- Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows
- Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi — Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi
- What is Wi-Fi?
- What are the advantages of dual Wi-Fi?
- What standards are there?
- Understanding Wi-Fi and How It Works
- In This Article
- How Wi-Fi Works
- Is Wi-Fi Free?
- Wi-Fi Hotspots
- Set Up Wi-Fi Access
- Advantages of Using Wi-Fi
- Disadvantages of Using Wi-Fi
Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows
Whether you’re at home, work, or out and about, chances are you’ll find a Wi-Fi network that you can connect to for internet access.
- Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icons ( ) on the far right side of the taskbar to open quick settings.
The Disconnected icon appears when you’re not connected.
On the Wi-Fi quick setting, select Manage Wi-Fi connections .
Whether you’re at home, work, or out and about, chances are you’ll find a Wi-Fi network that you can connect to for internet access.
- Select the Network icon on the taskbar. The icon that appears depends on your current connection state. If you don’t see one of the network icons (or a similar one) shown in the following image, select the Up arrow to see if it appears there.
- Choose the Wi-Fi network you want, then select Connect.
- Type the network password, and then select Next.
- Choose Yes or No, depending on the type of network you’re connecting to and if you want your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on the network.
Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi — Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is one of the world’s favorite ways to access the Internet. And that’s no surprise, since a Wi-Fi connection is established in no time and enables high transmission rates, and because practically every terminal device comes with a Wi-Fi module or can be supplemented with a wireless adapter.
But this wasn’t always the case. At the dawn of the DSL age, Internet connections were established via LAN cable, before Wi-Fi proved to be a more sophisticated alternative. Besides, there are all kinds of Wi-Fi: the technology keeps evolving, with its progress marked by a variety of standards. This article takes a closer look at the different standards and offers other interesting facts about Wi-Fi.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity, the same thing as WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). It uses radio frequencies to send signals between devices such as tablets and smartphones, establishing a wireless connection. For this, a router that supports Wi-Fi is required, such as the FRITZ!Box 7590. It receives the incoming DSL, cable or LTE signal and forwards it to the devices within range.
Aside from this, the wireless connection works the same way a cable-based network does: Wi-Fi devices register and exchange data with the router. The advantages are obvious: you don’t need cables and you can roam freely throughout the coverage area with your smartphone or handheld device without losing signal. The devices reconnect automatically when they return to the Wi-Fi coverage area. The modern WPA encryption featured in all FRITZ!Box models keeps Wi-Fi connections safe. All Wi-Fi networks are secured by an individual network key upon delivery.
What are the advantages of dual Wi-Fi?
Since Wi-Fi networks use radio waves, communication needs to be transmitted on a certain network or frequency range. The 2.4 GHz network has been a standard for years. This means that all wireless devices in the home network use this frequency, which not only results in a lot of traffic due to the quantity of hardware, but can also lead to interference between devices. An alternative to the 2.4 GHz band is the 5 GHz band, which is subject to much lower interference for Wi-Fi.
When Wi-Fi 5 was introduced in 2013 it kick-started broader utilization of 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks, wherever a corresponding client is available. Dual Wi-Fi means the FRITZ!Box is able to serve connected devices on both channels concurrently. And when the technology inside the wireless router enables it to decide autonomously which band to use for which device and to switch accordingly; this is called band steering.
The latest standard is called Wi-Fi 6. It ensures faster data transfers and a higher capacity in the wireless network, especially when multiple wireless devices are logged onto the Wi-Fi hotspot at the same time. There aealso updates and better performance for the 2.4 GHz network for the first time in around ten years.
What standards are there?
The most important Wi-Fi standards are listed below:
This is the standard that serves as the basis for communicating over wireless networks. The first wireless standard, introduced in 1997, transmitted data at 1 Mbit/s. The letters «IEEE» refer to the developers of the standard: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The following standards are developments of IEEE 802.11.
IEEE 802.11b:
The first advancement dating from the turn of the millennium is signified by the b. In theory, Wireless b enables up to 11 Mbit/s in the 2.4 GHz network.
IEEE 802.11g:
Wireless g is the next stage of Wireless b and also transmits solely on the 2.4 GHz network. The maximum throughput was raised to 54 Mbit/s and was available as a standard as of 2003.
IEEE 802.11n:
In September 2009, the successor standard Wi-Fi 4 was released. Wi-Fi 4 supports devices transmitting either on the 2.4 GHz or the 5 GHz network and is able to transfer data at up to 600 Mbit/s.
IEEE 802.11ac:
Wi-Fi 5 was standardized at the end of 2013 and is the most common type of Wi-Fi network. Standardized for the 5 GHz band, Wi-Fi 5 can reach speeds of up to 1733 Mbit/s with a device configuration equipped with 4 antennas. Find out more here.
IEEE 802.11ac / Wi-Fi 6:
The latest standard is called Wi-Fi 6, providing higher speeds and more efficient use of radio frequencies. Find out more in our guide.
Understanding Wi-Fi and How It Works
Former Lifewire writer Melanie Uy has 5+ years’ experience writing about consumer-oriented technology and is an expert telecommuter.
Chris Selph is a CompTIA-certified technology and vocational IT teacher. He also serves as network & server administrator and performs computer maintenance and repair for numerous clients.
In This Article
Wi-Fi is a wireless networking protocol that devices use to communicate without direct cable connections. It’s an industry term that represents a type of wireless local area network (LAN) protocol based on the 802.11 IEEE network standard.
From the user’s perspective, Wi-Fi is internet access from a wireless-capable device like a phone, tablet, or laptop. Most modern devices support Wi-Fi so that the devices can join a network to gain internet access and share network resources.
Wi-Fi is the most frequently used means of communicating data wirelessly in a fixed location. It’s a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, an international association of companies involved with wireless LAN technologies and products.
How Wi-Fi Works
The easiest way to understand Wi-Fi is to consider an average home or business. The main requirement for Wi-Fi is a device that receives and transmits a wireless signal, usually a router, but sometimes a phone or computer.
In a typical home or small business, a router receives and then transmits an internet connection coming from an internet service provider outside the network. It delivers that service to nearby devices that can reach the wireless signal. Most homes have one router and multiple devices, including smartphones, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smart TVs, that receive their internet connection via Wi-Fi from that router.
In some cases, a user without a router can set up a phone or computer as a Wi-Fi hotspot so it can share the device’s wireless or wired internet connection with other devices, similar to the way a router works.
No matter how Wi-Fi is used or its source of connection, the result is always the same: a wireless signal that lets other devices connect to the main transmitter for communication, entertainment, file transfers, voice messages, or other data transmission.
Is Wi-Fi Free?
There are tons of places to get free Wi-Fi access, such as in restaurants and hotels, but Wi-Fi isn’t free in all cases. That’s because for Wi-Fi to work, the router or other device transmitting the signal must have an internet connection, which isn’t free.
For example, if you have internet service at your house, you pay a monthly fee to keep it coming. If you use Wi-Fi to connect your iPad and smart TV to the internet, you don’t pay for the internet for those devices individually. The incoming line to the home router costs whether or not you use Wi-Fi.
Many home internet connections don’t have data caps, which is why it’s not a problem to download hundreds of gigabytes of data each month. However, phones often have data caps. Phone users look for free Wi-Fi signals and use Wi-Fi hotspots whenever they can to keep down their cellular data usage volume.
It has become increasingly easy to access free hotspots, particularly in large cities. The trick is to find one near where you want to use it.
Wi-Fi Hotspots
If your phone has a data cap and you allow other devices to connect to your phone as a hotspot to access the internet, your data cap applies to any data moving through the main phone. This activity can quickly push a cellular data plan over its limit and accrue extra fees.
You can also share your internet connection with other devices to create a wireless hotspot from your computer. You can do the same with apps, such as with the Wifi Hotspot Portable app.
Set Up Wi-Fi Access
To set up Wi-Fi at home, you need a wireless router and access to the router’s admin management pages to configure the correct settings such as the Wi-Fi channel, password, and network name. Some of this information is provided by your internet service provider.
It’s usually straightforward to configure a wireless device to connect to a Wi-Fi network. The steps include ensuring that the Wi-Fi connection is enabled and then searching for a nearby network to provide the proper SSID and password to make the connection.
Some devices, such as older laptops, don’t have a built-in wireless adapter, in which case, you can buy a Wi-Fi USB adapter.
Advantages of Using Wi-Fi
Most computers and mobile devices sold in the U.S. are equipped with wireless capabilities, including Wi-Fi. The benefits of using Wi-Fi over a wired connection include:
- Convenience: Wi-Fi makes it possible for devices to connect to the internet wherever they can locate a Wi-Fi signal. Those locations are increasing all the time.
- Productivity: Wi-Fi can keep workers in near-constant contact with the office and each other.
- Expandability: Buy another tablet? No problem. Enable Wi-Fi in its settings, and it’s good to go.
- Mobility: Users aren’t tied to the office or home for their communication needs.
Disadvantages of Using Wi-Fi
The advantages of using Wi-Fi outweigh the disadvantages, but there are some disadvantages.
- Range: A Wi-Fi signal reaches a limited range, which may not cover your entire home or office.
- Security: Because wireless signals travel through the air, they can be intercepted. Using encryption technology minimizes the danger.
- Disruption: Large metal objects, such as a refrigerator, can block a Wi-Fi signal in your home. A microwave oven can disrupt the signal.
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