What is the Difference of MIMO and MU-MIMO?

MIMO and MU-MIMO isn’t same. Through this article let’s learn what is MIMO, what is MU-MIMO, What’s the advantages of MIMO and MU-MIMO also what is the difference between MIMO and MU-MIMO. Let’s get started.

What is MIMO?

MIMO, which stands for "multiple-input, multiple-output," is a popular and widely utilized RF (radio frequency) technique in modern gadgets.

New MIMO wireless technology is being used in Wi-Fi, LTE; Long Term Evolution, and many other radio, wireless, and RF technologies to boost link capacity and spectral efficiency while simultaneously improving link dependability via previously considered interference routes.

There are now a lot of MIMO wireless routers available, and as this RF technology spreads, there will be much more.

MIMO can be divided into four subtypes, named SISO, SISM, MISO, and MIMO, based on the number of transmitting and receiving antennas involved. More antennas can increase the transmission and reception rates by a maximum of 50%. These solutions enhance current WiFi protocols.

Advantages of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO):

Using MIMO, we can get more robust transmissions. Because it reflects and re-emits signals, it eliminates the need for direct line-of-sight between the user's device and the access point.

Big data like videos can be transferred quickly and in great quantities through the internet. MIMO allows for higher throughput, which expedites the transfer of this data.

High-quality audio and video can be achieved by combining multiple data sources. Moreover, they reduce the possibility of data packets being lost.

What is MU-MIMO?

Multi-User Multi Input/Output (MU-MIMO) describes a system that allows for simultaneous data transmission from and reception by multiple users. It's the ability of an access point, or AP, to connect to several devices at once. In contrast to SU-MIMO, it simply allows many antennas to connect to a single receiver. When MU-MIMO was first launched with WiFi 5, only 4*4 DL MU-MIMO was supported. WiFi 6 currently uses 8x8 DL MU-MIMO and introduces UL MI-MIMO. Business offices, meeting rooms, and e-learning platforms are just a few examples of the kinds of places where MU-MIMO is put to use because of the high concentration of users involved in distribution, the high concurrency of many users, and the high traffic volume.

As part of the Wi-Fi 6 standard, MU-MIMO technology has advanced and impressed to the point where it now supports an astonishing eight spatial streams. While orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) gets all the attention, massively multi-input, multi-output (MU-MIMO) is just as, if not more, crucial to the future of high-efficiency Wi-Fi.

Advantages of Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output. (MU-MIMO):

MU-MIMO can boost wireless network throughput. The wireless network throughput of the MU-MIMO can be 2-3 times higher  compared to using SU-MIO.

In wireless networks, it increases data transmission efficiency by letting numerous terminals send data at once and decreasing the amount of time terminals must wait for their turn in the timing sequence. So, it's more suited to applications that need high throughput and low latency, including video and audio.

Since MU-MIMO boosts transmission efficiency overall, the wireless network can devote more resources to serving conventional Wi-Fi endpoints (only SU-MIMO is supported). To say more exact, typical Wi-Fi terminals' application experience can be enhanced.

what is the difference between MIMO and MU-MIMO?

MIMO can only interact with a single user at a time, while MU-MIMO can simultaneously connect with a large number of users which can be considered as  the main difference between two. 

In most cases, SU-MIMO sends signals out in a ring, from the hub to the edges, and communicates with devices in sequence based on their relative distances. The network slows down and certain devices have to wait when there are too many access points. Let's have a look at the image below. 

In contrast, MU-MIMO is unique. It's like transmitting several signals at once since the signals are broken up into smaller pieces throughout the time domain, frequency domain, and spatial domain. This means the MU-MIMO router can connect to numerous gadgets at once. In particular, efficiency is improved since signals from different sources do not cancel each other out.