What are the best practices for staying up-to-date with WLAN standards and interoperability?

1 Understand the standards

WLANs operate on different frequency bands and use different modulation techniques to transmit data. The most common standards are IEEE 802.11, which defines the physical and data link layers of WLANs, and Wi-Fi, which is a certification program that ensures interoperability among devices that comply with IEEE 802.11. There are several sub-standards within IEEE 802.11, such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax, each with different characteristics and capabilities. You should familiarize yourself with the features, benefits, and limitations of each standard, and how they affect your WLAN design, deployment, and maintenance.

2 Monitor the trends

WLANs are constantly evolving to meet the demands of users, applications, and environments. Some of the current trends include Wi-Fi 6, which is the latest generation of Wi-Fi that offers faster speeds, lower latency, and higher capacity; Wi-Fi 6E, which is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 that operates on the 6 GHz band and provides more spectrum and channels; Wi-Fi Mesh, which is a network topology that uses multiple access points to create a seamless and flexible coverage area; and Wi-Fi Direct, which is a peer-to-peer connection that allows devices to communicate without a central router or access point. You should monitor these trends and evaluate how they can improve your WLAN performance, security, and compatibility.

3 Update your devices

WLANs depend on various devices, such as routers, access points, switches, controllers, and clients, to function properly. These devices need to be updated regularly to ensure that they support the latest standards, protocols, and technologies, and that they are secure and stable. You should check for firmware updates, software patches, and driver updates for your devices, and install them as soon as possible. You should also replace or upgrade your devices if they are outdated, damaged, or incompatible with your WLAN requirements.

4 Test your network

WLANs are subject to various factors that can affect their performance, such as interference, congestion, attenuation, and configuration errors. You should test your network regularly to measure its speed, throughput, latency, signal strength, and quality of service. You should also identify and troubleshoot any issues that may arise, such as connectivity problems, security breaches, or compatibility conflicts. You can use various tools and methods to test your network, such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, site surveys, ping tests, and speed tests.

5 Learn from the experts

WLANs are complex and dynamic systems that require continuous learning and improvement. You should learn from the experts who have the knowledge, experience, and skills to design, deploy, and maintain WLANs. You can follow the blogs, podcasts, webinars, and courses of reputable WLAN professionals and organizations, such as CWNP, Wi-Fi Alliance, IEEE, and WLAN Association. You can also join the online communities and forums of WLAN enthusiasts and practitioners, such as r/wireless, r/wifi, and Wi-Fi Now, where you can ask questions, share insights, and get feedback.