Hello, this is the Network Technology Alliance site.
Recently, the company's wireless network has been a bit stuck. Finally, I changed my router and chose H3C's GR-1800AX Gigabit Router. When setting up the wireless network, I saw the wireless network mode:
The wireless network mode can be selected in the advanced settings of 2.4G wireless network:
- b-only
- g-only
- b+g
- n-only
- b+g+n
- b+g+n+ax
The wireless network mode can be selected in the advanced settings of 5G wireless network:
- a+n
- a+n+ac
- a+n+ac+ax
So what exactly is the wireless network mode here? How to set it up?
In this article, Brother Rui will have a good chat with you about this, I hope it can help you!
Let’s get straight to it!
Table of contents:
Article directory
Wireless network technology can be divided into two categories: 2.4GHz frequency band and 5GHz frequency band. The 2.4GHz frequency band includes the 802.11b/g/n/ax standard, and the 5GHz frequency band includes the 802.11a/n/ac/ax standard.
At the beginning of the article, let’s take a brief look at 2.4G wireless networks and 5G wireless networks.
What is 2.4G wireless network?
2.4G wireless network is a wireless network that uses the 2.4GHz frequency band and usually supports protocols such as b, g, n, and ax. Among them, the b, g, and n protocols are currently more common wireless network protocols, while the ax protocol is an emerging protocol and is considered the next generation wireless network protocol.
In the 2.4GHz band, wireless networks can use multiple channels to communicate. Typically, the 2.4GHz frequency band is divided into 14 channels, with a frequency interval of 5MHz between each channel. However, there may be differences in the use of the 2.4GHz band in different countries and regions. In the United States and Europe, typically only 11 channels are available, while in some other countries, more channels may be available. Since the 2.4GHz frequency band is a public frequency band, it will be interfered by other wireless devices, thus affecting the stability and speed of the wireless network connection.
The advantage of 2.4G wireless network is that the signal has a wide range and can penetrate walls and cover a larger area. In addition, because the signal transmission distance of the 2.4GHz band is relatively long, it can provide a stable wireless network connection within a larger range.
However, 2.4G wireless networks also have some disadvantages. Since the 2.4GHz band is a public frequency band, it will be subject to interference from other wireless devices. In addition, because the 2.4GHz frequency band is widely used, channel congestion may occur, affecting the stability and speed of wireless network connections.
2.4G features
- Wide coverage : 2.4GHz signals travel farther in space, thus providing better coverage outdoors and in large areas. This makes it suitable for coverage of large homes, businesses and public spaces.
- Strong wall penetration ability : 2.4GHz signals can pass through walls and obstacles, so they perform better in terms of signal penetration. This is useful for providing stable connections inside buildings.
- More interference : Since the 2.4GHz frequency band is widely used, it may be interfered by other electronic devices (such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, etc.), thus affecting network performance.
- Lower speeds : Maximum speeds on the 2.4GHz band are often lower, and speeds can slow down further, especially in crowded environments.
What is 5G wireless network
5G wireless network is a wireless network that uses the 5GHz band, which is a complement to 2.4GHz and is designed to provide higher performance and less interference. Protocols such as a, n, ac and ax are usually supported. Among them, the a, n, and ac protocols are currently common wireless network protocols, while the ax protocol is an emerging protocol and is considered the next generation wireless network protocol.
In the 5GHz band, wireless networks can use multiple channels to communicate. Typically, the 5GHz band is divided into multiple channels, with frequency intervals of 20MHz or 40MHz between each channel. Compared with the 2.4GHz band, the 5GHz band has more available channels and therefore can provide higher wireless network capacity and speed. In addition, due to the shorter signal transmission distance in the 5GHz band, signal interference and channel congestion can be reduced, thereby improving the stability and speed of wireless network connections. However, because signals in the 5GHz band have shorter ranges, more wireless access points are needed to cover the same area.
The advantage of 5G wireless network is that the signal transmission speed is fast, which can provide higher bandwidth and faster download speed. In addition, since the 5GHz band is widely used, channel congestion can be avoided.
However, 5G wireless networks also have some drawbacks. Since signals in the 5GHz band travel shorter distances, more routers are needed to provide coverage. In addition, due to poor signal penetration in the 5GHz band, signal quality may be affected in environments with many walls and obstacles.
5G features
- Higher speeds : The 5GHz band supports higher data transfer speeds, making it suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as HD video streaming and online gaming.
- Less interference : The 5GHz band generally experiences less interference because it is not affected by many household appliances. This makes it perform better in high-density network environments.
- Narrow coverage : 5GHz signals travel a shorter distance in space, so their coverage is narrower. This makes it more suitable for use in small homes and offices.
- Poor signal penetration : 5GHz signals don’t penetrate walls and obstacles as well as 2.4GHz signals, so more routers or repeaters may be needed inside buildings to provide good coverage.
Comparison of 2.4G and 5G wireless networks
| feature | 2.4G wireless network | 5G wireless network |
|---|---|---|
| frequency band | 2.4GHz | 5GHz |
| supporting agreement | b、g、n、ax | a、n、ac、ax |
| Signal coverage | wide | narrow |
| Signal transmission distance | Far | short |
| Signal transmission speed | slow | quick |
| interference situation | susceptible to interference | not easily disturbed |
| Channel congestion | comes out often | not easy to appear |
802.11
802.11 is a set of wireless local area network (WLAN) standards developed and published by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). These standards specify the physical layer and MAC layer protocols of wireless networks to ensure that devices from different manufacturers can be compatible and interoperate with each other.
The development history of the 802.11 standard
In 1985, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed the use of the 2.4GHz frequency band in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band for wireless network communications. After that, IEEE began to study and develop the first 802.11 standard, namely 802.11-1997. This standard specifies the physical layer and MAC layer protocols for wireless networks operating in the 2.4GHz frequency band. However, due to the low transmission rate of this standard, it is not commonly used in practical applications.
In 2000, IEEE released the 802.11b standard, which provides higher transmission rates on the 2.4GHz band, up to 11Mbps. The 802.11b standard quickly became the mainstream standard for wireless networks due to its higher transmission rates and gradually lower prices.
In 2003, IEEE released the 802.11g standard, which provides a maximum transmission rate of 54Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Compared with the 802.11b standard, the 802.11g standard has higher transmission rates and better signal quality.
In 2007, IEEE released the 802.11n standard, which supports operation on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands and provides higher transmission rates and better coverage. The 802.11n standard has a maximum transmission rate of up to 600Mbps and supports multi-antenna technology, which can provide better signal quality and stability.
In 2013, IEEE released the 802.11ac standard, which provides higher transmission rates and greater capacity on the 5GHz band. The 802.11ac standard has a maximum transmission rate of up to 6.77Gbps and supports multi-antenna technology and beamforming technology, which can provide better signal quality and coverage.
In recent years, IEEE has also released standards such as 802.11ad, 802.11ah and 802.11ax. Among them, the 802.11ad standard operates on the 60GHz frequency band and provides higher transmission rates. The 802.11ah standard is specifically designed for connecting IoT devices. The 802.11ax standard is an emerging wireless network standard and is considered the next generation wireless network protocol. It can operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands and supports higher transfer rates and more device connections.
Technical characteristics of the 802.11 standard
Frequency band selection
The 802.11 standard uses different frequency bands for wireless network communications. Currently, commonly used frequency bands include 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band is widely used because of its larger coverage and better penetration capabilities. However, since the 2.4GHz band is a public frequency band, it will be subject to interference from other wireless devices. The 5GHz band has more available channels and higher transmission rates, but the coverage is smaller.
Transmission rate
Different 802.11 standards have different maximum transmission rates. Generally, the higher the transmission rate, the greater the network capacity and the better the user experience. However, in practical applications, the actual transmission rate may be affected by many factors, such as signal interference, channel congestion, distance, etc.
Multiple antenna technology
Standards such as 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax support multi-antenna technology, which can provide better signal quality and stability. Multi-antenna technology can enhance signal strength and resist interference by using multiple antennas.
beamforming technology
Standards such as 802.11ac and 802.11ax support beamforming technology, which can further improve signal quality and coverage. Beamforming technology can focus the signal and suppress interference by adjusting the phase of the transmitting antenna.
2.4GHz wireless network: b+g+n+ax
1. Wireless network standardb
- Frequency band : 2.4GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 11Mbps
- Features : 802.11b is one of the early wireless standards. Although it is slower, it still has certain compatibility. Because it operates in the crowded 2.4GHz band, it is susceptible to interference.
2. Wireless network standardsg
- Frequency band : 2.4GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 54Mbps
- Features : 802.11g is an improved version of 802.11b, providing higher speed and performance. However, it still operates in the 2.4GHz band, which is susceptible to interference, especially in crowded environments.
3. Wireless network standardsn
- Frequency band : 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 600Mbps or higher
- Features : 802.11n introduces MIMO technology to improve speed and coverage. It operates on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, so compatibility is better.
4. Wireless network standard ax
- Frequency band : 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 10Gbps or higher
- Features : 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is the latest wireless standard, offering higher speeds, better network efficiency and support for more connected devices. It operates in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands and is suitable for various network environments.
5GHz wireless network: a+n+ac+ax
1. Wireless network standardsa
- Frequency band : 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 54Mbps
- Features : 802.11a is one of the older 5GHz standards with higher speeds and lower interference. However, due to the smaller coverage range of 5GHz signals, they are usually used indoors.
2. Wireless network standardsn
- Frequency band : 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 600Mbps or higher
- Features : 802.11n operates on the 5GHz band, providing better speed and coverage. It also supports the 2.4GHz band, so it has better compatibility.
3. Wireless network standard ac
- Frequency band : 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 1.3Gbps or higher
- Features : 802.11ac is a high-speed wireless standard suitable for high-density network environments. It operates on the 5GHz band and uses more advanced technology to improve speed and performance.
4. Wireless network standard ax
- Frequency band : 5GHz
- Maximum speed : up to 10Gbps or higher
- Features : 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6, is the latest wireless standard that introduces a series of improvements, including higher speeds, better network efficiency and support for more connected devices. It operates on the 5GHz frequency band and is suitable for various network environments.
How to set wireless network mode?
Here I will take H3C’s GR-1800AX Gigabit Router as an example:
After powering on and plugging in the Internet cable, we use the computer to connect to WIFI, enter in the browser 192.168.1.1, and enter the setting interface of the wireless router:
Since I have reset the network address here, what you see is
192.168.3.1actually the new machine you got192.168.1.1.
Click [Wireless Settings] -> [Advanced Settings]:
2.4G wireless network advanced settings:
5G wireless network advanced settings:
Friendly reminder: It is recommended to set it to b+g+n for 2.4G and a+n+ac for 5G .