Right now, the fastest Wi-Fi you can get is 802.11ac, boasting impressive speeds and excellent range to boot. 802.11ad is on the horizon, promising even better performance, but there’s another update that’ll arrive first. It’ll be called 802.11ac wave 2, and it promises faster speeds and better range without the need for new network hardware.
The new standard was officially debuted by the Wi-Fi Alliance this week. Wave 2 doubles the bandwidth used per channel, which in perfect conditions will also double your speeds. You’ll also be more likely to hit those speeds, thanks to an additional spatial stream and wider 5GHz channel support. Improved MIMO (dubbed MU-MIMO) means that the router will perform better with multiple users, too. If you’re tired of your little brother hogging all the bandwidth, this could be a godsend.
This all sounds great, but the best part is that your router may already support wave 2 in a preliminary form, so you’ll just need to upgrade your firmware to use the finished version. If you’re not sure about your router, it’s probably best to ask your manufacturer or internet service provider.
What do you make of the new upgrade? Have you got 802.11ac wave 2 working at home already? Let us know in the comments below!