Discussing AX WiFi Streaming issues
Discussing AX WiFi Streaming issues
When devices support AC Wave 2 MU-MIMO, they remain advantageous compared to older setups. I believe your idea about requiring every device to be WiFi 6 isn't necessary. You didn’t rely on WiFi 4 or 5, and the equipment can easily adapt to different modes for each connection. While using WiFi 6 would improve performance by enabling TDMA, you’d still need another AP operating on the same channels nearby to also support WiFi 6—something that could take a long time to achieve.
For OFDMA compatibility, all gadgets must support Wi-Fi 6; otherwise they rely on the given channel size. This feature offers the main advantage of Wi-Fi 6. A podcast by wireless engineers covers the protocol, its standards, and its constraints including this topic.
OFDMA offers significant advantages, yet focusing solely on it overlooks other important factors. It’s worth noting that WiFi 6 boosts 2.4GHz performance, which in my view is actually diminishing as neighbors switch to 5GHz. Many users with WiFi 5 still use basic routers or APs without MU-MIMO support, so a WiFi 6 device could provide better capabilities. Additionally, the hardware limitations of older WiFi 5 devices—often weak CPUs—mean they may struggle to deliver strong speeds unless paired with more powerful processors.
That's a bit unclear about why you need six. I don’t care about wireless speeds much. Maximum throughput isn’t important if there’s any congestion, which is why OFDMA matters most. Folks often believe bigger numbers improve performance, but it’s not the case. New routers do have faster CPUs, thanks for explaining.
I often copy files between my laptop and other devices, and speed matters a lot. I don’t face major issues on WiFi except maybe with neighbors, since I’ve set everything up physically. Most folks connect every gadget to WiFi, and OFDMA will become really important for them, but if no one upgrades because it’s not useful yet, you’re stuck in a chicken-and-egg situation. WiFi 6 works best only when all networks are WiFi 6, allowing smoother cooperation than today’s standards. But if people aren’t encouraged to upgrade because it hasn’t happened yet, progress will stall.
It will take several years before Wi-Fi 6 becomes a standard on new devices. Most people won’t replace their TVs, IoT gadgets, or even microwave Alexa soon. I’m not discouraging progress, but manufacturers will likely charge more for Wi-Fi 6 routers/APs in the next couple of years. It’s better to wait until prices drop because the performance gain won’t be as significant as you might think right now.
It looks like progress is happening over time. Issues will be resolved, and enhancements will likely occur. I don’t think it’s wise to purchase early models; stick with later-generation equipment.