Definition of Wi-Fi

What is Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is not an acronym although some people consider Wi-Fi as an acronym for Wireless Fidelity. The reason behind this line of thought is its relation to Hi-Fi, which relates to high-quality audio

Wi-Fi is the most popular wireless local networking technology. The wireless nature helps connect devices such as smartphones, printers, laptops, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as smart watches, fridges, cameras, and baby monitors to a local network such as that of a home or office

Wi-Fi removes the necessity of a physical tether to a router using cables such as Ethernet cables and allows devices to be connected even when moving around. The wireless feature of Wi-Fi is achieved through the use of 2.4GHz radio waves, the same used in other devices, including microwaves, garage door openers, and Bluetooth devices such as earpieces and radios. In addition, a 5.0 GHz wireless frequency is also used to provide Wi-Fi connectivity.

While the 5.0 GHz is equipped to handle higher data transfer and has a high-tolerance to interference, it is not ideal for long-range connections. The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency is ideal for long-range connections despite its pre-disposal to interference from devices using the same frequency.

There are different Wi-Fi standards, and each provides different transfer speeds and distance ranges. The most common are:

Wi-Fi Standards

802.11b

Based on the 2.4GHz frequency
Data transfer rate of 11Mbps (Megabits per second)

802.11a

Uses the 5GHz frequency
A nominal data rate of up to 54 Mbps

802.11g

Introduced in 2003
Uses the 2.4GHz
Has a nominal speed rate of 54Mbps

802.11n

Introduced in 2009
Uses both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz frequencies
Has a nominal data rate of 288.8Mbps while bonded channels have a nominal rate of 600Mbps
Backward compatible with the 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g standards