How to Buy Smart Home WIFI Modules?

It is essential that, if you buy Smart Home WIFI Module, it has support for both frequency bands, both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Just because they are dual-band doesn't mean you can connect to both bands simultaneously.

In fact, while the router and AP are dual-band simultaneously (broadcasting on both bands at the same time). one at a time), WIFI modules are selectable dual band (two bands can be connected, but one or the other, not both simultaneously) due to hardware limitation. They do not have two chipsets inside which has only one band is compatible with both bands.

Today Skylab will tell you how to buy a fantastic WIFI Module, especially smart home WIFI module.

Antenna inside or outside

It is recommended to have Smart Home WIFI module that combines two antennas. Regarding whether they should be internal or external, if you are going to connect in places near the access point or router. They can be inside without problems and you will get wireless performance very good, usually modules have very small internal antennas, ideal for connecting them to laptops.

If you will be connecting in places far from the access point or router, Skylab recommend placing the antenna outside, otherwise you may have low coverage and therefore poor speed real low wire.

Typically, these types of Smart Home WIFI module with an external antenna are physically larger than those with an internal antenna. In addition, they often have a USB dock for connecting devices on a table, not inside. rear USB port where there is less Wi-Fi than Fi Speed reality.

If you don't care about the size of the module, you'll always get better performance with a WIFI module with an external antenna, but if you're going to be using it on a laptop constantly, the size is great. could be a problem.

However, there are Wi-Fi cards with two antennas, one inside and one outside for cases where you will be connecting from a great distance, this hybrid is ideal for not having many antennas outside.

When you go to buy a WIFI module, the most important thing is to always look at the compatible Wi-Fi version and also the Wi-Fi class, these two parameters will tell you the maximum performance that you will achievable, that is, the maximum speed that we will achieve.

Today most people must buy a USB WIFI module that is at least Wi-Fi 5, this means that it is compatible with the 802.11ac standard, and therefore Skylab will have excellent wireless performance.

WIFI modules with Wi-Fi 6

You will soon see the first Smart Home WIFI module with Wi-Fi 6, allowing us to get high wireless transmission speeds if you have a Wi-Fi router or AP with this standard, some improvements which you will get with the Wi -Fi 6 card.  They support MU-MIMO so routers can send information to us along with other devices and optimize the overall performance of the wireless network.

OFDMA

• Save energy thanks to TWT (Target Wake Time), ideal for laptops.

• BSS Color, to reduce interference with other Wi-Fi networks.

Not only is the Wi-Fi version used very important, but you also have to check if Smart Home WIFI module supports the 802.11b / g / n standards, that is. If it supports the 2.4GHz band for connection connect. There are some models of Wi-Fi modules that do not support this band and only support the 5GHz band.

The type of Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 you should buy

What matters is the Wi-Fi version of the module, which is the Wi-Fi class. Usually you can see a nomenclature like "AC1200" on the module, this means the combined speed of the two Wi-Fi frequency bands.

The higher this number, the higher performance (real speed) you will get. If yuo see that comes "AC", it is Wi-Fi 5 and if you see "AX", that has that means Wi-Fi 6.

Currently, you can find the following Wi-Fi classes in Smart Home WIFI module, depending on your needs (and budget) you should buy one or the other:

AC433: it is a converter with antenna, capable of up to 433Mbps in 5GHz band only with Wi-Fi 5, it is not dual band.

AC600: it is a WIFI module with antenna and dual band, you can reach up to 150Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and up to 433Mbps in the 5GHz band with Wi- Fi 5.

AC750: it's a WIFI module with two antennas and dual band, you can get up to 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and up to 433Mbps in the 5GHz band with Wi- Fi 5.

SKW97: A Smart Home WIFI module with two antennas. It's a WIFI module with two antennas, capable of up to 867Mbps in the 5GHz band with Wi-Fi 5 only, it's not dual band.

SKW92A: it's a WIFI module with two antennas and dual band. you can get up to 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and up to 867Mbps in the 5GHz band with Wi- Fi 5.

SKW100: it's a WIFI module with two antennas and dual band. you can reach up to 400Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and 256QAM and up to 867Mbps in the 5GHz band with Wi-Fi 5.

AC1750: it is a Smart Home WIFI module with three antennas and dual band, you can reach 450Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and up to 1,300Mbps in the 5GHz band. with Wi-Fi 5. They are premium.

AC1900: it's a WIFI module with three antennas and dual band, you can reach up to 600Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with Wi-Fi 4 and 256QAM and up to 1,300Mbps in the 5 band. GHz with Wi-Fi 5. They are high-end.

Currently, manufacturers have not released Wi-Fi USB cards with the Wi-Fi 6 standard, but most likely they are up to the AX3000 class (2 antennas).

In the 5GHz band, with Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 standards, Wi-Fi access points and routers are capable of using 160MHz channel widths. This means that, with the same number of antennas in the Smart Home WIFI module, Skylab can achieve twice the speed.

Normally, Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-fi 6 have only 80MHz channel width. If Skylab double this channel width, Skylab will double the speed without doubling the number of antennas WIFI inside (or outside) the module.

What is the best to buy?

In this article Skylab tested a large number of WIFI modules, both USB and PCIe. You can visit our ranking of the best USB WIFI modules where you will find all of them, both in-depth analysis and ranking.

Before buying any of Smart Home WIFI module, you must pay attention to their specifications, both in the Wi-Fi version, the WIFI class, whether it supports 160 MHz or not, and even if they with external or internal antenna.