Investigation of IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi in a residential environment

Abstract

The aim of this study was two fold: a) to map and compare Wi-Fi transmit rate in the 2.4GHz range and the SGHz range, using both the IEEE 802.11n protocol and the IEEE 802.11ac protocol in a typical Maltese two-storey terraced house and b) to measure packet losses incurred over time on the wireless channel, when transmitting data over Wi-Fi using both the IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11ac protocols. From the generated data a Simple Gilbert Model was built. In this study it was found out that the location of the access point played a vital role in how the wireless signal propagated inside the house. It was also found that IEEE 802.11ac advertised wireless transmit speeds were attainable in 40% of the floor. The study also concluded that when multicasting a video file the wireless channel experiences random errors and not cyclic bursts of data packets and thus the Simple Gilbert Model was not the best model to use.