Examining the Performance Improvements Offered by 802.11ax MU-MIMO in a Classroom Environment

The growing demand for faster, more reliable wireless connectivity has brought about the development of the 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) amendment, which aims to satisfy the increasing need for seamless wireless connectivity and improved traffic handling. The 802.11ax amendment introduces noteworthy improvements to the 802.11 wireless standard that should greatly improve the efficiency of wireless networks. The body of existing research has seen several simulated 802.11ax environments and found great success, however, these additions remain largely untested in physical environments. This thesis undertakes the testing for 802.11ax MU-MIMO to determine if these simulated successes translate into real-world improvements. By using a classroom scenario, the study investigates the performance improvements purported by 802.11ax, specifically the updated and expanded DL and UL MU-MIMO in an environment with high client numbers and density.