Lets say you have a wifi adapter on your linux machine whether a laptop or desktop and wanted to check what wifi standards (4/5/6) that are supported on it. One simple way is to check the model of the wifi adapter and lookup the specs online and get all technical details about.
The other way is to inspect the hardware information on the system. There is no simple gui tool to check for that information, but there are commands like iw that will show information about the capabilities of wifi adapter.
The iw command can be used to fetch detailed information about the wireless adapter.
iw phy0 info
The output will be long and somewhat in very technical language that needs to be properly analysed. Before you can analyse the output there are several wifi related terms that you need to be familiar with.
Wifi standards like Wifi 4, Wifi 5, Wifi 6 are represented using technical names like HT, VHT, HE and EHT.
| HT (High Throughput) | Wifi 4 | 2.4 Ghz |
| VHT (Very High Throughput) | Wifi 5 | 5 Ghz |
| HE (High Efficiency) | Wifi 6/6E | 2.4/5 Ghz |
| EHT (Extremely High Throughput) | Wifi 7 | 2.4/5/6 Ghz |
IW Command Output
We shall test the command with a couple of different wifi chipsets in laptops and usb wifi adapters. These include the following hardware:
- Acer Swift 3 Laptop - Intel AX200 Wifi chipset
- EDIMAX wifi adapter
- Dlink DWA-131 USB wifi adapter
1. Acer Swift 3
The first machine is the acer swift 3 laptop. Lets take a look at the output of the iw command on Acer Swift 3 Laptop which has Intel AX200 Wifi Chipset.
$ iw phy0 info
Wiphy phy0
wiphy index: 0
max # scan SSIDs: 20
max scan IEs length: 365 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 20
max # match sets: 8
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Device supports RSN-IBSS.
Device supports AP-side u-APSD.
Device supports T-DLS.
Supported Ciphers:
* WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
* WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
* TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
* CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
* GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
* GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
* P2P-device
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x19ef
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT Max RX data rate: 300 Mbps
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
HE Iftypes: managed
HE MAC Capabilities (0x78019a30abc0):
+HTC HE Supported
Trigger Frame MAC Padding Duration: 2
Multi-TID Aggregation Support: 7
Broadcast TWT
32-bit BA Bitmap
OM Control
Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 3
RX Control Frame to MultiBSS
A-MSDU in A-MPDU
Multi-TID Aggregation TX: 7
UL 2x996-Tone RU
HE PHY Capabilities: (0x0e3f0e09fd098c160ff001):
HE40/2.4GHz
HE40/HE80/5GHz
HE160/5GHz
Punctured Preamble RX: 15
Device Class: 1
LDPC Coding in Payload
NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
STBC Tx <= 80MHz
STBC Rx <= 80MHz
DCM Max Constellation: 1
DCM Max Constellation Rx: 1
SU Beamformee
Beamformee STS <= 80Mhz: 7
Beamformee STS > 80Mhz: 7
Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 1
Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 1
Triggered SU Beamforming Feedback
Triggered MU Beamforming Feedback
PPE Threshold Present
Power Boost Factor ar
HE SU PPDU & HE PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
Max NC: 2
HE ER SU PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
20MHz in 40MHz HE PPDU 2.4GHz
20MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
80MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Compression SIGB
RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Non-Compression SIGB
HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE RX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
PPE Threshold 0x61 0x1c 0xc7 0x71
EHT Iftypes: managed
EHT MAC Capabilities (0x0000):
EHT PHY Capabilities: (0x0000000000000000):
EHT MCS/NSS: (0x):
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
HE Iftypes: AP
HE MAC Capabilities (0x78011a100000):
+HTC HE Supported
Trigger Frame MAC Padding Duration: 2
Multi-TID Aggregation Support: 7
Broadcast TWT
OM Control
Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 3
HE PHY Capabilities: (0x06200e090009800401c000):
HE40/2.4GHz
HE40/HE80/5GHz
LDPC Coding in Payload
NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
STBC Tx <= 80MHz
STBC Rx <= 80MHz
DCM Max Constellation: 1
DCM Max Constellation Rx: 1
Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 1
Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 1
PPE Threshold Present
HE SU PPDU & HE PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
HE ER SU PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
PPE Threshold 0x61 0x1c 0xc7 0x71
EHT Iftypes: AP
EHT MAC Capabilities (0x0000):
EHT PHY Capabilities: (0x0000000000000000):
EHT MCS/NSS: (0x):
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps
* 2.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 5.5 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 11.0 Mbps (short preamble supported)
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (22.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (22.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (22.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (22.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (22.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (22.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (22.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (22.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (22.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (22.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (22.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (22.0 dBm)
* 2472 MHz [13] (22.0 dBm)
* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x19ef
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
TX STBC
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 4 usec (0x05)
HT Max RX data rate: 300 Mbps
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15
VHT Capabilities (0x039071f6):
Max MPDU length: 11454
Supported Channel Width: 160 MHz
RX LDPC
short GI (80 MHz)
short GI (160/80+80 MHz)
TX STBC
SU Beamformee
MU Beamformee
VHT RX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: MCS 0-9
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT TX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: MCS 0-9
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT extended NSS: supported
HE Iftypes: managed
HE MAC Capabilities (0x78018a30abc0):
+HTC HE Supported
Trigger Frame MAC Padding Duration: 2
Multi-TID Aggregation Support: 7
Broadcast TWT
32-bit BA Bitmap
OM Control
Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 1
RX Control Frame to MultiBSS
A-MSDU in A-MPDU
Multi-TID Aggregation TX: 7
UL 2x996-Tone RU
HE PHY Capabilities: (0x0e3f0e09fd098c160ff001):
HE40/2.4GHz
HE40/HE80/5GHz
HE160/5GHz
Punctured Preamble RX: 15
Device Class: 1
LDPC Coding in Payload
NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
STBC Tx <= 80MHz
STBC Rx <= 80MHz
DCM Max Constellation: 1
DCM Max Constellation Rx: 1
SU Beamformee
Beamformee STS <= 80Mhz: 7
Beamformee STS > 80Mhz: 7
Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 1
Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 1
Triggered SU Beamforming Feedback
Triggered MU Beamforming Feedback
PPE Threshold Present
Power Boost Factor ar
HE SU PPDU & HE PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
Max NC: 2
HE ER SU PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
20MHz in 40MHz HE PPDU 2.4GHz
20MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
80MHz in 160/80+80MHz HE PPDU
RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Compression SIGB
RX Full BW SU Using HE MU PPDU with Non-Compression SIGB
HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE RX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set 160 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
PPE Threshold 0x61 0x1c 0xc7 0x71
EHT Iftypes: managed
EHT MAC Capabilities (0x0000):
EHT PHY Capabilities: (0x0000000000000000):
EHT MCS/NSS: (0x):
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw=160 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
HE Iftypes: AP
HE MAC Capabilities (0x78010a100000):
+HTC HE Supported
Trigger Frame MAC Padding Duration: 2
Multi-TID Aggregation Support: 7
Broadcast TWT
OM Control
Maximum A-MPDU Length Exponent: 1
HE PHY Capabilities: (0x06200e090009800401c000):
HE40/2.4GHz
HE40/HE80/5GHz
LDPC Coding in Payload
NDP with 4x HE-LTF and 3.2us GI
STBC Tx <= 80MHz
STBC Rx <= 80MHz
DCM Max Constellation: 1
DCM Max Constellation Rx: 1
Sounding Dimensions <= 80Mhz: 1
Sounding Dimensions > 80Mhz: 1
PPE Threshold Present
HE SU PPDU & HE PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
HE ER SU PPDU 4x HE-LTF 0.8us GI
HE RX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
HE TX MCS and NSS set <= 80 MHz
1 streams: MCS 0-11
2 streams: MCS 0-11
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
PPE Threshold 0x61 0x1c 0xc7 0x71
EHT Iftypes: AP
EHT MAC Capabilities (0x0000):
EHT PHY Capabilities: (0x0000000000000000):
EHT MCS/NSS: (0x):
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 8-9: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 10-11: Rx=0, Tx=0
EHT bw <= 80 MHz, max NSS for MCS 12-13: Rx=0, Tx=0
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 5180 MHz [36] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5200 MHz [40] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5220 MHz [44] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5240 MHz [48] (22.0 dBm) (no IR)
* 5260 MHz [52] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5340 MHz [68] (disabled)
* 5360 MHz [72] (disabled)
* 5380 MHz [76] (disabled)
* 5400 MHz [80] (disabled)
* 5420 MHz [84] (disabled)
* 5440 MHz [88] (disabled)
* 5460 MHz [92] (disabled)
* 5480 MHz [96] (disabled)
* 5500 MHz [100] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5520 MHz [104] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5540 MHz [108] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5560 MHz [112] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5580 MHz [116] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5600 MHz [120] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5620 MHz [124] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5640 MHz [128] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5660 MHz [132] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5680 MHz [136] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5700 MHz [140] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5720 MHz [144] (22.0 dBm) (no IR, radar detection)
* 5745 MHz [149] (22.0 dBm)
* 5765 MHz [153] (22.0 dBm)
* 5785 MHz [157] (22.0 dBm)
* 5805 MHz [161] (22.0 dBm)
* 5825 MHz [165] (22.0 dBm)
* 5845 MHz [169] (disabled)
* 5865 MHz [173] (disabled)
* 5885 MHz [177] (disabled)
* 5905 MHz [181] (disabled)
Supported commands:
* new_interface
* set_interface
* new_key
* start_ap
* new_station
* new_mpath
* set_mesh_config
* set_bss
* authenticate
* associate
* deauthenticate
* disassociate
* join_ibss
* join_mesh
* remain_on_channel
* set_tx_bitrate_mask
* frame
* frame_wait_cancel
* set_wiphy_netns
* set_channel
* tdls_mgmt
* tdls_oper
* start_sched_scan
* probe_client
* set_noack_map
* register_beacons
* start_p2p_device
* set_mcast_rate
* connect
* disconnect
* channel_switch
* set_qos_map
* add_tx_ts
* set_multicast_to_unicast
WoWLAN support:
* wake up on disconnect
* wake up on magic packet
* wake up on pattern match, up to 20 patterns of 16-128 bytes,
maximum packet offset 0 bytes
* can do GTK rekeying
* wake up on GTK rekey failure
* wake up on EAP identity request
* wake up on 4-way handshake
* wake up on rfkill release
* wake up on network detection, up to 8 match sets
software interface modes (can always be added):
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed } <= 1, #{ AP, P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
total <= 3, #channels <= 2
HT Capability overrides:
* MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
* maximum A-MSDU length
* supported channel width
* short GI for 40 MHz
* max A-MPDU length exponent
* min MPDU start spacing
Device supports TX status socket option.
Device supports HT-IBSS.
Device supports SAE with AUTHENTICATE command
Device supports low priority scan.
Device supports scan flush.
Device supports per-vif TX power setting
P2P GO supports CT window setting
P2P GO supports opportunistic powersave setting
Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
Driver supports a userspace MPM
Driver/device bandwidth changes during BSS lifetime (AP/GO mode)
Device adds DS IE to probe requests
Device can update TPC Report IE
Device supports static SMPS
Device supports dynamic SMPS
Device supports WMM-AC admission (TSPECs)
Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in scans.
Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in sched scans.
Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in net-detect scans.
max # scan plans: 2
max scan plan interval: 65535
max scan plan iterations: 254
Supported TX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* mesh point: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xb0 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
Supported extended features:
* [ VHT_IBSS ]: VHT-IBSS
* [ RRM ]: RRM
* [ MU_MIMO_AIR_SNIFFER ]: MU-MIMO sniffer
* [ SCAN_START_TIME ]: scan start timestamp
* [ BSS_PARENT_TSF ]: BSS last beacon/probe TSF
* [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
* [ FILS_MAX_CHANNEL_TIME ]: FILS max channel attribute override with dwell time
* [ ACCEPT_BCAST_PROBE_RESP ]: accepts broadcast probe response
* [ OCE_PROBE_REQ_HIGH_TX_RATE ]: probe request TX at high rate (at least 5.5Mbps)
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
* [ TXQS ]: FQ-CoDel-enabled intermediate TXQs
* [ ENABLE_FTM_RESPONDER ]: enable FTM (Fine Time Measurement) responder
* [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
* [ PROTECTED_TWT ]: protected Target Wake Time (TWT) support
* [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
* [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support
acerlight@acerlight-laptop:~$
Now if we read the output carefully we can note that for Band 1 (which is the 2.4 Ghz band) the supported technologies are HT (wifi 4) and HE (wifi 6). Whereas for band 2 (5 Ghz) the supported technologies are VHT (wifi 5) and HE (wifi 6).
This tells us that this particular wifi chipset supports wifi 4 on 2.4ghz, wifi 5 on 5ghz and wifi 6 on 2.4/5 ghz bands.
2. EDIMAX usb wifi adapter
The next device is: Edimax EW-7811Un 802.11n Wireless Adapter.
$ iw phy1 info
Wiphy phy1
wiphy index: 1
max # scan SSIDs: 4
max scan IEs length: 2257 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
max # match sets: 0
RTS threshold: 2347
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Device supports RSN-IBSS.
Supported Ciphers:
* WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
* WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
* TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
* CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
* CCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:10)
* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
* CMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:13)
* GMAC-128 (00-0f-ac:11)
* GMAC-256 (00-0f-ac:12)
Available Antennas: TX 0 RX 0
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
* mesh point
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x186e
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
No RX STBC
Max AMSDU length: 7935 bytes
DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
HT Max RX data rate: 150 Mbps
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7, 32
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps
* 2.0 Mbps
* 5.5 Mbps
* 11.0 Mbps
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
* 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
Supported commands:
* new_interface
* set_interface
* new_key
* start_ap
* new_station
* new_mpath
* set_mesh_config
* set_bss
* authenticate
* associate
* deauthenticate
* disassociate
* join_ibss
* join_mesh
* remain_on_channel
* set_tx_bitrate_mask
* frame
* frame_wait_cancel
* set_wiphy_netns
* set_channel
* probe_client
* set_noack_map
* register_beacons
* start_p2p_device
* set_mcast_rate
* connect
* disconnect
* set_qos_map
* set_multicast_to_unicast
software interface modes (can always be added):
* AP/VLAN
* monitor
interface combinations are not supported
HT Capability overrides:
* MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
* maximum A-MSDU length
* supported channel width
* short GI for 40 MHz
* max A-MPDU length exponent
* min MPDU start spacing
Device supports TX status socket option.
Device supports HT-IBSS.
Device supports SAE with AUTHENTICATE command
Device supports low priority scan.
Device supports scan flush.
Device supports AP scan.
Device supports per-vif TX power setting
Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
Driver supports a userspace MPM
Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
max # scan plans: 1
max scan plan interval: -1
max scan plan iterations: 0
Supported TX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* mesh point: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xb0 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
Supported extended features:
* [ RRM ]: RRM
* [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
* [ SCAN_RANDOM_SN ]: use random sequence numbers in scans
* [ SCAN_MIN_PREQ_CONTENT ]: use probe request with only rate IEs in scans
* [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
* [ DEL_IBSS_STA ]: deletion of IBSS station support
* [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support
$
In the above output we can see there is only 1 band available which is the 2.4ghz band. So this wifi adapter does not support the 5ghz band. Also this is just a wifi 4 wifi adapter.
You can check the "Frequencies" section and see they are in the 2400 Mhz range which indicates 2.4 Ghz band.
3. Dlink DWA-131
The next device is dlink dwa131 which is a n300 nano usb 2.0 wifi adapter. This device has a maximum speed of 300mbps, but it requires 40mhz channel width on 2.4ghz band to reach that speed.
This wifi adapter uses the RTL8192EU wifi soc chip.
$ iw phy5 info
Wiphy phy5
wiphy index: 5
max # scan SSIDs: 4
max scan IEs length: 2257 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 0
max # match sets: 0
RTS threshold: 2347
Retry short limit: 7
Retry long limit: 4
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Supported Ciphers:
* WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
* WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
* TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
* CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
* CCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:10)
* GCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:8)
* GCMP-256 (00-0f-ac:9)
Available Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Configured Antennas: TX 0x3 RX 0x3
Supported interface modes:
* managed
* monitor
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x6c
HT20
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
No RX STBC
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
No DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 16 usec (0x07)
HT TX/RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-15, 32
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps
* 2.0 Mbps
* 5.5 Mbps
* 11.0 Mbps
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
* 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
* 2484 MHz [14] (disabled)
Supported commands:
* new_interface
* set_interface
* new_key
* start_ap
* new_station
* new_mpath
* set_mesh_config
* set_bss
* authenticate
* associate
* deauthenticate
* disassociate
* join_ibss
* join_mesh
* remain_on_channel
* set_tx_bitrate_mask
* frame
* frame_wait_cancel
* set_wiphy_netns
* set_channel
* probe_client
* set_noack_map
* register_beacons
* start_p2p_device
* set_mcast_rate
* connect
* disconnect
* set_qos_map
* set_multicast_to_unicast
software interface modes (can always be added):
* monitor
interface combinations are not supported
HT Capability overrides:
* MCS: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
* maximum A-MSDU length
* supported channel width
* short GI for 40 MHz
* max A-MPDU length exponent
* min MPDU start spacing
Device supports TX status socket option.
Device supports HT-IBSS.
Device supports SAE with AUTHENTICATE command
Device supports low priority scan.
Device supports scan flush.
Device supports AP scan.
Device supports per-vif TX power setting
Driver supports full state transitions for AP/GO clients
Driver supports a userspace MPM
Device supports configuring vdev MAC-addr on create.
max # scan plans: 1
max scan plan interval: -1
max scan plan iterations: 0
Supported TX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* mesh point: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0x40 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xb0 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
Supported extended features:
* [ RRM ]: RRM
* [ FILS_STA ]: STA FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup)
* [ CQM_RSSI_LIST ]: multiple CQM_RSSI_THOLD records
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211 ]: control port over nl80211
* [ SCAN_RANDOM_SN ]: use random sequence numbers in scans
* [ SCAN_MIN_PREQ_CONTENT ]: use probe request with only rate IEs in scans
* [ CONTROL_PORT_NO_PREAUTH ]: disable pre-auth over nl80211 control port support
* [ SCAN_FREQ_KHZ ]: scan on kHz frequency support
* [ CONTROL_PORT_OVER_NL80211_TX_STATUS ]: tx status for nl80211 control port support
$
This is also a single band (2.4 ghz) wifi adapter and supports only HT technology (wifi 4).
Most cheap usb wifi adapters are actually single band.
Conclusion
In the above examples we saw how to check what wifi standards are supported by the wifi chipset on the system. If you want to check what wifi standard is being used by your wifi connection, then you need to use a different command. Check this article:
https://www.binarytides.com/check-wifi-standard-being-used-in-linux/To check more hardware details about the wifi chipset, you can use commands like iw, lsusb, iwlist, iwconfig.
Check out the following article to learn more:
https://www.binarytides.com/check-usb-wifi-adapter-details-on-linux/
https://www.binarytides.com/linux-commands-to-check-wifi-details/
For more details on the maximum speed/bandwidth of different wifi standards and hardware profiles check the mcsindex data available at:
