Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
802.11ac In-Depth
Table of ConTenTs
IntroDuctIon
references
3
4
9
19
35
36
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802.11ac in-Depth
IntroductIon
corporate networks.
2,000
75%
1,500
50%
1,000
25%
500
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0%
2014
(millions of units)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Figure 1
2,500
802.11n/802.11ac
802.11n (2.4 GHz)
2,000
802.11n (dual-band)
1,500
802.11ac (5 GHz)
1,000
500
0 X
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Figure 2
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802.11ac in-Depth
of wi-fi technology.
Ethernet just a few years ago seem barely adequate for some
luckily the Ieee 802.11 working group and the wi-fi alliance,
the path running from 11b, to 11a/g, then 11n, and now 802.11ac.
spatial streams.
note: the Ieee 802.11 standard refers to the phy rates of 802.11n as high throughput (ht) and those of 802.11ac as very high throughput (Vht) while those prior
to 802.11n are non-ht. we will avoid using these terms in this paper: there are plenty of acronyms here already, but readers who wish to read the Ieee documents
(available at http://standards.ieee.org/about/get/) should be aware of HT and VHT.
White paper
802.11ac in-Depth
usage model
Category
usage model
1. Wireless display
3. Rapid upload/download
2. distribution
of hdTV
4. backhaul
6. Manufacturing floor
source: Ieee
definition TV.
voice communication.
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802.11ac in-Depth
description
Rate
Packet error
rate
Jitter
delay
uncompressed
720p
(RGB) 1280x720 pixels; 24 bits/pixel, 60 frame/sec
1.3 Gbps
108
5 msec
5 msec
1080i
(RGB) 1920x1080/2 pixels; 24 bits/pixel, 60 frame/sec
1.5 gbps
108
5 msec
5 msec
1080p
(YCrCb) 1920x720 pixels; 24 bits/pixel, 60 frame/sec
1.5 gbps
108
5 msec
5 msec
1080p
(RGB) 1920x720 pixels; 24 bits/pixel, 60 frame/sec
3.0 Gbps
108
5 msec
5 msec
lightly
compressed
motion Jpeg2000
150 mbps
107
10 msec
10 msec
h.264
70 200 mbps
107
108
20 msec
20 msec
Compressed
blu-ray
50 mbps
107
20 msec
20 msec
hD mpeg2
20 mbps
3x107
20 msec
20 msec
source: Ieee
The other scenarios are mainly for large file transfer, where it
large aps with more than four antennas will make mImo
White paper
802.11ac in-Depth
versa for the transmission for B. There are some new terms
associated with this:
Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA): A term for streams
not separated by frequency or time, but instead resolved
optional mode.
(QAM) to 256-QAM.
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802.11ac in-Depth
Other elements/features
the basic set of rates is now known as mcs 0-9. from mcs
of the table above start at 6.5 mbps for long guard interval
and 7.2 mbps for short guard interval, and up to 65 mbps and
72.2 mbps the rates are identical to 802.11n. the mcs 8 and
stream combinations.
Throughput
40 mhz
1x1
smartphone
200 mbps
40 mhz
3x3
laptop
600 mbps
80 mhz
1x1
smartphone, tablet
433 Mbps
80 mhz
2x2
laptop, tablet
867 mbps
80 mhz
3x3
256-QAM 5/6,
short guard interval
256-QAM 5/6,
short guard interval
256-QAM 5/6,
short guard interval
256-QAM 5/6,
short guard interval
256-QAM 5/6,
short guard interval
laptop
1.3 Gbps
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Channel width
spatial streams
x2 for 2 SS
x3 for 3 SS
x2.1 for 40 MHz
x4 for 4 SS
x5 for 5 SS
x6 for 6 SS
x7 for 7 SS
x8 for 8 SS
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802.11ac in-Depth
this table is from the Ieee 802.11ac draft rather than the
http://www.arubanetworks.com/resources/
discover-802-11ac/
mandatory
optional
Channel width
spatial streams
28
guard interval
beamforming feedback
Parity check
multi-user mimo
convolutional
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802.11ac in-Depth
Channel width
non-contiguous spectrum.
the diagram below shows how the available 5-ghz bands are
CHANNELS DEFINED FOR 5 GHZ BANDS (U.S. REGULATIONS), SHOWING 20, 40, 80 AND 160 MHZ CHANNELS
(channel 14 is now allowed in the U.S. for one additional 20 MHz, one 40 MHz and one 80 MHz channel)
Band
Edge
5150
Channel
Frequency (MHz)
Band
Edge
5350
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
Band
Edge
5470
Band
Edge
5725
Channel
Frequency (MHz)
100
104
108
112
120
124
128
132
Band
Edge Band
(U-NII) Edge
5825 (ISM)
5850
Band
Edge
5725
Channel
Frequency (MHz)
116
136
140
144
5500 5520 5540 5560 5580 5600 5620 5640 5660 5680 5700 5720
149
153
157
161
165
Figure 3
available for wi-fi, and they can be used for two 80-mhz
10
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802.11ac in-Depth
Channel Centre
frequency (mhz)
Channel
(20 mhz)
max
Conducted
Tx Power
max Tx eiRP
(includes antenna gain)
unII 1
5150 5250
36 48
17 dbm
23 dBm
unII 2
5250 5350
52 64
24 dbm
30 dBm
yes
unII 2
extended
5470 5580
100 116
24 dbm
30 dBm
yes
5600 5640
120 128
24 dbm
30 dBml
yes
5660 5720
132 144
24 dbm
30 dBm
yes
UNII 3
5745 5805
149 161
30 dBm
36 dBm
Ism
5825
165
30 dBm
Radar
moratorium
higher Power
limits for
pt-pt links
notes
Indoor only,
captive antennas
TPC only required
if eIrp > 500 mw
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Ism (Dtc) rules
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devices will not be able to use these channels. over time, the
Figure 4
12
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802.11ac in-Depth
1
B
MAC
etc
Signal Processing
Tx
Rx
Tx
Rx
Signal Processing
MAC
etc
Figure 5
1
B
Access Point
Client
1
B
Access Point
Client
Figure 6
all hear the same signal from the transmitter. even if the
single-stream.
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802.11ac in-Depth
shift, and the longer the reflected path, the more delay is
x 400 nsec
1x SS
x 200 nsec
Ax + 1
1x SS
x 600 nsec
2x SS
Cx +
1x SS
Bx + 2
Cx +
2x SS
x1, x2
y1, y2
1x SS
2x SS
Combining Techniques
Some combinations are disallowed by the
equal modulation restriction, others by silicon
implementation. Equal modulation requires all
driven antennas to use the same MCS.
2x SS
-y2 , y2*
-x2 , x2*
1x or
2x SS
1x or
2x SS
Figure 7
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802.11ac in-Depth
x 400 nsec
1x SS
x 200 nsec
x1, x2
Ax + 1
1x SS
1x SS
x 600 nsec
Bx + 2
1x SS
1x SS
-x2*, x2*
1x SS
Cx + 3
x
Ax + 1
2x SS
1x SS
1x SS
y
By + 2
1x SS
1x SS
Figure 8
interference patterns.
SDM was first introduced with 802.11n, and the term SDMA is
Transmit beamforming
to each antenna.
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802.11ac in-Depth
effective beamforming.
throughput eight-fold.
IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT FEEDBACK FOR BEAMFORMING
Sounding Frames
Sounding Frames
Beamformer
Beamformer
Beamformed Frames
Implied CSI
Beamformer
Beamformed Frames
Actual CSI
Figure 9
16
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802.11ac in-Depth
achieve the very best throughput and lowest error rate the
the full matrix would indicate amplitude and phase for each
AP
2 antenna client
AP
A
8 antenna AP
NDP
announcement
Compressed
beamforming
matrix
Time
Figure 10
17
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802.11ac in-Depth
The NDPA and NDP frames are quite simple. The NDPA
2 antenna client
e.g. smartphone
8 antenna AP
4 antenna client
e.g. PC
NDP
announcement
2 antenna client
e.g. smartphone
AP
AP
Beamforming
report poll B
Beamforming
report poll C
Compressed
beamforming
matrix
Compressed
beamforming
matrix
Compressed
beamforming
matrix
C
D
Time
Figure 11
the beamformer.
per-ofDm subcarrier.
antennas in use.
18
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802.11ac in-Depth
Number of subcarriers
Examples:
single-user, 2x2 in a 20 MHz channel
10x2x52 = 1040 bits or 130B per report
single-user, 4x4 in an 80 MHz channel
10x12x234 28080 bits or 3.5 kB per report
multi-user, 8x8 in an 80 MHz channel, 4 subcarriers/group
16x56x486 217728 bits or 27 kB per report
(Note: there are many factors affecting this computation, and these figures should be taken as a guide)
Figure 12
19
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802.11ac in-Depth
2 antenna client
e.g. smartphone
2 antenna client
e.g. smartphone
AP
8 antenna AP
4 antenna client
e.g. PC
AP wins TXOP
Client TXOP
Frame to A
AP
Frame to B
AP wins TXOP
ack
Client TXOP
Frame to A
Frame to B
AP wins TXOP
ack
Frame to A
Frame to D
Frame to D
Frame to C
ack
Frame to C
Frame to AP
ack
Frame to AP
ack
ack
ack
ack
ack
ack
Time
Figure 13
Client
B
Client
A
AP
Client
C
Client
A
Client
C
AP
Client
B
Client
D
Figure 14
20
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802.11ac in-Depth
given that all traffic in Wi-Fi (apart from DLS) goes to or from
frame and clients report how they hear the sounding frame
Client
A
Client
A
AP
Client
D
Client
B
Client
B
Client
C
This would be uplink
multi-user MIMO
AP
Client
A
Client
E
AP
Client
F
No more than 4 recipients per
TXOP in DL multi-user MIMO
No more than
4 SS per client
Figure 15
own signals.
mu-mImo throughput is very sensitive to this selfinterference, and the beamforming feedback frame for
mu-mImo has higher precision for the matrix angles, and
also includes snr information to improve accuracy
and allow interference to be minimized.
Frame for A
QA
Frame for B
QB
Frame for C
QC
HA
HB
Client
D
QAHA = max
QBHA = null
QCHA = null
Client
E
QAHB = null
QBHB = max
QCHB = null
Client
F
QAHC = null
QBHC = null
QCHC = max
HC
Figure 16
21
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802.11ac in-Depth
such a way that the writing can be read. If the exact pattern
Most systems just sum throughput over all users with equal
is considered.
and zero-forcing.
the former concentrates on steering signal maxima onto
the intended receivers antenna while the latter steers nulls
or zeros to the other recipients of the mu-mImo
transmission, allowing them to decode their desired signals
with minimum interference.
Client
A
Client
C
AP
Client
B
Client
C
AP
BE
VO
VI
Client
D
BK
C
Client
D
Frames queued by
QoS priority (per AC)
User-frame selection
algorithm
Pre-coding and
weighting
Pre-coding matches
channel characteristics
Figure 17
22
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802.11ac in-Depth
as they would not have been able to use the TXOP with the
primary frame.
for an example of the power of properly-scheduled Dl
mu-mImo, consider an ap with eight antennas serving a
client with only one antenna.
(the signal power) versus phase (a shift from the phase of the
reference signal).
Figure 18
23
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802.11ac in-Depth
400 nsec would work where the path taken by the longest
modulation
& Rate
20
mhz
1x ss
20
mhz
2x ss
20
mhz
4x ss
20
mhz
8x ss
40
mhz
1x ss
40
mhz
2x ss
40
mhz
4x ss
40 mhz
8x ss
80
mhz
1x ss
80
mhz
2x ss
80 mhz
4x ss
80 mhz
8x ss
160
mhz
1x ss
160
mhz
2x ss
160
mhz
4x ss
160
mhz
8x ss
BPSK 1/2
7.2
14.4
28.9
57.8
15.0
30.0
60.0
120.0
32.5
65.0
130.0
260.0
65.0
130.0
260.0
520.0
QPSK 1/2
14.4
28.9
57.8
115.6
30.0
60.0
120.0
240.0
65.0
130.0
260.0
520.0
130.0
260.0
520.0
1040.0
QPSK 3/4
21.7
43.3
86.7
173.3
45.0
90.0
180.0
360.0
97.5
195.0
390.0
780.0
195.0
390.0
780.0
1560.0
16-QAM 1/2
28.9
57.8
115.6
231.1
60.0
120.0
240.0
480.0
130.0
260.0
520.0
1040.0
260.0
520.0
1040.0
2080.0
16-QAM 3/4
43.3
86.7
173.3
346.7
90.0
180.0
360.0
720.0
195.0
390.0
780.0
1560.0
390.0
780.0
1560.0
3120.0
64-QAM 2/3
57.8
115.6
231.1
462.2
120.0
240.0
480.0
960.0
260.0
520.0
1040.0
2080.0
520.0
1040.0
2080.0
4160.0
64-QAM 3/4
65.0
130.0
260.0
520.0
135.0
270.0
540.0
1080.0
292.5
585.0
1170.0
2340.0
585.0
1170.0
2340.0
4680.0
64-QAM 5/6
72.2
144.4
288.9
577.8
150.0
300.0
600.0
1200.0
325.0
650.0
1300.0
2600.0
650.0
1300.0
2600.0
5200.0
256 QAM
3/4
86.7
173.3
346.7
693.3
180.0
360.0
720.0
1440.0
390.0
780.0
1560.0
3120.0
780.0
1560.0
3120.0
6240.0
256-QAM
5/6
200.0
400.0
800.0
1600.0
433.3
866.7
1733.3
3466.7
866.7
1733.3
3466.7
6933.3
24
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the graph below shows, for instance, that whereas -64 dbm
-40
-45
-50
-55
-60
-65
ini u
sensiti it
dB
ini u
sensiti it
dB
ini u
sensiti it
dB
ini u
sensiti it
or
-70
dB
-75
-80
-85
B
Figure 19
MAC changes
there are few mac changes in 802.11ac that primarily
introduce a faster phy layer. but improvements are made in a
number of areas.
defined for the new rates, as for 802.11n rates. The former is
25
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mpDu (a-mpDu).
P1
P2
P1
P3
P2
P1
P2
P3
P3
MAC processing
MAC processing
MAC
header
P1
P2
P3
MAC processing
PHY layer
MAC
header
P1
MAC
header
P2
MAC
header
P3
Figure 20
the air.
be aggregated.
retransmission ability.
Encryption and the GCMP option
a new encryption protocol, known as galois counter mode
protocol (gcmp) is being introduced as for new, high-rate
802.11 applications. GCMP is defined as an option in
802.11ad, the 60-ghz-band amendment, and this forms the
basis for its inclusion in the 802.11 baseline (in the next
roll-up revision of 802.11) and its availability for 802.11ac.
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802.11ac in-Depth
partial AID field is not its own address, the client can doze for
so significantly.
a client to switch off its radio circuit after it has seen the AP
another client.
better performance.
insufficient bandwidth.
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for association.
Legacy preamble
L-STF
L-LTF
VHT preamble
L-SIG
VHT-SIG-A
Data
VHT-STF
VHT-LTF
VHT-LTF
VHT-SIG-B
Key
STF
LTF
SIG
L
HT
VHT
Figure 21
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the l-stf and l-ltf allow the receiver to synchronize with the
40-mhz channels.
the length of the frame. this is the part that allows legacy
channel bandwidth?
and other data for use in demodulating the frame. This field
is transmitted as 20-mhz symbols, replicated over all
VHT-LTF fields are next, one per spatial stream to be used for
802.11ac channel?
S40
RTS
RTS
RTS
RTS
CTS
CTS
CTS
CTS
Data
Data
AP
Client
Figure 22
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cts but indicating which primary channels are clear (20 mhz
can understand.
Secondary 20 MHz
Primary 20 MHz
80 MHz channel
Secondary 40 MHz
Secondary 40 MHz
Secondary 20 MHz
Primary 20 MHz
Figure 23
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once two nodes have discovered each other in this way, they
can optimize their beamforming parameters in a fine-tuning
mode. These techniques are interesting because they may be
AP
MAC
60 GHz
5 GHz
MAC
AP
MAC
60 GHz
60 GHz
MAC Client
5 GHz
non-transparent
5 GHz
60 GHz
5 GHz
MAC
Client
MAC
Figure 24
management layers for the two links, in which case the switch
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mandatory
optional
Channel width
mcs 0 7
mcs 8, 9
spatial streams
28
guard interval
beamforming feedback
Parity check
multi-user mimo
Regulatory limitations
milesTones and daTes foR 802.11aC in ieee and Wi-fi allianCe (as of sePTembeR oCTobeR 2011)
ieee milestone
date
september 2008
may 2011
July 2010
august 2011
Q4 2012 (estimate)
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802.11n exPeRienCe
Over the four to five years since 802.11n devices became
commercially available, we have learned a good deal about
mImo and technology adoption that can help predict how
802.11ac may roll out.
The most significant revelation is that MIMO SDM works
widely and effectively, at least for indoor wireless. Even where
there is a good line of sight, there seems to be sufficient
multipath that multi-stream connections offer good
throughput gains nearly all the time.
secondly, 40-mhz channels are very useful in the 5-ghz
band. most current enterprise wlans use 20-mhz channels
at 2.4-ghz and 40-mhz channels at 5-ghz with dual-radio
aps. the only exception is that with very high user or device
density, higher overall throughput is achieved by load-
implementation as a result.
improvement
over current
802.11n
max theoretical
improvement over
802.11n
~1.5x
~2x
~1.5x
~10x
~2x
~20x
8 spatial streams
256-QAM 3/4 and 5/6
modulation
beamforming
(implementable bf)
multi-user downlink mImo
total improvement
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We can also count the antennas. The most significant leap for
802.11aC dePloymenT
It is worth taking some time to consider how 802.11ac may
affect the Wi-Fi market over the next few years. No doubt
there will be similarities to the 802.11n roll out, but also
differences. To begin with, it is better to think of 802.11ac as a
set of tools that can be used individually or in combination,
depending on the situation, rather than a monolithic feature.
It gives us significant initial improvements, but also a number
of dimensions that wont be implemented for a while, and we
may never see a single product that has 160-mhz channels
or eight antennas. but that doesnt detract from the
standards value.
silicon vendors are already shipping dual-band chips with
802.11ac at 5 ghz and 802.11n for 2.4 ghz. It is clear that they
will move development of new features power-saving, soc
integration, new production processes to 802.11ac and in a
few years these will become more cost-effective for
equipment vendors.
ConClusion
802.11ac takes all the techniques the Wi-Fi industry has
learned up to 802.11n, and extends them. It is relatively
uncontroversial to say that in a few years, wi-fi will be
synonymous with 802.11ac, or whichever name the wi-fi
alliance chooses for it.
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its work takes place a little later than the Ieee, selecting
interoperability certification.
before chips and devices catch up with all the features in the
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RefeRenCes
1. http://www.isuppli.com/Abstract/WLAN-Differentiation-Opportunities-Emerge-as-802-11n-Rapidly-becomesmainstream.pdf
2. http://www.isuppli.com/mobile-and-wireless-communications/marketwatch/pages/wi-fi-chipset-shipments-to-doublein-2011.aspx
3. http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1008090
4. IEEE P802.11ac D3.0, June 2012
5. IEEE 802.11-09/0161 802.11ac Usage Model Document
6. IEEE 802.11-09/0992 Proposed Specification Framework for TGac
7. IEEE 802.11-10/0438r2 TGad Security Enhancements
8. Wi-Fi Alliance Marketing Requirements Document for Interoperability Testing of Approved VHT5G Products, Version 0.71
9. Ieee 802.11ad D8.0 may 2012
10. IEEE 802.11-11/0459r1 802.11ad Overview for CWPAN
11. IEEE 802.11-10/0432r2 PHY/MAC Complete Proposal to TGad
12. IEEE 802.11-10/492r02 Collaboration between 2.4/5 and 60 GHz
13. http://www.isuppli.com/Abstract/WLAN-Differentiation-Opportunities-Emerge-as-802-11n-Rapidly-becomesmainstream.pdf
14. http://www.isuppli.com/mobile-and-wireless-communications/marketwatch/pages/wi-fi-chipset-shipments-to-doublein-2011.aspx
15. http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1008090
16. IEEE P802.11ac D3.0, June 2012
17. IEEE 802.11-09/0161 802.11ac Usage Model Document
18. IEEE 802.11-09/0992 Proposed Specification Framework for TGac
19. IEEE 802.11-10/0438r2 TGad Security Enhancements
20. Wi-Fi Alliance Marketing Requirements Document for Interoperability Testing of Approved VHT5G Products, Version 0.71
21. Ieee 802.11ad D8.0 may 2012
22. IEEE 802.11-11/0459r1 802.11ad Overview for CWPAN
23. IEEE 802.11-10/0432r2 PHY/MAC Complete Proposal to TGad
24. IEEE 802.11-10/492r02 Collaboration between 2.4/5 and 60GHz
25. http://www.isuppli.com/Abstract/WLAN-Differentiation-Opportunities-Emerge-as-802-11n-Rapidly-becomesmainstream.pdf
26. http://www.isuppli.com/mobile-and-wireless-communications/marketwatch/pages/wi-fi-chipset-shipments-to-doublein-2011.aspx
27. http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1008090
28. IEEE P802.11ac D3.0, June 2012
29. IEEE 802.11-09/0161 802.11ac Usage Model Document
30. IEEE 802.11-09/0992 Proposed Specification Framework for TGac
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specifications contained in this document, Aruba Networks, Inc. will assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. WP_80211acInDepth_041414
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