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[-] cuchilloc@lemmy.world 221 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Most consumers are familiar with the 802.11 standards; however, this new sequential number rebranding is intended to simplify things. Previously, the naming design used the alphabet, starting with a to bto g and n, with each one representing the next generation. We'd expect z to be the last or fastest one, or until they have new names, but suddenly we're on 802.11ac, which is faster than all previous versions, so it's understandable that users would be a bit confused. Thus, starting from 802.11n, Wi-Fi will be referred to as Wi-Fi 4, 802.11ac as Wi-Fi 5, and 802.11ax as Wi-Fi 6.

—————

WiFi 6: higher data rates, increased capacity, enhanced performance in dense environments, and improved power efficiency. Operating on the same 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band as Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 is rated to support transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, which ranges from four to ten times faster than the current standard.

—————

802.11ax utilizes OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), one of the big advancements with LTE technology.

TL;DR: less congestion in crowded networks and better speeds.

[-] fristislurper@feddit.nl 96 points 2 months ago

Most consumers are familiar with the 802.11 standards

Lol, no. Not in any way.

[-] boonhet@lemm.ee 19 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Might be true for people buying their own WiFi routers.

Which already isn't most consumers, because most people use what their ISP gives them.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

You’re kidding, right? Wireless G, N, AC, AX etc are commonly printed all over the boxes of routers and is the main way to talk about their speed and how new they are. Do you not buy your own router? It seems as common to me as 3G/4G/5G but for a different kind of wireless.

I wouldn’t expect my mom to know it, I would expect most people on Lemmy to know and most somewhat tech familiar people to know. Not deep into the specs, but knowing AC is faster than N.

[-] candybrie@lemmy.world 25 points 2 months ago

Most consumers don't buy their own routers. The only time I've helped people buy routers in the last decade is to get one you could install a vpn on. Looking at the wireless standards never crossed our minds.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Fair enough. I thought it was just as common knowledge as wireless cellphone standards. Kinda surprised to see most people on Lemmy don’t pay attention to these, lots of the kinds of people who wouldn’t use the ISP supplied router / AP are here. Or so I thought.

I don’t know the 802.11 specs at all, but I know enough to purchase a router that won’t be outdated quickly.

[-] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

people on lemmy know but people on lemmy aren't the general public

[-] SirQuackTheDuck@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

They might be printed on there, but as long as it looks like it has wifi (pointy units or the wifi symbol on your phone), people will buy it.

802.11 isn't anywhere near common knowledge. That's why it was named WiFi and trademarked to begin with.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

Regular people sure, but this is Lemmy. The nerd concentration here is significantly higher than average. I dunno, just thought it was fairly common knowledge in tech literate people that wireless G is outdated, AX is current, things like that. I can’t imagine spending money on a router without knowing the basics, which I’d consider the G/N/AC etc standard to be the minimum you need to know for making a decent purchase.

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 64 points 2 months ago

Thanks homie for the whole official scoop on this.

[-] Samsy@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago

And it saves battery for mobile devices.

[-] pewgar_seemsimandroid 1 points 2 months ago

one question, is wifi related to wimax?

[-] cuchilloc@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

802.16 standard … Wifi are all versions of 802.11

[-] pewgar_seemsimandroid 1 points 2 months ago
[-] cuchilloc@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

subscribe to cuchilloc premium, you are limited to one question <3

[-] pewgar_seemsimandroid 1 points 2 months ago
[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 86 points 2 months ago
[-] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 10 points 2 months ago

It's right there... can't he read?

[-] Max_P@lemmy.max-p.me 85 points 2 months ago

You're connected over WiFi 6.

[-] TotalFat@lemmy.world 48 points 2 months ago

It means you can "dock" your phone with a consenting bro's phone also displaying this symbol by facing each other, grasp your device firmly, and touch the tips together.

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 33 points 2 months ago

If you're trying to make a gay joke, it landed wrong because I'm a girl.

[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 29 points 2 months ago
[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

bro's... facing each other... touch the tips together.

Clearly a metaphor about guys & penises.

[-] winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 months ago

Girls can be Bros and nips got tips

[-] Chakravanti@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 months ago

You've got more tips than we do.

[-] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 months ago

This thread took a strange direction...

[-] SeabassDan@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Is that where your phone case opens up to receive your bro's phone into it?

[-] lessthanluigi@lemmy.world 32 points 2 months ago

It means you are connected to a WiFi 6 connection. It means your WiFi will be much faster now.

[-] eatham@aussie.zone 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It will only be faster if WiFi was a bottleneck before.

Edit: I misread the comment, thought it was talking about internet speeds.

[-] sickhack@lemmy.world 26 points 2 months ago

It means you are connected to a WiFi 6 connection. It means your WiFi will be much faster now.

[-] cuchilloc@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Bro played himself , but he had good intentions !!

[-] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

normal people just call internet speeds wifi speeds though

there's no harm in clarifying

[-] lefixxx@lemmy.world 30 points 2 months ago

Your phone is bragging about supporting wifi6

[-] Upstream7564@discuss.tchncs.de 28 points 2 months ago

Why do you ask this in privacy community 💀

It's unrelated.

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 36 points 2 months ago

because I was worried it was privacy-related, I was worried that it meant 6 devices are connected to my Wi-Fi which I should be the only person connected to right now. But based on everyone's responses, it looks like that number 6 is a pretty damn good thing and not a bad scary privacy concern thing at all.

[-] Deckweiss@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago

Just use a search engine and type "wifi icon number 6"

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 45 points 2 months ago

Search engines suck. I'd rather talk to real people, I mean anyone but you.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 15 points 2 months ago
[-] Deckweiss@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I typed in the exact words I would type if I had your question and the first three results were the answer you were looking for.

How can "search engines" suck any less than this?

No need for personal attacks btw. cheers

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 45 points 2 months ago

Yeah but then google will tell you to microwave your glue and eat it.

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

S/he thought it might mean Mi6

[-] chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de 20 points 2 months ago

Wi-Fi AX aka Wi-Fi 6

[-] dog_@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago

The TLDR is that it's a new wifi standard/generation. It means WiFi 6. It's not entirely important, but some phones display that to show you that you're using fairly recent technology.

[-] androidul@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 months ago

damn you, I’m so jelly rn 🥲

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago

okay based on everyone's responses, it looks like the number six is a good thing, and not a bad scary thing that would be a cause for privacy concern. Thank you all.

[-] SnotFlickerman 8 points 2 months ago

Most wholesome outcome.

[-] magi 10 points 2 months ago
[-] TheBigBrother@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago
this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2024
171 points (100.0% liked)

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