Wi-Fi & Networking
Wired
|
Category
|
Shielding
|
Max Transmission Speed (at 100 meters)
|
Max Bandwidth
|
|
Cat 3
|
Unshielded
|
10 Mbps
|
16 MHz
|
|
Cat 5
|
Unshielded
|
100 Mbps
|
100 MHz
|
|
Cat 5e [Enhanced]
|
Unshielded
|
1 Gbps
|
100 MHz
|
|
Cat 6
|
Shielded or Unshielded
|
1 Gbps / 10 Gbps at 55 m
|
250 MHz
|
|
Cat 6a [Augmented]
|
Shielded
|
10 Gbps
|
500 MHz
|
|
Cat 7
|
Shielded
|
10 Gbps
|
600 MHz
|
|
Cat 7a
|
Shielded
|
10 Gbps
|
1,000 Mhz
|
|
Cat 8
|
Shielded
|
25 Gbps / 40 Gbps at 30m
|
2,000 Mhz
|
Wireless
|
Protocol
|
Name
|
Data Rate
|
Frequency
|
Year
|
|
802.11b
|
WiFi 1
|
11 Mbps
|
2.4 GHz
|
1999
|
|
802.11a
|
WiFi 2
|
54 Mbps
|
5 GHz
|
1999
|
|
802.11g
|
WiFi 3
|
54 Mbps
|
2.4 GHz
|
2003
|
|
802.11n
|
WiFi 4
|
600 Mbps
|
2.4/5 GHz
|
2009
|
|
802.11ac
|
WiFi 5
|
3466 Mbps
|
5 GHz
|
2014
|
|
802.11ax
|
WiFi 6
|
10530 Mbps
|
2.4/5 GHz
|
2019
|
|
802.11ax-e?
|
WiFi 6E
|
10530 Mbps
|
2.5/5/6 GHz
|
2020?
|
Suggested router setup & settings
-
Find the best Router location based on layout and cable availability
-
Use Wired connections as much as possible
-
Update the firmware
-
Use a better DNS
-
Dual Band (2.4/5.0) Wireless Names:
-
Same name allows for easier use and efficient speeds
-
Different names allows for faster chosen speed but may require more manual changes
-
-
Set a strong WPA2/WPA3 password, 12-16 characters, disable hide SSID and MAC address filters
-
Disable WiFi Protected Setup (WPS), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), and Remote Administration
-
Enable the Guest Network
Possible Router choices
-
Brands
-
AC1750 or faster
-
Multiple access points or a mesh system may provide better coverage than a single powerful router
- Eero – mesh networking equipment
- Linksys Velop – mesh networking equipment
- Netgear Orbi – mesh networking equipment
- What is MU-MIMO and Why Do You Need It?
- What Is a Mesh Wi-Fi Router, and Do You Need One?
- What is “Beamforming” on a Wireless Router?
- Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine
Test speed of network
- TestMy.net – Internet speed test
- Cool Fast Internet Download Speed Test – Internet speed test
- Fast.com – Internet speed test
Misc
- iPad Pro
- iPad Magic Keyboard
- Better Day – calendar/date complication for Apple Watch