What does the IEEE specify as the maximum allowable power output into the intentional radiator for IEEE 802.11a-, 802.11n-, and 802.11ac-compliant devices operating on the lower U-NII band?

What does the IEEE specify as the maximum allowable power output into the intentional radiator for IEEE 802.11a-, 802.11n-, and 802.11ac-compliant devices operating on the lower U-NII band?

• A. 10 mW
• B. 100 mW
• C. 400 mW
• D. 40 mW

Answer: (D)

The limiting factor here is how much power the device is allowed to put into its antenna in the 5 GHz lower U-NII band. The IEEE standard sets this conducted output at 40 mW (about 16 dBm). This keeps interference with nearby channels and other services in check while still allowing practical indoor use of 802.11a/n/ac devices. A higher value, like 100 mW or 400 mW, would raise the risk of interfering with adjacent bands, while a much lower value, such as 10 mW, would reduce indoor coverage more than necessary. Thus, 40 mW is the value that matches the specification for the lower U-NII band.

The limiting factor here is how much power the device is allowed to put into its antenna in the 5 GHz lower U-NII band. The IEEE standard sets this conducted output at 40 mW (about 16 dBm). This keeps interference with nearby channels and other services in check while still allowing practical indoor use of 802.11a/n/ac devices. A higher value, like 100 mW or 400 mW, would raise the risk of interfering with adjacent bands, while a much lower value, such as 10 mW, would reduce indoor coverage more than necessary. Thus, 40 mW is the value that matches the specification for the lower U-NII band.