Wi-Fi and Whiskey LLC

10/18/2025

Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for the Whiskey lover in your life? Check out the Wi-Fi And Whiskey Ice cube mold!

10/14/2025

Wi-Fi 7 in Plain English: WPA3 is no longer optional

Wireless security has evolved over time, and the jump from WPA2 to WPA3 is not only one of the most important in recent years but also required for Wi-Fi 7 certification.

WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the third and most advanced generation of Wi-Fi security protocols developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, introduced in 2018 to replace WPA2. It was designed to enhance security for both personal and enterprise wireless networks, addressing known weaknesses in WPA2 and improving encryption, authentication, and privacy.

Key Improvements Over WPA2

1. Stronger Encryption - WPA3 uses 128-bit encryption in Personal Mode (WPA3-Personal) and 192-bit encryption in Enterprise Mode (WPA3-Enterprise).

It replaces WPA2’s Pre-Shared Key (PSK) system with a more secure key exchange protocol called Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE). SAE protects against offline dictionary attacks, meaning an attacker can’t easily crack passwords by capturing handshakes and testing passwords offline.

2. Forward Secrecy - Even if a password is compromised later, previously captured encrypted data cannot be decrypted.

This ensures past communications remain confidential.

3. Individualized Data Encryption - On open networks (like coffee shops or airports), WPA3 uses Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) to encrypt traffic between each client and the access point, preventing eavesdropping between users.

4. Simplified Device Configuration - Wi-Fi Easy Connect makes it easier and safer to add IoT and headless devices to the network using QR codes or NFC.

5. Enhanced Enterprise Security - WPA3-Enterprise adds 192-bit minimum encryption strength, aligning with the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite from the U.S. government.

In today’s world, security has never been more important and WPA3 was introduced to address WPA2 vulnerabilities and gaps. It replaces the old PSK-based handshake with SAE, which blocks offline brute force attempts by requiring interaction for every guess. It also gives each client its own encryption context (so one compromised device doesn’t expose others) and ensures that even if a password is compromised later, past traffic remains protected (forward secrecy). On open/public networks, WPA3 can use OWE to encrypt communication even with no shared password.

Now, with Wi-Fi 7 bringing 6 GHz spectrum into play, the Wi-Fi Alliance and certification rules take a hard line: any radio link operating in the 6 GHz band must use WPA3 (in strict mode). Legacy WPA2 connections are simply not allowed in that band.

Do you want to maximize the performance benefits Wi-Fi 7 can provide?

Then you need to embrace WPA3. The 6 GHz band won’t accept anything less — and as more devices adopt Wi-Fi 7, WPA3 is becoming the new norm.

Make sure to follow the page to not miss a single topic.

10/05/2025

The original Wi-Fi and whiskey T-Shirt is back by popular demand!

10/05/2025

10/02/2025

Very cool.

10/01/2025

Wi-Fi 7 in Plain English: 6GHz Power Restrictions Part 3 – SP Mode

One of the most exciting upgrades in Wi-Fi 7 is something called Standard Power mode.

In my last post I explained how AFC enables the use of 6GHz outdoors and I alluded to it also allowing for increased power indoors. That referred to a new operating mode in Wi-Fi 7 called Standard Power (SP) mode.

Earlier generations of 6 GHz Wi-Fi worked only at low power inside of a building. That kept signals from leaking outdoors but also limited range and speed. Standard Power changes the game, enabling higher power levels, which translates into:

--Better coverage—stronger connections across large homes, offices, or outdoor spaces.
--More reliable performance—fewer dead zones and more consistent speeds for everyone on the network.
--Room for future applications—from seamless video calls to next-generation entertainment and smart-home devices.

By leveraging AFC to identify frequencies local to each installation, that are available for full power or increased power output over LPI, Wi-Fi device performance indoors can be significantly increased. SP mode enables Wi-Fi devices to increase their transmission power by a minimum of 6db over LPI mode. That is a minimum increase of 4x (typically 8x) the output power on the frequencies that AFC has allowed SP mode to utilize, which means your 6GHz Wi-Fi signal can reach farther and stay stronger, as long as your devices support SP mode.

In short, if you want to increase your data connection rates and/or the coverage area of your Wi-Fi 7 devices operating on 6GHz, then Standard Power mode, enabled through use of AFC, is your new best friend.

Make sure to follow the page to not miss a single topic.

09/29/2025

Wi-Fi 7 in Plain English: 6GHz Power Restrictions Part 2 - AFC

In my last post we looked at LPI mode which restricts 6GHz Wi-Fi to indoor use only and reduces power output to a level that won’t travel from indoors to outdoors. This is one way to prevent 6GHz Wi-Fi transmissions from interfering with nearby licensed 6GHz RF transmissions, but what if you want 6GHz outdoor or higher power indoor performance?

Introducing Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC). AFC is a system that enables you to identify the 6GHz frequencies and specific power levels you are allowed to use, based upon your exact geographic location, to ensure that devices will not interfere with the licensed 6GHz transmissions in your area.

The AFC system:
--Checks a database of all the licensed users (the incumbents) and their operating frequencies and locations.

--Calculates safe channels and power limits for the Wi-Fi device at its specific location.

--Sends back instructions telling the Wi-Fi access point which frequencies it can use and how strong its signal can be.

AFC, is like a smart traffic controller. When a Wi-Fi access point wants to operate outdoors or at higher power indoors on the 6 GHz band, it first contacts an AFC system over the internet. The AFC system will then inform the AP of which channels and power settings it can use, both indoors and outdoors, in that geographic location.

The access point will then store these parameters, but it will have to check in with the AFC system every 24 hours or be forced to revert to 6GHz LPI mode. This way, Wi-Fi can make use of the wide 6 GHz spectrum without stepping on the toes of the critical services that were there first.

In summary, if you want to use 6GHz Wi-Fi outdoors and/or at higher power levels indoors, you need to use access points that are capable of contacting an AFC system and then ensure that they can check-in daily to maintain those performance settings.

Make sure to follow the page to not miss a single topic.

09/27/2025

"Today’s networks aren’t just faster. They’re everywhere. Wireless professionals aren’t keeping up. They’re leading the charge."
— Malik Chen

09/22/2025

Wi-Fi 7 in Plain English: 6GHz Power Restrictions Part 1 - LPI

When Wi-Fi started using the 6 GHz band, regulators wanted to make sure that these new Wi-Fi devices would not interfere with other services that were already using parts of that spectrum, like certain kinds of licensed radio links (for example, point-to-point links used by telecom companies). Since Wi-Fi devices are unlicensed, a method allowing these devices to share the band safely without needing a special license, a set of operating rules, was created.

Low Power Indoor (LPI) mode is one of these rules. It defines a way for 6GHz Wi-Fi to operate indoors at a low power level that is far less likely to interfere with those existing licensed users.

What LPI Mode Does

--Limits power: Wi-Fi access points and clients in LPI mode must transmit at much lower power than normal. Lower power means their signals don’t travel as far and are less likely to leak outside and cause interference.
--Indoor only: Devices must be used indoors. Building walls and roofs provide extra signal attenuation (basically more signal loss), adding another layer of protection for the outdoor licensed services.
--Automatic compliance: LPI devices don’t need special databases or spectrum sensing to operate. By simply following the power and indoor rules, they can safely use the 6 GHz spectrum without extra coordination.

This approach to limiting the power output on 6GHz frequency Wi-Fi transmissions works to ensure that these transmissions will not be powerful enough to interfere with license paying transmissions.

The real word result is that while indoors, 6GHz capable Wi-Fi devices will need to be much closer to access points to achieve the highest data connection rates and Wi-Fi cannot use 6GHz outdoors. This is why it is called LPI – Low Power Indoor mode.

In short, LPI mode is like a “quiet indoor voice” for Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band—letting you enjoy higher-speed Wi-Fi while protecting the existing users of that spectrum.

Make sure to follow the page to not miss a single topic.

In the next couple of posts, I will discuss another way to prevent interfering with licensed use transmissions while actually improving the power output of 6GHz Wi-Fi. (AFC & SP mode)