04/12/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/12/2024 15:28
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to connect your devices to the internet wirelessly. It's what allows you to use your smart TV to watch Netflix or your laptop to make video calls without needinga cable between your device and your router.Let's look a little deeper at how it works.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is a brand namefor a collection of wireless networking standards initially developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The first official version-802.11-was implemented in 1997, so it's been around for almost 30 years. The name Wi-Fi doesn't actually mean anything-it was a pun on "hi-fi" suggested by a marketing company.
How does Wi-Fi work?
Wi-Fi works using microwaves (high-energy radio waves) to send information between two devices. In most cases, one of those devices will be a router that's connected to the internet, but the other can be a smartphone, tablet, smart light bulb or anything else.
Computers handle information using binary. Everything, from this article to the most recent selfie you just took to the latest episode of the show you're streaming, is broken down into a really long series of 1s and 0s. For example, the name Harry encoded in binary is 01001000 01100001 01110010 01110010 01111001.
While it can be hard to wrap your head around, this is what allows Wi-Fi to send information wirelessly. When there is a peak in the radio wave a device sends out, it corresponds to a 1; when there's a trough, it's a 0.
Of course, this is a highly simplified example. Modern Wi-Fi uses different frequency bands and channels, as well as neat tricks like signal modulation, to encode and send more data to more devices at faster speeds. But at the core of things, Wi-Fi is radio waves representing binary digits traveling wirelessly throughout your home.
(If you want a step-by-step guide to how Wi-Fi works, check out this breakdown.)
Some common Wi-Fi questions
Why are there different versions of Wi-Fi?
As technology has improved, we've been able to make faster and faster generations of Wi-Fi. The different versions are just a way of communicating which Wi-Fi features different devices support.
What's the difference between internet and Wi-Fi?
The internet is a global network of billions of devices. Wi-Fi is what wirelessly connects your laptop to this network.
How does Wi-Fi get to my home?
Your Wi-Fi network is created by your router. Your internet connection typically gets to your home through your ISP's wired network, which is connected to the fiber optic backbone that the internet relies on.
How is Wi-Fi different from a wired connection?
While Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, it can be slower than a wired connection. If you have a really fast internet connection, you may need to connect your devices to your router with an Ethernet cable to get the best possible speeds.
Is my phone using Wi-Fi?
If your phone is connected to your home wireless network, then yes, it's using Wi-Fi. When you're away from your home, it's most likely using a 4G or 5G cellular network, which is a different thing entirely.
Can my neighbors' devices or Wi-Fi network interfere with mine?
Yes, if you and your neighbor have overlapping Wi-Fi networks and use the same channels, you might experience some interference. Because Wi-Fi is broadcast through the air, other networks and even electronic devices like microwaves, TVs and baby monitors can interfere with it. Read on for some tips on how to set up a great Wi-Fi network.
How does a fiber internet connection make a difference in Wi-Fi?
How fast your devices' internet connection is depends on both your Wi-Fi network and your home broadband. With a fast fiber connection, you'll be able to get the best possible Wi-Fi speeds from your router.
5 rules for setting up a great Wi-Fi network at home
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