All about Wi Fi 6
In conversation with Valerie Maguire, Global Sales Engineer, Siemon, USA
VALERIE MAGUIRE, Global Sales Engineer Siemon, USA
How to take full advantage Wi-Fi 6 technology ?
The IEEE 802.11ax Enhancements for High Efficiency Wireless (HEW) LAN standard has far reaching implications with respect to cabling infrastructure design. Users can expect their current wireless speeds to appreciably increase by switching to Wi-Fi 6 gear with greater than 5 Gb/s data rate capability, but this will only be possible if the cabling uplinks can accommodate this increased bandwidth. A properly specified cabling infrastructure will be required to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 6 technology.
How are network cabling infrastructures prepared to support high-efficiency Wi-Fi access point (WAP) connections?
Existing wireless access devices, client devices and the back end network and cabling infrastructure may need to be upgraded in order to fully support Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 and Type 2 power delivery. In addition, operation in the 5 GHz transmission band ( Wi-Fi 5 only operates in this band) requires relatively dense WAP coverage areas and existing prior generation (i.e., Wi-Fi 4) grid placement layouts may not be sufficient. For both new and existing wireless deployments, now is the time to seriously consider the wired uplink infrastructure. Siemon recommends providing two class EA/category 6A or higher performing horizontal cabling drops to each wireless access point ( WAP) and a minimum 25 Gb/s capable multimode optical fibre backbone.
Key design and media selection strategies for designers, consultants, end users and installers
In addition to the media specification and deployment recommendations provided above, Siemon recommends:
1. utilising a grid-based zone cabling architecture to accommodate additional WAP deployments, which allows for rapid reconfiguration of coverage areas and provides redundant and future-proof connections,
2. using solid conductor cords, which exhibit better thermal stability and lower insertion loss than stranded conductor cords, for equipment connections in the ceiling or in plenum spaces where higher temperatures are likely to be encountered,
3. installing category 6A field-terminable plugs, such as Siemon’s Z PLUG, to eliminate common installation concerns associated with the use of pre-terminated cords at the equipment end of the installed channel,
4. recognizing that deploying Type 2 PoE to remotely power Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 wireless access points can cause heat to build up in cable bundles and specifying solutions, such as Siemon’s shielded category 6A and category 7A cables, that are qualified for mechanical reliability up to 75°C (167°F), and
5. specifying IEC 60512-99-001 compliant connecting hardware to ensure that contact seating surfaces are not damaged when plugs and jacks are
unmated under Wi Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 remote powering current loads.
The technology behind the latest IEEE 802.11ax High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) standard known as Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 delivers increased speed and capacity and more efficiently supports the increasing density of devices, while lowering latency and enhancing battery life. This enhanced throughput is facilitated by an evolution of existing and proven Wi-Fi-5 communication algorithms. Like Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 wireless transmission utilizes the techniques of beamforming to concentrate signals and transmitting over multiple send and receive antennas to improve communication and minimize interference (often referred to as multiple input, multiple output or MIMO).
The signal associated with one transmit and one receive antenna is called a spatial stream and the ability to support multiple spatial streams is a feature of Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6. Higher order modulation, an orthogonal frequency- division multiple access (OFDMA) signal scheme, which allows bandwidth to be divided according to the needs of the client, and synchronized uplink transmission are the key technology enablers that support faster Wi-Fi 6 transmission rates while ensuring backward compatibility with older Wi-Fi technology.
What users can expect in terms of wireless speeds with this new technology
Users can expect Wi-F 6 to have four times faster average throughput in dense deployment environments (speeds up to 5 Gb/s) compared to Wi-Fi 5 (speeds up to 1.3 Gb/s).
Cabling uplinks ready to support Wi-Fi 6, including support for current and future transmission speed and remote powering requirements
Siemon recommends providing two class EA/ category 6A or higher performing horizontal cabling drops to each wireless access point ( WAP) or router to facilitate link aggregation (i.e., two ports each capable of supporting greater than 5 Gb/s data rates). Siemon also recommends installing a minimum 25 Gb/s capable multimode optical fibre backbone to support increased Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 uplink capacity.
Grid-based zone cabling architecture, field terminated plugs and other key cabling design strategies to ensure support for Wi-Fi
A grid-based class EA/category 6A zone cabling approach9 using service concentration points housed in zone enclosures is an ideal way to provide sufficient spare port density to support 2.5/5GBASE-T link aggregation at each WAP as necessary, while also allowing for more efficient port utilization when 10GBASE-T equipment connections become available. Zone cabling is highly flexible and enables rapid reconfiguration of coverage areas and conveniently provides additional capacity to accommodate next generation technology, which may require 10GBASE-T link aggregation. Additional WAPs can be easily incorporated into the wireless network to enhance coverage with minimal disruption when spare connection points in a zone cabling system are available. WAP deployments may be further simplified by utilizing a category 6A field-terminable plug, such as Siemon’s Z-PLUG®, at the equipment end of the installed channel. This approach eliminates the need to estimate the exact distance of cordage required, stock customlength patch cords, source plenum cords, and address the problem of excessive cord tension or slack at the WAP. While field-terminable plugs may be used in modular plug terminated link (MPTL) configurations, Siemon recommends minimum 2- connector channel topologies to facilitate adds, moves, and changes, field testing, and labelling.
Under all circumstances, the service outlets, patch panels, and other connecting hardware used in the channel should comply with IEC 60512-99-0018 to ensure that critical contact seating surfaces are not damaged when plugs and jacks are unmated under Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 remote powering current loads. In addition, the use of cables that support longer channel lengths (i.e., less length de-rating is required at elevated temperatures to satisfy TIA and ISO/IEC insertion loss requirements) and are qualified for mechanical reliability up to 75°C (167°F), such as Siemon shielded category 6A and category 7A cables, are recommended for Type 2 PoE remote powering applications.
Wi-Fi 6 delivers increased speed and capacity and more efficiently supports the increasing density of devices, while lowering latency and enhancing battery life