Null Data Packet (NDP) Beamforming in 802.11ac: Channel Measurement (Sounding) Procedures

Null Data Packet (NDP) Beamforming in 802.11ac One of the biggest changes between 802.11n and 802.11ac is that beamforming has been dramatically simplified. To avoid a repeat with 802.11ac, engineers writing the specification settled on just one method of beamforming, called null data packet (NDP) sounding. Beamforming depends on channel calibration procedures, called channel sounding in the 802.11ac standard, to determine how to radiate energy in a preferred direction. Mathematically, the ability to steer energy is represented by the steering matrix, which is given the letter Q in 802.11ac.

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Null Data Packet (NDP) Beamforming in 802.11ac: Channel Measurement (Sounding) Procedures

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Null Data Packet (NDP) Beamforming in 802.

11ac
One of the biggest changes between 802.11n and 802.11ac is that beamforming has been
dramatically simplified. Proprietary beamforming technologies had existed prior to
802.11n, but it was only in 802.11n that a standard for beamforming was introduced. In
the 802.11n specification, multiple beamforming methods were described. Before using
beamforming, both sides of the link had to agree on one method they shared, but due to
the complexity of implementing multiple methods, many product vendors chose not to
implement any. To avoid a repeat with 802.11ac, engineers writing the specification
settled on just one method of beamforming, called null data packet (NDP) sounding.
The second major change in beamforming with 802.11ac has not yet been realized, but it
has the potential to dramatically change how much data wireless networks can support.
802.11acs second wave of products will introduce multi-user MIMO, an application of
MIMO techniques that allows simultaneous transmission to multiple clients.
Channel measurement (sounding) procedures
Beamforming depends on channel calibration procedures, called channel sounding in
the 802.11ac standard, to determine how to radiate energy in a preferred direction.
Many factors may influence how to steer a beam in a particular direction. Within the
multi-carrier OFDM channel used by 802.11ac, there may be a strong frequencydependent response that requires limiting data rates over the channel. Alternatively,
between two 802.11ac devices, a particular frequency may respond much more strongly
to one path than another. Beamforming enables the endpoints at either side of a link to
get maximum performance by taking advantage of channels that have
strong performance while avoiding paths and carriers that have weak performance.
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Mathematically, the ability to steer energy is represented by the steering matrix,
which is given the letter Q in 802.11ac. Matrices are used to represent steering
information because they are an excellent tool for representing the frequency response
from each transmission chain in the array over each transmission stream. Matrix
operations allow the spatial mapper to alter the signal to be transmitted for each OFDM
subcarrier over each path to the receiver in one operation. Naturally, after applying the
steering matrix to the data for transmission, it will leave the antenna array in a
decidedly non-omnidirectional pattern.