Any Downside To Enabling Multi-User MIMO and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO?

[HarryMuscle]

All my research so far about Multi User MIMO mentions that since most devices don't support it there's no point in enabling it. However, is there any downside to enabling these two settings (Multi-User MIMO and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO on the Wireless -> Professional page) on the off chance some of my devices do support it? By default both settings are disabled for 2.4 GHz (for 5 GHz, Multi-User MIMO is enabled and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO is set to DL OFDMA Only).

Thanks,
Harry

 

[drinkingbird]

All my research so far about Multi User MIMO mentions that since most devices don't support it there's no point in enabling it. However, is there any downside to enabling these two settings (Multi-User MIMO and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO on the Wireless -> Professional page) on the off chance some of my devices do support it? By default both settings are disabled for 2.4 GHz (for 5 GHz, Multi-User MIMO is enabled and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO is set to DL OFDMA Only).

Thanks,
Harry

You'd have to try and see. I've seen reports where it has negatively impacted performance for clients that don't support it. Similar to "airtime fairness" it may only be useful if you actually have a need for it.

I toyed with it on another brand router and seemed to have no impact. My Asus doesn't support it so can't comment on that (plus mine is AC, MIMO has been revised for AX).

 

[glens]

I'm thinking it really only comes into play if you have very many clients which are very active. In playing with it with just a few clients I saw no or slightly negative benefit.

 

[tarzan2000]

All my research so far about Multi User MIMO mentions that since most devices don't support it there's no point in enabling it. However, is there any downside to enabling these two settings (Multi-User MIMO and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO on the Wireless -> Professional page) on the off chance some of my devices do support it? By default both settings are disabled for 2.4 GHz (for 5 GHz, Multi-User MIMO is enabled and OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO is set to DL OFDMA Only).

Thanks,
Harry

STA-to-STA OFDMA issue?

Good day! I did one test with a WiFi 6 router and it was very frustrating for me. I wrote about its results to the manufacturer's support, and after a long period the support answered me, that the problem was not on their side, but global - in the OFDMA technology itself. So I would really...

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