Assessing WLAN 802.11ac vs. 802.11n Using OPNET: An Evaluation of Comparative Performance
摘要
Wireless LAN 802.11 has gained significant popularity due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of installation. However, a key challenge lies in its limited Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities, especially for real-time applications like video streaming and VoIP, which require low latency and prioritized data handling. This study focuses on improving the QoS features of Wireless LAN by evaluating the performance of the newer 802.11ac standard compared to the earlier 802.11n standard. Using the Riverbed (OPNET) simulator, we model various real-world scenarios to assess how enhanced channel access mechanisms can address QoS limitations. Our findings indicate that 802.11ac, with its advanced channel access allocation, significantly outperforms 802.11n, particularly in reducing latency and ensuring better prioritization of critical data traffic. These improvements make 802.11ac a more suitable option for supporting modern, high-demand applications compared to its predecessor.