
Sam Benzacar, of Anatech Electronics, an RF and microwave filter company, has
published his
January 2025 newsletter that, along with timely news items,
features his short op-ed entitled "Wi-Fi 8 Is Coming, and It's All About Reliability,"
which discusses the major improvement in data speed and reliability over all previous
versions. The Wi-Fi Alliance predicts a 10x growth in wireless connectivity from
now until 2028. Automatic arbitration between Wi-Fi zones for power levels, sub-channel
assignments, and traffic handling, is intended to deal with an increasingly dense
operational environment. Wi-Fi operations are nowadays conducted in both fixed and
mobile scenarios where signal coexistence requirements are continually changing
not just from dynamic multipath conditions due to reflections, but from constantly
changing Wi-Fi bases station locations. Incredibly sophisticated mathematics are
required to implement the schemes.
A Word from Sam Benzacar - Wi-Fi 8 Is Coming, and It's All About Reliability
By Sam Benzacar
The next evolution of wireless networking technology, Wi-Fi 8, represents a significant
shift from pure speed to enhanced reliability. While Wi-Fi 7 continues to establish
itself in the market, with Windows 11 recently adding support, industry experts
are already looking ahead to the future of wireless connectivity. The Wi-Fi Alliance
projects wireless device adoption to grow dramatically from 233 million devices
in 2024 to 2.1 billion by 2028.
Emerging from the Ultra High-Reliability study group in 2022, Wi-Fi 8 (technically
known as 802.11bn) remains in its conceptual stage. As technical specifications
continue to evolve, industry analysts' access points won't reach the market until
late 2028. This development acknowledges a crucial reality: despite theoretical
Wi-Fi speeds increasing forty-fold since Wi-Fi 4, users often struggle to achieve
advertised speeds due to interference and physical obstacles.
Building upon Wi-Fi 7's advances, including
doubled channel bandwidth, 4K QAM encoding, and multi-link operation across multiple
frequency bands, Wi-Fi 8 introduces several innovative features. Coordinated Spatial
Reuse helps multiple access points adjust their signal strengths to minimize interference
in mesh networks, while Coordinated Beamforming directs signals more precisely to
intended receivers.
Dynamic Sub-channel Operation allows access points to assign devices to specific
sub-channels, potentially increasing throughput by 20 to 80 percent in heavy traffic
conditions.
Industry experts view Wi-Fi 8's reliability improvements as valuable for industrial
and IoT applications where consistent connectivity is crucial. However, users must
upgrade access points and devices to benefit from these advances. The timeline for
widespread adoption remains uncertain, with mainstream implementation likely occurring
in the late 2020s, coinciding with early 6G developments. In the interim, enterprise-class
Wi-Fi 7 access point adoption is expected to accelerate in 2025, with most mainstream
device vendors already supporting the standard.
Researchers Set New Milestone
for Wireless EV Charging
In collaboration with Volkswagen Group, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(ORNL) have demonstrated a 270-kW wireless EV charging system. Researchers created
a system using about 19 inches in diameter polyphase electromagnetic coupling coils
to deliver high power density. The coil design uses rotating magnetic fields for
efficient power delivery, and when integrated into the vehicle's undercarriage,
the system achieved over 95% efficiency, providing a 50% charge in just 10 minutes
with a 4.75-inch gap between the coil and the ground.
Space Force Readies Space
Jammer
The U.S. Space Force will deploy a new ground-based system to jam enemy satellite
communications. This system, known as the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), will disrupt
adversary surveillance and targeting capabilities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific
region. Developed by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, these small and modular
jammers can be easily deployed and operated remotely. They specifically aim to counter
the growing threat of Chinese surveillance satellites, which provide continuous
coverage of the region and can track even small objects. The RMT jammers will effectively
disrupt these satellites' ability to communicate and coordinate attacks, enhancing
the protection of U.S. and allied forces.
United Airlines To Use
Starlink for Wi-Fi
United Airlines is accelerating its rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi. It aims to meet
the growing demand for fast, reliable in-flight Wi-Fi, with Starlink promising speeds
that support streaming and gaming. The company plans to offer this service free
to MileagePlus members. It has also expanded its implementation timeline, aiming
to equip its entire two-cabin regional fleet with Starlink by the end of 2025. The
company aims to outfit its fleet of nearly 1,000 planes with Starlink Wi-Fi.
China Finds "Plasma Bubbles"
With New Radar
Chinese scientists have demonstrated a Low-Latitude, Long-Range Ionospheric (LAIRD)
radar that can detect plasma bubbles forming over vast distances, including areas
like the Egyptian pyramids and Midway Islands. These disturbances in the Earth's
upper atmosphere can disrupt GPS and satellite communications. This unprecedented
detection highlights China's advancements in over-the-horizon radar technology,
with implications for scientific understanding and strategic applications. While
LARID itself is not designed for military surveillance, its underlying technology
has been adapted for military radars capable of detecting even stealth aircraft,
showcasing the potential of this technology in a broader context.
Anatech Electronics Introduces a New Line of Suspended Stripline and
Waveguide Type RF Filters
Check out Our Filter Products

Cavity Band Pass Filters
LC Band Pass Filters Cavity Bandstop/Notch Filter
About Anatech Electronics
Anatech Electronics, Inc. (AEI) specializes in the design and manufacture of
standard and custom RF and microwave filters and other passive components and subsystems
employed in commercial, industrial, and aerospace and applications. Products are
available from an operating frequency range of 10 kHz to 30 GHz and include cavity,
ceramic, crystal, LC, and surface acoustic wave (SAW), as well as power combiners/dividers,
duplexers and diplexers, directional couplers, terminations, attenuators, circulators,
EMI filters, and lightning arrestors. The company's custom products and capabilities
are available at www.anatechelectronics.com.
Contact:
Anatech Electronics, Inc. 70 Outwater Lane Garfield, NJ 07026 (973)
772-4242
sales@anatechelectronics.com
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