Wi-Fi 7 support

General Topics
1

Certification for Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) devices just started on January 8th, so there aren’t many compatible devices out yet. The good news is, Wi-Fi 7 uses the same 6 GHz band as Wi-Fi 6E (which is used in currently shipping Framework laptops), so when Wi-Fi 7 adaptors eventually become more common (and likely offered by Framework), upgrading should be as simple as replacing the adaptor card, without having to mess with rerouting antennas. That is the first upgrade I am eyeing once I receive my Framework laptop 16.

New features of Wi-Fi 7 include:

  • 320 MHz channels: available in countries that make the 6 GHz band available to
    Wi-Fi, ultra-wide channels double today’s widest channel size to facilitate multigigabit device speeds and high throughput
  • Multi-Link Operation (MLO): allows devices to transmit and receive data simultaneously over multiple links for increased throughput, reduced latency, and improved reliability
  • 4K QAM: achieves 20% higher transmission rates than 1024 QAM
  • 512 Compressed block-ack: improves efficiency and reduces overhead
  • Multiple RUs to a single STA: improves flexibility for spectrum resource scheduling to enhance spectrum efficiency
  • Triggered Uplink Access: optimizes Wi-Fi 6 defined triggered uplink access to accommodate latency sensitive streams and satisfy QoS requirements
  • Emergency Preparedness Communication Services (EPCS): provides a seamless National Security & Emergency Preparedness (NSEP) service experience to users while maintaining the priority and quality of service in Wi-Fi access networks

Intel has a good explainer page here: What Is Wi-Fi 7? (intel.com) and a couple of adaptors. I haven’t seen anything from AMD yet, but I hope they release something soon.

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2

There’s a decent thread about this at Wifi 7 clarification. To summarize myself in my comment in the other thread, I’m interested in the Intel BE200 if/when it becomes compatible with the FW16, or an AMD RZ800-series card if/when that becomes available. The existing AMD RZ738 is not yet available for consumer purchase, but it doesn’t even have the Bluetooth LE Audio features that I’m most looking forward to.

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Looks like the MediaTek Filogic 380 chipset does. Hopefully AMD will make an adapter using that soon.

Of course, adding Bluetooth support to the Framework laptop would require adding an additional antenna.

4

Nope.

Bluetooth operates over the same antennas as WiFi and is already supported on current Framework laptops.

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5

I should have said Bluetooth LE. The spec sheet says a separate antenna is required for those features for some reason. I don’t know enough about it to understand why.

Bluetooth 5.3: LE Audio, extra antenna for MRC, HDT

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6

No, you want the Filogic 360 which is newer than the Filogic 380. The existing RZ738 uses the Filogic 380, but that’s a year old whereas the 360 just came out a few months ago.

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7

Good to know. In my quick searching I incorrectly assumed that a higher number meant newer.

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Looks we’re going to be waiting a while.

The MediaTek Filogic 860 and Filogic 360 solutions have begun sampling to customers and mass production is anticipated for mid-2024.

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the 860 is a router/broadband CPE platform though, the 360 is the wireless nic device chipset i understand. kinda apples and oranges.

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Does anyone know when Framework will start to support Wi-Fi 7 chipsets natively? It is no longer the case that client chipsets are not readily available, with both Intel, BRCM and QCA supporting. All major PC manufacturers are ramping up now. Consumer APs hitting the market as well.
Wi-Fi 7 is substantially different from Wi-Fi 6 and I would argue having the best wireless on a PC is fundamental.
Just looking for a Framework roadmap.
Thanks

12

Hello,
I think it’s clear what I’m looking for.

I would like to know when Framwork will ship their laptops with integrated Wi-Fi 7 support. As of now, it seems you only support 6e.

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@anon81945988 is not a framework employee

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Just fyi, WiFi 7 requires the upcoming Windows 11 24H2. So even if a laptop today comes with a WiFi 7 capable card, you will not be able to use that until the 24H2 Win11 version actually releases later in the year.

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15

Yeah 6E is the best we get for now, and nobody knows when 7 will come. But you can always just plug a WiFi 7 card in yourself if you want.

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16

Answering this in my own [useless] way: Yes. nrp for sure.

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17

Framework does not share roadmaps, you will know when the rest of the community knows, which will be when Framework publicly announces it. (I am not a Framework employee, just a user who has been on this forum for years)

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18

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies much appreciated. I work in the industry… on the infrastructure side. Wi-Fi 7 is definitely shipping on both AP and client side. For example, check out Dell’s website.

I really like what Framework is doing and will definitely buy a PC from here once Wi-Fi 7 support is built in. There are some new innovations, such as 4k QAM which is getting delivered via the new standard, lots of other technical improvements. I do believe good wireless is fundamental, on par with excellent graphics.

Thanks again

19

The fun part is wifi cards are swappable,

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20

I expect AMD will release an RZ800-series chip at some point that uses MediaTek’s new Filogic 360 chipset announced Nov 2023.

That’ll support not just Wi-Fi 7 but also Bluetooth LE Audio, which I am very excited for.

I hope Framework officially adopts that card if/when it is released so that there is extra focus on supporting drivers for it. I already purchased my laptop and have no problem upgrading the card when a better one comes out.

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21

@Randy_R I just realized we might not be communicating very well about integrated vs dongles.

The “built-in” wifi card on the framework can be changed at any time. You can open the laptop up, unplug the internal wifi card, and replace it with a wifi 7 card internally.

No dongle needed. You can add a new internal/“built-in” wifi card.