0402 Mw On Semi Wi Fi 6 Chipset Figure 5eac75c88c2e8

Chipset Supports Wi-Fi 6E Implementations

May 1, 2020

Access points, gateways, and mesh networking are fair game for the chipset, which supports all key Wi-Fi 6E features.

Designed with a high-performance, flexible architecture that maximizes usage of the 6-GHz band, ON Semiconductor’s new QCS-AX2 chipset family supports the enhanced Wi-Fi 6E standard. The new product family is optimized for high-throughput Wi-Fi applications, such as access points, gateways, and mesh networking solutions for dense environments and underserved areas.

The QCS-AX2 series is built on an integrated baseband and RF architecture that supports key Wi-Fi 6E features, such as orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), advanced MU-MIMO (Multi-User-Multi-Input, Multi-Output), 160-MHz channel support for faster speeds, and SmartScan channel selection for maximum band utilization. The new product portfolio will include the following:

- QCS-AX2-A12: tri-band (6 GHz/5 GHz/2.4 GHz) with AdaptivMIMO technology supports flexible 8x8 or 4x4 configurations

- QCS-AX2-T12: tri-band concurrent 4x4 operation for high-performance, cost-effective router solutions

- QCS-AX2-T8: tri-band concurrent 8-stream configurations for mesh nodes and mainstream access points

With the Federal Communications Commission having opened the 6GHz band in the United States later this year, up to 1,200 MHz of newly available spectrum is designated for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. With almost 5x more spectrum than the current 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands combined, the 6-GHz band is accelerating the development of next generation Wi-Fi 6 applications. While the 6-GHz client ecosystem takes time to build out, Wi-Fi infrastructure devices, such as gateways, routers, and access points will need to continue to support existing dual-band (2.4-GHz/5-GHz) clients; infrastructure applications such as 6-GHz backhaul between gateways and mesh nodes will lead deployments.

ON Semiconductor’s Wi-Fi 6E devices are designed to accommodate the transition to the 6-GHz band with AdaptivMIMO technology while addressing mainstream 6-GHz applications. A Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure device with AdaptivMIMO allows the network to operate in the 5-GHz or 6-GHz band, depending on the clients present in a subscriber’s home network to maximize performance, coverage, and utilization. The QCS-AX2 series provides the Wi-Fi performance and connectivity in congested environments to multiple devices that applications demand.

The QCS-AX2 6-GHz Wi-Fi chipset devices are now available in sample quantities.

ON Semiconductor; www.onsemi.com

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

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In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.