For several years, Wi-Fi 6 has been touted as the solution for wireless networks that were crowded with smartphones, computers, and numerous smart devices that all required their bandwidth. In 2020, we finally saw a huge influx of Wi-Fi 6 devices, just in time for the arrival of a new protocol, Wi-Fi 6E, which companies like Netgear are already embracing as a major improvement to busy wireless networks.
Wi-Fi 6 (also known as Wi-Fi 802.11ax for those who refuse to abandon the old naming scheme) has improved the Wi-Fi 820.11n’s dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band technology by increasing the bandwidth on each increase channel to accommodate more devices simultaneously with less interference which increased the wireless transmission speed. Wi-Fi 6 has been a huge improvement for wireless networking technology, but at the same time it has also been a patch for older technologies that are rapidly being overwhelmed by the number of wireless devices we use regularly, and their demand for more and more bandwidth.
If 2.4 GHz was the paved suburban road that led to your home, while 5 GHz was the dual-track highway that takes you downtown, Wi-Fi 6E would introduce a new 6 GHz band equivalent to ‘ a massive highway with more lane, which greatly enables devices to operate at maximum speed at the same time. The top speeds it would theoretically allow would match what the 5 GHz band offers, but the real advantage of the 6 GHz band is that 59 non-overlapping channels are offered (compared to 25 non-overlapping channels on the 5 GHz band., and only three channels on the 2.4 GHz band) which will dramatically reduce the interference which contributes greatly to the reduced bandwidth speed in a busy network.
The 6 GHz band extends over 1200 MHz, giving Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices access to multiple 160 MHz high bandwidth channels at the same time, which is much appreciated by anyone jumping on the 8K TV bandwagon. But most importantly, although older wifi protocols are backwards compatible, no legacy devices will be able to use the new 6 GHz band, only new devices that support it. If you use the highway analogy again, your devices will not get stuck behind a decades old device that can not reach the speed limit.
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It seemed to take a few years off time Wi-Fi 6 has become a buzzword until the time when consumers could actually get hold of Wi-Fi 6 compatible hardware, but Wi-Fi 6E looks like it’s going to enjoy a much faster implementation. One of the first Wi-Fi 6E wireless routers is Netgear’s new Nighthawk RAXE500, which arrives later this year. Powered by a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor, the router can deliver multiple gigabit-speed wireless connections to devices using the Wi-Fi 6E 160 MHz channels, plus fast connections with five additional gigabit LAN ports (including one Multi-Gig) 2.5G port), and some USB 3.0 ports
As with any new technology, there are some good reasons not to buy a Wi-Fi 6E router yet. The first reason is the price. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 will be sold with the launch for $ 600, which you can also earn well-equipped Wi-Fi 6 network network system with at least three knots spread throughout your home. The second reason is that there are very few devices that can actually connect to a Wi-Fi 6E network. Over the past few months, companies like Intel, Broadcom, and Samsung have released (or submitted for FCC approval) devices that can use Wi-Fi 6E speeds. Your new iPhone 12 Pro? Nope. All the articles you found under the tree at Christmas? Sorry. It will be a while before consumers can take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E. So it’s the best plan to hold out as long as possible until 6E routers like the new Nighthawk start to fall in price.