Share via

How do MU-MIMO routers handle non-MU-MIMO devices?

Anonymous
2017-05-18T13:36:27+00:00

I am looking at purchasing a new wireless router. Something around 150-180 bucks and I noticed that some models advertise MU-MIMO. Some say that they have 2x2 MU-MIMO, others 4x4 MU-MIMO.

I read a bit about this technology and I think I get it when it comes to routers. This MU-MIMO helps the router talk to more devices simultaneosly. However, some laptops talk about MU-MIMO too and the ones I've seen mention 2x2 MU-MIMO.

Can someone explain to me how 4x4 MU-MIMO routers work with 2x2 MU-MIMO devices? I just don't get it. How do MU-MIMO routers work with devices that support this technology. How do they treat both non-MU-MIMO and MU-MIMO devices. Boy this acronym is funny. I keep thinkng of mimes and clowns when I hear it.

Windows for home | Other | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-18T13:43:14+00:00

    MU-MIMO has two purposes:

    1. To handle multiple simultaneous connections at once
    2. To offer faster connections

    You have 2x2 MIMO, 3x3 MIMO or 4x4 MIMO. These numbers refer to the number of available streams and atennas. Therefore a 2x2 MIMO router has two antennas for two simultaneous data streams, while a 4x4 MIMO router has four antennas for four streams.

    Devices like laptops with Windows, smartphones and so on, can also include support for MU-MIMO. Most devices offer 1x1 MIMO, 2x2 MIMO or 3x3 MIMO. When it comes to devices these numbers refer to the number of atennas and the number of streams they can use to communicate with the router. Look at this image I took from Digital Citizen.

    I router with 4x4 MIMO can simultaneously talk two four devices with 1x1 MIMO, two 2 with 2x2 MIMO, one with 3x3 MIMO and one with 1x1 MIMO or one device with 4X4 MIMO. If you want to learn more about this technology for wireless transfers, read this guide: What is MU-MIMO WiFi? Do you need it on your router?.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

3 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-19T17:09:15+00:00

    Thank you!

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-18T14:14:47+00:00

    2x2 MU-MIMO is good enough, unless you do lots of streaming on multiple devices at the same time. I doubt that is the case.

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-18T14:10:02+00:00

    First of all, thank you! Now if I understand correctly, for my family of three with roughly 8 to 10 devices always connected to the internet wirelessly, I would need a 2x2 MU-MIMO router? Or should I save for a 4x4?

    0 comments