TOKU - Treasury of Knowledge for Users

WiFi 6, 6E, and 7

The meeting focused on Wi-Fi technology evolution and upgrading, with discussions covering various standards like DOCSIS and the benefits of newer equipment for improved performance and security. Participants shared their experiences with upgrading home networking equipment and configuring Wi-Fi settings, including recommendations for bandwidth allocation and network security. The conversation concluded with discussions about cell phone coverage and international travel, as well as technical demonstrations of router upgrades and network performance improvements.

The speaker Bob Primak explained the evolution of Wi-Fi technology, highlighting key features like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output, and Multi-Link Operation, which improve speed and reduce interference. He discussed DOCSIS standards, explaining how they have evolved from DOCSIS 1.0 to DOCSIS 4.0, which offers higher speeds and better security. Bob emphasized that most users only need a small amount of bandwidth for activities like streaming and gaming, and recommended upgrading to newer equipment, especially since prices are expected to rise due to component shortages.

Bob discussed upgrading his home Wi-Fi equipment, starting with a Comcast XB6 gateway and eventually moving to an XB8 and then an XB10, which supports Wi-Fi 6E and DOCSIS 4.0. He detailed the performance improvements, including better signal quality and reduced interference in their retirement community. Bob also shared his experience with upgrading his PC's Wi-Fi cards and using a Netgear dongle, noting the added security of WPA3. Overall, he was satisfied with the upgrades, which improved his Zoom meeting experiences and provided better network security.

Seth discussed internet and Wi-Fi configurations, emphasizing the importance of matching internet speeds to actual needs and considering factors like Wi-Fi range and interference. He recommended using mesh systems for better signal quality and suggested dedicating a Wi-Fi band for IoT devices, which typically operate on 2.4 GHz. Seth also mentioned the need to secure home networks to prevent compromised IoT devices from being used to hack into more sensitive devices. Bob and others asked questions about DOCSIS modems, cable internet, and Fios, with Seth clarifying that DOCSIS modems are not needed for Fios but are necessary for cable internet. The group also touched on the challenges of managing separate networks for IoT devices and the importance of checking compatibility with ISPs when purchasing cable modems.

DOCSIS modems not only are not necessary for FiOS, they are not compatible. Fiber optic connections use an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), not a traditional modem, to convert light signals from the fiber cable into electrical Ethernet signals your router and devices understand. The ONT is the key device that translates data, connecting directly to your router via an Ethernet cable, allowing for much faster, high-bandwidth internet. Customers cannot easily use their own Optical Network Terminal (ONT) for fiber internet because ISPs provide and lock the device to their network for authentication and configuration. So while there exist third party ONTs, they aren't generally approved for use in home networks. (A SOHO contract might allow an exception.)

The group discussed bandwidth requirements for streaming video, with Steve sharing a page that indicates 25 megabits per second is needed for 4K streaming, though streaming services like Netflix typically use less and can adjust based on available bandwidth. Seth explained that while 300 megabits per second might seem sufficient for streaming, latency and congestion can impact performance more than bandwidth. The discussion then shifted to the business aspects of 5G networks, with Seth clarifying that while companies like T-Mobile own towers, the real estate model is more complex, involving companies that own the equipment space on towers, similar to how churches might host cell towers in exchange for rental fees.

T-Mobile does not own the physical towers for their 5G network. The Real estate portion of the discussion was about third-party ownership and how that end of the business operates. (Seth knows someone who's involved in this aspect of the business.) What Seth and others missed was discussed in a previous talk (by Bob Primak with Ted Kochansky) which mentioned neighborhood femtocells, which are breadbox-sized flat antennas posted to utility poles owned (in our area) by National Grid or Eversource, and leased out to various third parties (not the same ISPs as cable or fiber services).  This service is called 5G FWA (fixed wireless access). It differs from a cell phone hotspot feature, which Drew King described. 5G FWA can be offered by ISPs separately from cell phone data plans. This is not the same service as Comcast and RCN cellular hotspot Internet backup services, sold as part of a bundle.

The group discussed cell phone coverage issues in Lexington, with some participants noting inconsistent service depending on location and carrier. Seth and others shared experiences with various cell phone providers, including US Mobile, which Adam and Steve recommended for its low cost and flexibility. (Bob also use US Mobile for his cell phone services, and has mentioned this sub-sub-carrier (third-tier carrier) to members of LCTG before. US Mobile uses Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks.) The conversation also touched on international travel and cell service, with participants sharing their experiences using different carriers and SIM cards abroad.

Drew shared his experience upgrading from a Wi-Fi 6 to a Wi-Fi 7 ASUS router, highlighting improved data transfer speeds and new features like 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports and VPN capabilities. He demonstrated significant performance gains by switching from a GUI-based SFTP server to a command-line FTP server running on Termux, achieving transfer rates of up to 80 megabytes per second over Ethernet. The discussion concluded with Seth and others noting the importance of network security, particularly over Wi-Fi, and the potential for future price increases in consumer electronics due to data center competition.