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Just how FAST is WiFi 6?

Linus Tech Tips@LinusTechTips2.3M viewsMay 2, 201910:46
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Thanks to Cisco for sponsoring this video! Learn more at lmg.gg and lmg.gg Buy Cisco Access Points on Amazon: geni.us Buy Cisco Access Points on Newegg: geni.us Cisco hooked up with some new Meraki WiFi 6 compatible access points, let's see how they do... Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Linus Tech Tips merchandise at lttstore.com Linus Tech Tips posters at crowdmade.com Our Test Benches on Amazon: amazon.com Our production gear: geni.us Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Twitch - twitch.tv Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com

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AI OverviewDefault language

The video dives into what Wi-Fi 6 is and why it matters, starting with the practical motivation behind upgrading to the new standard. It explains that the hardware differences are largely in protocol capabilities rather than physical design, noting that existing devices can continue to operate with legacy clients while APs gain intelligence to manage many more connections efficiently. The host highlights the rebranding from 802.11ax to Wi-Fi 6 and explains how multiple enhancements come together to support denser environments, such as large venues or busy offices, where hundreds of devices may connect simultaneously. He then moves into concrete capabilities, detailing up to eight by eight antenna configurations, up to eight concurrent downlink streams, and the use of OFDMA to split channels into many sub-channels to serve many clients in parallel. The discussion emphasizes that these improvements reduce collisions and waiting time, which translates into lower latency and better gaming performance on Wi-Fi. Finally, the video shows a hands-on test with a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, demonstrating real-world speeds and illustrating how Wi-Fi 6 can deliver exceptional performance on a mobile device when connected to a capable access point, while also acknowledging that full benefits require client devices that support the new features. The sponsor integration with Cisco Meraki is acknowledged, and the host wraps up by pointing viewers to purchase options and community resources, noting that the technology is poised to improve everyday experiences in both home and business networks.

Topics · technology · networking · wifi · consumer electronics · sponsored content

Questions answered

What is the main difference introduced by Wi-Fi 6 compared to previous generations?
Wi-Fi 6 introduces higher capacity and efficiency for multi-client environments through features like eight by eight antenna configurations, up to eight concurrent downlink MU-MIMO streams, and the use of OFDMA to split channels into multiple sub-channels, reducing collisions and latency in dense networks.
What does deterministic connections in Wi-Fi 6 do for devices on the network?
Deterministic connections allow the access point to schedule when each client can transmit or receive, allocate sub-channels, and reduce collision overhead, which lowers latency and can improve power efficiency through scheduled check-ins.
Why is Wi-Fi 6 not immediately delivering its best performance in all setups?
Because the full benefits depend on client devices that support Wi-Fi 6 features; as legacy devices remain on the network, the superior performance is not realized until more clients adopt the new standard.