802.11ac standard?

802.11ac vs 802.11n Speed

You might have noticed the 6-year gap between 802.11n and 802.11ac. That's the technological leap and major benefit 802.11ac brings, namely speed.

Wifi is always advertised using “theoretical speed,” and this 802.11ac standard boasts a speed of 1300 megabits per second (Mbps), equivalent to 162.5 megabytes per second (MBps). This speed is three times faster than the 450Mbps speed of 802.11n.

The speed issue here is real-world data. In the real world, no one uses theoretical speeds, and the fastest real-world speed recorded for 802.11ac is around 720Mbps (90MBps) in tests. In contrast, 802.11n achieves a speed of 240Mbps (30MBps).

But there's a more important aspect to understand in your real-world experiences: antennas.

802.11ac has long-term headroom to support up to 8 antennas running at speeds over 400Mbps, but the fastest routers only have 4 antennas. This is because antennas add extra cost, take up space, and smaller devices with fewer antennas become meaningless when added to a router. Specifically:

- Smartphones: 1 antenna

- USB Adapters: 1 or 2 antennas

- Tablets: 2 antennas

- Laptops: 2 antennas (sometimes 3 on computers)

- Desktops: 3 or 4 antennas (PCI Express EXPR +1.31% cards)

If your 802.11ac router is connected to a single-antenna 802.11ac smartphone, the theoretical maximum speed is 400Mbps (50Mbps), and the real-world speed is around 200Mbps (25MBps).

Though this speed has decreased, it's still faster than most home broadband connections and only becomes a bottleneck when transferring wireless files between devices on your local network (e.g., laptop to laptop or computer to NAS).

Furthermore, 802.11n only supports a maximum of 4 antennas with a speed of 100 Mbps (12.5MBps), so when calculating for devices using 802.11n antennas, the range begins to expand. Especially when considering the next big benefit of 802.11ac.

802.11ac and 802.11n Range

AC Wifi is much faster, but its peak speed isn't really the selling point. It's the speed at long range.

First off, the bad news: 802.11ac Wifi doesn't actually reach farther than Wifi 802.11n. In reality, 802.11ac uses the 5GHz band while 802.11n uses both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. Higher bands are faster, but lower bands go farther.

The signal strength difference between 802.11ac on the 5GHz frequency and 802.11n on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies is minimal.

Why? First, because the 2.4GHz frequency is used for everything from wireless phones to microwaves, and the 5GHz frequency still primarily provides interference-free signals.

The second key factor is Beamforming. Typically, wireless signals just radiate out of your router evenly in all directions, like ripples when you drop a stone into water. That's why you should place the router near the center of your home or office and as high as possible.

Beamforming is different. It's built into the 802.11ac specification and is the “smart signal” that detects where connected devices are and boosts signal strength in their direction. However, you should still “position” your router in a central location.

All of this means that the performance of 802.11ac is maintained better at long distances than 802.11n. While the highest performance can triple, at distances from 5-10x, the speed benefit is not uncommon, and this is where 802.11ac shines. Here are some examples:

- 802.11ac at 1m: 90MBps, at 10m: 70MBps, and at 20m after two solid walls: 50MBps

- 802.11n at 1m: 30MBps, at 10m: 20MBps, and at 20m after two solid walls: 5-10MBps.

Of course, these figures are general guidelines, and there will be more specific examples of 802.11ac devices for you to choose from.

802.11ac and 802.11n: Availability and Pricing

Technology is a wonderful thing. Just 12 months ago, finding 802.11ac devices was difficult and the prices were extremely high. Now, 802.11ac is integrated into high-end smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and even mid-range devices.

There are 3 reasons to explain this. First, the clear performance benefits, especially for single-antenna devices like smartphones. Second, more efficient batteries because Wifi needs to work less during data transfer to complete tasks faster. Third, the widespread scale of the economy makes prices drop.

Note: Make sure you find devices that are officially certified (using the official Wifi logo emblem). Some devices still use “draft” 802.11ac, and while these drafts tend to work well, they are ultimately not guaranteed.

There's no price difference between Wifi standards 802.11ac and 802.11n, as most devices you purchase are already integrated with the 802.11ac standard, so you won't have to pay extra.

There are still cases of “skyrocketing” prices, however, those are routers. Wireless AC routers still tend to have a fee increase of 20-50% (depending on the model), but because older router devices are at risk of bottlenecking the speed of all Internet connections at home, in the office, etc.

Recommendations for some 802.11ac

Like any field of technology, the market is always changing, but the following 802.11ac recommendations are top suggestions for the 802.11ac standard.

Best Value Router

D-Link DIR-880L - $180 - current price/performance champion. While the D-Link DIR-880L lacks an integrated modem, it has the capability to boost your Wifi network at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

Best Performance Router

Netgear R7500 Nighthawk X4 - $280 - The first router in the next wave of 'AC2350' routers (Wifi AC 1300 Mbps connecting with Wifi N 600 Mbps and aggregated together). You'll invest a fair amount and pair it with a PCI adaptor for the best experience from Netgear R7500 Nighthawk X4.

Best Peripheral Device

Asus PCE-AC68 PCI Adaptor - $99 - If you want the fastest wireless experience possible for your computer, this is the “beast” you're looking for. Keep an eye out for the PCE-AC87, Asus will soon release 'AC2350' routers, and this is more than enough for most users.

Best USB Adaptor

Priced at $24, the D-Link DWA-171 features dual antennas, faster than the AC1200 USB dongle, delivering quite a swift speed, though slower than the DWA-171. Its compact size allows you to plug it into your laptop at all times, and the performance of the D-Link DWA-171 is quite robust.

Additionally, if you're exploring the differences between RJ45 and RJ48 network ports, you can follow the article comparing RJ45 and RJ48 network ports here

Các câu hỏi thường gặp

What are the key differences between WiFi standards 802.11ac and 802.11n?

The main differences include speed and range. 802.11ac offers speeds up to 1300 Mbps, which is significantly faster than the 450 Mbps of 802.11n. However, 802.11n can operate on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, while 802.11ac primarily uses the 5GHz band, limiting its range compared to 802.11n.

How does the compatibility of 802.11ac with older WiFi standards work?

802.11ac is fully backward compatible with previous standards like 802.11a, b, g, and n. This means devices with 802.11ac can connect seamlessly with older WiFi devices, although performance will be limited to the older standards' capabilities.

What factors should I consider when purchasing devices with 802.11ac support?

Consider the number of antennas and the device's overall capabilities. Devices with more antennas can achieve better speeds and performance. Additionally, look for devices officially certified with the 802.11ac standard to ensure reliability and compatibility.

Does 802.11ac provide better performance at longer distances?

Yes, 802.11ac maintains better performance at longer distances compared to 802.11n. Despite not reaching farther, it offers improved speed retention over distance due to features like beamforming, which enhances signal strength towards connected devices.

Are there significant price differences between 802.11ac and 802.11n devices?

No, most devices today are integrated with 802.11ac, so you won't typically pay extra. However, premium 802.11ac routers may have higher prices compared to older models due to their advanced features and performance benefits.

What is the real-world performance difference between 802.11ac and 802.11n?

In real-world tests, 802.11ac achieves around 720 Mbps compared to 802.11n's maximum of 240 Mbps. This substantial difference highlights the advantages of 802.11ac, especially in high-demand environments where multiple devices are connected.

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