Do the new 2018 macbooks support 802.11ax draft?

[ls1dreams]

802.11ax isn't listed in the macbook specs, but I'm wondering if they implemented a draft version and didn't list it in the specs since it may not be fully supported.

Anyone have a model and can somehow figure this out?

Also, re: the 802.11ax spec:

Does anyone know if the benefits of 802.11ax require all of the clients around you to also be on 802.11ax?

i.e. noisy apartment environment, if my device+router are 802.11ax, but everyone around me is using 802.11ac, will it be pointless because there will be a lot of interference anyway that's not sharing like 802.11ax will on the same spectrum?

 

[Howard2k]

I haven't heard that they have 802.11ax support.

802.11ac and 802.11ax use the same channel space (well, to be more correct, 802.11ac is 5GHz but is usually implemented with a parallel 802.11n 2.4GHz implementation). 802.11ax is also both 5GHz and 2.4GHz and is just able to use that better. 802.11ac clients should benefit in an 802.11ax network. They're backwards compatible.


Worth an upgrade? In a crowded frequency space, I'm not sure. But I would consider running the Wifi Diagnostics. That will generate a report showing all of the networks that are visible and the associated signal strengths and you'll be able see where you should be placing your own channels. That's certainly something I would do before upgrading to 802.11ax.

I'd be carful that you're not doing the equivalent of spending a pile of money on solar panels to decrease your power bill without thinking about things like LED lighting and good insulation. 802.11ax configured sub optimally might be just as crap as a sub optimal 802.11ac implementation.

So again, I'd first check the channel space and see which networks are using which channels and how strong they are.

 

[ls1dreams]

Right, I get that. I'm in no rush to upgrade but more just curious about the technology. There are a million AP's near me that used to be mostly 2.4ghz but now are moving to 5ghz.

Does my question make sense though? Since both protocols use the same frequencies, it seems like my neighbors would have to be on 802.11ax as well in order to give my clients any more usability.

 

[Howard2k]

Right, I get that. I'm in no rush to upgrade but more just curious about the technology. There are a million AP's near me that used to be mostly 2.4ghz but now are moving to 5ghz.

Does my question make sense though? Since both protocols use the same frequencies, it seems like my neighbors would have to be on 802.11ax as well in order to give my clients any more usability.

802.11ac clients benefit from an 802.11ax network indirectly because the ax clients are using less bandwidth for any given data transfers, leaving more bandwidth available (for other ax and ax clients). Ax clients will benefit directly by getting more done with the same amount of available bandwidth. That’s my understanding.

And in the situation you described, your ax clients will still compete with other ac clients, but for the available 5GHz bandwidth the ax clients will get more done.

So in crowded space, is it worth upgrading? Technically yes, in a crowded space that’s where the real benefits are, but given the cost I imagine it’s going to be a while before it’s common.

It’ll be interesting to see.

I store a fair amount of my data on a NAS and ac isn’t a big hinderence, especially since my space is not crowded, but faster is always better! I’ll be waiting until I had an ax capable MacBook (obviously) AND I’d want an ax router that does everything my ac router does for $200. So I might be waiting a little while.