This article is all about unwrapping the marketing copy and explaining why it sucks.
That's still valuable, but I was hoping for a more technical view on it. Anyone have an article that explains why the systems are as limited as they are?
MIMO isn't that complex. It's using multiple antennas to take advantage of multipath propagation. [0]
If you want a very simplistic explanation, it's like giving you multiple Ethernet cables to improve throughput. (To gloss over all the details about RF and boil it down to the practical benefit: more bandwidth)
Per the article, not everything with MIMO is advertised as 1x1, 2x2, etc. You frequently find WiFi routers mentioning 1T1R (1x1), or 2T2R (2x2). Or maybe just the Chinese routers I look at.
This article is mostly on about interference, which is definitely a big issue in populated areas. But there are definitely issues with Linux and the drivers used by AP manufacturers. There's a project: Make Wi-Fi fast [1] which aims to address these issues.
They're making good progress, especially in environments with a lot of clients. Just having one 802.11b or g client can really ruin throughput for newer devices due to the timesharing algorithm used by default.
I suggest reading Andrea Goldsmith's or Pramod Vishwanath's book on Wireless Communication. If not, Intro to Communication Systems by Madhow is recommended.
These look nice but they focus on the physical layer.
Do you happen to know any useful English literature that covers the MAC layer of modern wifi standards (n, ac, ax)?
Apart from the 802.11 standards, of course.
That's still valuable, but I was hoping for a more technical view on it. Anyone have an article that explains why the systems are as limited as they are?