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802.11 MCS Rate Calculator

Select standard, channel width, spatial streams, MCS index, and guard interval. Get the exact data rate, modulation type, minimum RSSI, and the full IEEE-spec calculation showing every step of the math.

— Shankar K. · Rates per IEEE 802.11-2020 / 802.11be-2024

// data rate
Mbps
// modulation
Coding rate —
// min rssi
dBm minimum
signal requirement
-90 dBm -40 dBm
// field note
// how this rate is calculated — ieee 802.11 spec
// all mcs —
MCS Modulation Code Data Rate Min RSSI
// read mcs in wireshark
radiotap.mcs.index
MCS index — 802.11n frames
radiotap.vht.mcs.0
MCS index — 802.11ac frames
radiotap.he.data_rate
Data rate — 802.11ax frames
radiotap.dbm_antsignal
RSSI — compare to min above
See MCS per frame in a real PCAP
Upload a capture — WiFi Analyser decodes MCS index, spatial streams, RSSI, and guard interval per frame automatically.
try it free ↗
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reference
802.11 Wireshark Filter Reference
reference
Status & Reason Code Lookup
downloads
Frame Lab — free PCAPs
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SK
Shankar K., Wi-Fi engineer, Irving TX
Building WiFi Analyser V2 · CWNA-109 in progress · one post every two weeks
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