802.11 generations
| Name | Standard | Bands | Max rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 1 | 802.11 (legacy) | 2.4 GHz | 2 Mbit/s |
| WiFi 2 | 802.11b | 2.4 GHz | 11 Mbit/s |
| WiFi 3 | 802.11a/g | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 54 Mbit/s |
| WiFi 4 | 802.11n | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 600 Mbit/s |
| WiFi 5 | 802.11ac | 5 GHz | 6.93 Gbit/s |
| WiFi 6 | 802.11ax | 2.4 / 5 GHz | 9.6 Gbit/s |
| WiFi 6E | 802.11ax | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 9.6 Gbit/s |
| WiFi 7 | 802.11be | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 46 Gbit/s |
2.4 GHz non-overlapping channels
| Channel | Center (MHz) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2412 |
| 6 | 2437 |
| 11 | 2462 |
5 GHz common channels (US)
| Channel | Center (MHz) | Width |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 5180 | 20/40/80 |
| 40 | 5200 | 20/40/80 |
| 44 | 5220 | 20/40/80 |
| 48 | 5240 | 20/40/80 |
| 149 | 5745 | 20/40/80 |
| 153 | 5765 | 20/40/80 |
| 157 | 5785 | 20/40/80 |
| 161 | 5805 | 20/40/80 |
Notes
- Only 1/6/11 are non-overlapping on 2.4 GHz — pick one per neighbor.
- DFS channels (52–144) must yield to radar detection.
- 6 GHz is license-free in the US (UNII-5..8); require WPA3.
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