Today’s digital world is powered by high-speed internet. It acts as its lifeline. More and more people are now getting online, and wireless internet is making this transition possible. This also calls for innovations and advancements in the field. And it’s Wi-Fi 6 that promises better throughput speed, improved battery life for your mobile, and reduced bandwidth congestion, making it a substantial upgrade over previous generations. Read through to know more about this promising wireless networking router.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Wi-Fi?
Do you have outdated Wi-Fi? Are you experiencing frequent connectivity issues and suffering from poor network performance? How many Wi-Fi-enabled devices do you own? Does your existing Wi-Fi router support all?
Just like a cracked screen, slow charging, and draining battery are indications that you need to change your phone, there are signs which indicate that you need to upgrade your broadband plans and connection. A Wi-Fi router has a refresh cycle of 4-5 years. So, if you are using a technology older than this and you are experiencing frequent and significant lags, it’s time to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6. Read below to know what Wi-Fi 6 is and what its benefits are.
What Is Wi-Fi 6?
Wireless networks help us get online, anytime and anywhere. The technology was created by the non-profit Wi-Fi Alliance in the late 1990s. Over the years, the technology has gradually upgraded to meet the ever-evolving demands and to enhance the overall internet browsing experience.
With each upgraded version, the maximum Linkrate has increased. Wi-Fi 4 or the 802.11n, which supported a Linkrate of 72–600 Mbit/s, was launched in 2009. The latest version in the spectrum, the Wi-Fi 6 or the 802.11ax, launched in 2019, has a maximum Linkrate of 600–9608 Mbit/s. This enhancement in Linkrate makes the Wi-Fi 6 technology extremely fast and superior to its predecessors.
Benefits of Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6 technology promises incremental improvements over your existing technology. The big changes that the Wi-Fi 6 allows are:
Faster Speed
Wi-Fi 6 supports an increased throughput. The maximum supported across multiple channels is 9.6 Gbps. This is way more than the maximum throughput of 3.5 Gbps supported by Wi-Fi 5.
Increased Data Transfer Speed
Wi-Fi 6 technology is powered by a more powerful processor. This supports higher data transfer speeds ensuring better upload and download speeds. This is done through a variety of techniques, including more efficient data encoding and intelligent use of the wireless spectrum.
Reduced Latency
Wi-Fi 6 is capable of handling larger amounts of network traffic more efficiently. This improves data transmission quality with as high as 75% reduced latency and no packet loss. This makes it ideal for media multitasking, streaming and voice and video conferencing.
Bridges Gap Between Wired and Wireless Signals
The wired devices enjoy uninterrupted and steady signals. But wired devices are a constraint as it hinders mobility. But with faster speed, better throughput, reduced latency and superior technology, Wi-Fi 6 brings you at par with the qualities of the wired modem.
Secure
Wi-Fi networks are secured through passwords. Every time you log into a new Wi-Fi network, it prompts for the password. Wi-Fi 6 provides enhanced security via the password security mechanism called the Dragonfly Key Exchange system, also called SAE or Simultaneous Authentication of Equals. This promises stronger security through stronger encryption without compromising on user experience.
Improved Battery Life
Being online for a larger part of the day drains away the gadget’s battery life. Wi-Fi 6 incorporates the Target Wake Time (TWT) technology that potentially increases the battery life of devices by allowing more efficient communication between the router and device. As the device spends less time and energy searching for a wireless signal, it enhances battery life considerably.
Backward Compatibility
The Wi-Fi 6 router is backwards compatible with Wi-Fi 5 router, implying that devices that aren’t Wi-Fi 6 compatible will still function. However, they won’t enjoy the additional features supported by Wi-Fi 6.
What Do I Need To Make Wi-Fi 6 Work?
Before you plan to upgrade your router to Wi-Fi 6, here’s your checklist before the switch over:
Will your current router support Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 compatible router is the first and foremost point of consideration. The new routers support this feature.
Are your devices Wi-Fi 6 compatible?
Although the Wi-Fi 6 router offers backward compatibility, to enjoy all the additional features of the Wi-Fi 6 standard, the Smartphones have to be Wi-Fi 6 compatible. While the newer mobile versions already incorporate this technology, your PC to support Wi-Fi 6 must have the latest Gen Intel CPU with a compatible motherboard. The PC will require an external M.2 antenna if it doesn’t have one.
Conclusion
Advancements in technology promise additional benefits and advantages. Thus, an upgrade in any domain is always progressive. Wi-Fi 6, too, will have a significant impact on the way our wireless devices operate. To know if you too need to upgrade, answer these simple questions:
- Number of Wi-Fi-enabled devices to run on your network
- Age of your current router
- Frequency of lags
- Duration of lags
- Connectivity issues
- Frequent disconnection
If the answer to all these questions is a higher number, the higher the need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6.
FAQs
What is Wi-Fi 6 throughput?
The maximum throughput of Wi-Fi 6 supported across multiple channels is 9.6 Gbps.
Will Wi-Fi 6 router support all wireless devices?
Wi-Fi 6 router is 100% backwards compatible, implying that Wi-Fi 5 devices and older Wi-Fi devices will connect and function properly. However, these devices will not enjoy the additional features supported by Wi-Fi 6.
Will Wi-Fi 6 improve the battery life of gadgets?
The Target Wake Technology (TWT) in Wi-Fi 6 helps improve battery life. The technology will allow more efficient communication between the router and device. The device can thus schedule a low-power sleep time and a more efficient wake-up.
Should I upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 will improve the performance of wireless devices significantly. You should upgrade in case your current router is very old, you have several Wi-Fi-enabled devices running on your current router, experience frequent lags, face connectivity issues or frequent disconnection.
Is Wi-Fi 6 more secure?
Unlike Wi-Fi networks that are secured through passwords, Wi-Fi 6 provides enhanced security as it supports the newest security protocol, Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3). It has stronger user authentication capabilities with better encryption tools for a more secure network.
