2018 MBA WIFI

[Howard2k]

Please can someone post the 5Ghz connection settings you’re seeing. Preferably when you’re within a foot of your router, along with the router make and model.


Specifically interested in the TX rate, MCS Index, and your MHz channel spacing if you know it.

 

[dombera]

I would also be interested in this as I am thinking of getting ken for my wife. I am actually really disappointed that apple kept it on Bluetooth 4.2 while recent MacBook Pro’s and even Mac mini have Bluetooth 5.0. Would love to know what the deal here is...

 

[Howard2k]

Anyone who got a MacBook Air using wifi?

 

[trombo22]

I posted in the other thread but I have an air in the mail and a wave 2 router. Will report back once I get it.

 

[Howard2k]

I posted in the other thread but I have an air in the mail and a wave 2 router. Will report back once I get it.

Thanks! Looking forward to it.

 

[S.B.G]

Anyone who got a MacBook Air using wifi?

I have one and the latest generation Time Capsule. What software would I use to get those measurements you seek?

 

[Howard2k]

I have one and the latest generation Time Capsule. What software would I use to get those measurements you seek?

macOS. Just hold the option key and click the wifi icon at the top.

 

[S.B.G]

macOS. Just hold the option key and click the wifi icon at the top.

How is this? I had it on the table next to the Time Capsule.

 

[Howard2k]

How is this? I had it on the table next to the Time Capsule.
View attachment 802523

Thanks! Looks like 2x2 too.
All the results so far look like 2x2, so I guess we just need to wait for someone with a confirmed Wave 2 router to see their connection stats. I know one of the members here said that they have one en-route so we'll see how that looks.

 

[S.B.G]

Thanks! Looks like 2x2 too.
All the results so far look like 2x2, so I guess we just need to wait for someone with a confirmed Wave 2 router to see their connection stats. I know one of the members here said that they have one en-route so we'll see how that looks.

I can do it again tomorrow at the office where I have a Ubiquiti wireless network if that helps too.

 

[peckerhead]

Billion 8800AXL R2 router

 

[Howard2k]

I can do it again tomorrow at the office where I have a Ubiquiti wireless network if that helps too.

Yeah that would be great thanks.
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Billion 8800AXL R2 router
View attachment 802529

Thanks. Also 2x2. This router certainly supports 3x3 so that seals the deal for me, for forum purposes.

Must be a 2x2 deployment.

 

[S.B.G]

Yeah that would be great thanks.

Here is the one at my office.

 

[Howard2k]

Here is the one at my office.

View attachment 802727

Thanks. Looks like 2x2 Wave 1. Any idea which model AP your office uses?

 

[S.B.G]

Thanks. Looks like 2x2 Wave 1. Any idea which model AP your office uses?

Its the UniFi AP-AC Pro.

 

[Howard2k]

Its the UniFi AP-AC Pro.

Thanks. Makes sense.

 

[Howard2k]

I posted in the other thread but I have an air in the mail and a wave 2 router. Will report back once I get it.

Hey just wondering if that arrived and if you have a chance to test it?
I hear back from one of the reviewers who has a Wave 2 router and they stated that they only see Wave 1 speeds.

So it looks like this is reduced wifi like the nTB Pro.

Not a big deal for most people of course, but I have to say that's disappointing if true that this would have slower wifi than the 2015 MacBook and 2015 MacBook Pro.

 

[MacLadybug]

Here is mine... looks like everyone else's. Can I ask you to explain what it is you are looking for... and what the difference in the numbers mean?

 

[Howard2k]

Here is mine... looks like everyone else's. Can I ask you to explain what it is you are looking for... and what the difference in the numbers mean?
View attachment 806383

G14 classified I’m afraid.

802.11ac is the current wifi standard, and Wave 2 is the more recent implementation. 80Mhz is Wave 1 and with a two antenna system, as in the MBA and nTB MBPro, this is capable of 867Mb/s.

Wave 2 supports 160Mhz (see your 80Mhz reference) and up to 1.7Gb/s (double the performance).


For most it makes no difference, but if using a NAS that’s significant.

The other MBPros going back to 2015 use Wave 1 with a three antenna deployment, so up to 1.3Gb/s.

So nTB Pro and MBA up to 867Mb/s. (2x2 Wave 1)
Other Pro units up to 1.3Gb/s. (3x3 Wave 1)
I was hoping for at least 2x2 Wave 2 (1.7Gb/s)


If you’re just surfing the Internet it’s not hugely relevant.


Edit: to be clear, it’s still good. Several “known brand” laptops are coming with even more inferior wifi.

 

[MacLadybug]

G14 classified I’m afraid.

802.11ac is the current wifi standard, and Wave 2 is the more recent implementation. 80Mhz is Wave 1 and with a two antenna system, as in the MBA and nTB MBPro, this is capable of 867Mb/s.

Wave 2 supports 160Mhz (see your 80Mhz reference) and up to 1.7Gb/s (double the performance).


For most it makes no difference, but if using a NAS that’s significant.

The other MBPros going back to 2015 use Wave 1 with a three antenna deployment, so up to 1.3Gb/s.

So nTB Pro and MBA up to 867Mb/s. (2x2 Wave 1)
Other Pro units up to 1.3Gb/s. (3x3 Wave 1)
I was hoping for at least 2x2 Wave 2 (1.7Gb/s)


If you’re just surfing the Internet it’s not hugely relevant.


Edit: to be clear, it’s still good. Several “known brand” laptops are coming with even more inferior wifi.

Thanks. I appreciate the explanation!

 

[trombo22]

Just to confirm I did see similar results. Although the implementation does seem to work slightly better. The TX rate is usually a step or two higher on the new air compared to the old air at distance.

 

[Howard2k]

Just to confirm I did see similar results. Although the implementation does seem to work slightly better. The TX rate is usually a step or two higher on the new air compared to the old air at distance.

Thanks. When you have a chance, please can you confirm that it doesn’t support 160Mhz channel width.