This tutorial will show you how to see which Wi-Fi radio types (protocols) are supported by your wireless network adapter in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and standard that uses high-frequency radio waves to provide wireless Internet and network connections to your Windows device.
Wi-Fi radio types refer to the various IEEE 802.11 standards that define wireless communication protocols, including 802.11a, b, g, n, ac, ax, and be.
Wi-Fi Radio Type | Description |
|---|---|
| 802.11a | Operates in the 5 GHz band and supports data rates up to 54 Mbps. It was one of the first standards to provide higher speeds but has a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz standards due to higher frequency attenuation. |
| 802.11b | Operates in the 2.4 GHz band and supports data rates up to 11 Mbps. It is widely used due to its longer range and better penetration through walls, but it is more susceptible to interference from other devices operating in the same frequency range. |
| 802.11g | Also operates in the 2.4 GHz band, combining the best of 802.11a and b, supporting data rates up to 54 Mbps. It is backward compatible with 802.11b. |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 - Introduced MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, allowing multiple antennas to improve performance. It operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, supporting data rates up to 600 Mbps. This standard significantly improved range and speed. |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 - Operates primarily in the 5 GHz band and supports data rates exceeding 1 Gbps. It introduced features like MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO), allowing multiple devices to communicate simultaneously, enhancing overall network efficiency. |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E- Approved in 2020, operates on both 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E only) bands, with improvements in speed, capacity, and efficiency. It supports data rates up to 9.6 Gbps and is designed to perform better in crowded environments, making it ideal for homes with many connected devices. |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 - Supports theoretical speeds up to 46 Gbps. It can utilize channels as wide as 320 MHz, allowing for more data transmission and reducing interference. Supports the Multi-Link Operation (MLO) feature enables devices to connect to multiple bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) simultaneously, improving capacity and efficiency. |
| 802.22bn | Wi-Fi 8 - Dubbed Ultra High Reliability (UHR), is an upcoming wireless networking standard. The standard is projected to be finalized in May 2028. |
References:
IEEE 802.11 - Wikipedia
Explore All Technologies | Wi-Fi Alliance
Explore all Wi-Fi Alliance technologies available for testing and certification.
www.wi-fi.org
Here's How:
1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
netsh wlan show drivers3 Look for the Radio types supported line to see which radio types are supported by the wireless network adapter on your PC.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
