How Does WiFi Work?

Wifi (wireless fidelity) is a radio technology that enables wireless transmission of data without using the phone line. It allows users to connect their computer or other device to the internet wirelessly, in much the same way as they would use a landline telephone. This can be achieved by using WiFi hotspots available in public places, such as coffee shops and airports, or by setting up your own access point at home.

HOW DOES WIFI WORK?

Wifi is a name for various technologies used for wirelessly transmitting information over short distances from one computer to another. This is often accomplished through radio waves with varying frequencies and operating at different protocols depending on the desired range and security requirements. There are currently three widely used standards:

1) 802.11a : A technology that transmits data over the 5.8 GHz frequency, which is also used by cordless phones and microwave ovens, and requires line-of-sight between the transmitter and receiver. This standard was developed mainly for wireless home networking, so it can be easily blocked by walls or closed doors. Although it can reach 35 to 80 meters in open air, the range is reduced to about 10 meters indoors

2) 802.11b : A standard that transmits at 2.4 GHz, which is less susceptible to interference from other electronic devices such as microwave ovens and cordless phones because its transmission also occurs in all directions. This is the standard most commonly used in public places like coffee shops and airports, because it allows laptops to connect to the internet with a signal strength that doesn’t weaken over distance. The signal strength can be improved by using an outdoor (not indoor) antenna.

3) 802.11g: A standard that transmits at 2.4 GHz, but provides a faster speed of 54 Mbps (as opposed to 11 Mbps for 802.11b). This is still slower than other broadband connections such as DSL and cable modems, but it’s more cost effective since there is no need for special hardware or additional wiring. The range is the same as 802.11b and the signal strength is similar to 802.11a.

Other wireless standards, such as Bluetooth and Zigbee, exist for short-range applications such as connecting a laptop to a printer or for sending status information from home automation devices (such as a light switch) back to the manufacturer. These protocols are not used in wifi networks and are usually used instead of wifi when there is no need for range or security (such as with printers).

Wifi can be configured in three modes: ad hoc , infrastructure , and network . In ad hoc mode, all users connect directly to each other’s hotspots without using an access point. In infrastructure mode, one access point is set up in a public place so that all users can connect to it. In network mode, a router is used so that all devices using the same network can connect to each other at wire speed regardless of whether they’re in the same room or on different floors of the same building.

All wifi standards use frequencies in the 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges, which are less suitable for wireless phones or microwave ovens because the signal is blocked by walls and doors. Many home networks run their computers on 802.11g (54 Mbps) because this allows them to receive such broadband speeds at reasonable prices and without additional wiring.

The 2.4 GHz band is used by all modern wireless devices, but this can cause interference with other applications such as microwave ovens and cordless phones. Some home networking equipment (notably Apple’s AirPort) uses the 5 GHz band, which allows better range and security, but detects only one device at a time. 802.11b (the 5 GHz band) was popularized partly because of this problem, as it works without needing additional wires to connect the wireless device to the internet.

Computers connected to a router do not necessarily need an access point in order to connect to the internet. The only requirement is that they must be able to share a connection with other devices on the same network, beyond their own local area network. This can be accomplished by using a cable modem or DSL modem, which are often faster than cable modems and (in the case of DSL) provide faster speeds because there is no need for special hardware outside of your home or office building.

The major advantage of using wifi is that it allows you to connect your computer or other wireless device to the internet without needing additional wiring. This can be useful if you want to avoid running a network cable across your house, but it also reduces the chance of someone stealing an existing wire. The main downside is that wifi uses radio waves, which can be blocked by closed doors and walls. There are ways around this in the form of repeaters, but these increase network traffic and reduce the overall speed of your connection.

Wifi has changed home networking from a niche hobby into an essential part of modern life because it allows people to bring their laptops and smartphones into their homes and work from there.