What is wifi connection in internet

What Is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices such as computers (laptops and desktops), mobile devices (smart phones and wearables), and other equipment (printers and video cameras) to interface with the Internet. It allows these devices—and many more—to exchange information with one another, creating a network. Internet connectivity occurs through a wireless router. When you access Wi-Fi, you are connecting to a wireless router that allows your Wi-Fi-compatible devices to interface with the Internet.

Contact Cisco

Call Sales:

What does Wi-Fi mean?

Wi-Fi is not an acronym; it is a brand name created by a marketing firm that’s meant to serve as an interoperability seal for marketing efforts.

How does Wi-Fi work?

On the technical side, the IEEE 802.11 standard defines the protocols that enable communications with current Wi-Fi-enabled wireless devices, including wireless routers and wireless access points. Wireless access points support different IEEE standards. Each standard is an amendment that was ratified over time. The standards operate on varying frequencies, deliver different bandwidth, and support different numbers of channels.

What is a wireless access point?

A wireless access point (AP) allows wireless devices to connect to the wireless network. Having a Cisco wireless network makes it easy to bring new devices online and provides flexible support to mobile workers.
What a wireless access point does for your network is similar to what an amplifier does for your home stereo. An access point takes the bandwidth coming from a router and stretches it so that many devices can go on the network from farther distances away. But a wireless access point does more than simply extend Wi-Fi. It can also give useful data about the devices on the network, provide proactive security, and serve many other practical purposes.

What is a wireless router?

Wireless routers are commonly found in homes. They’re the hardware devices that Internet service providers use to connect you to their cable or xDSL Internet network. A wireless router is sometimes referred to as a wireless local area network (WLAN) device. A wireless network is also called a Wi-Fi network. A wireless router combines the networking functions of a wireless access point and a router. Read more about wireless routers.

What is a desktop Wi-Fi router?

The most common way for users to connect to the Internet wirelessly is with a desktop wireless (Wi-Fi) router. These routers look like small boxes with multiple short antennas to help broadcast the signal throughout a home or workplace. The farther a user is from the base Wi-Fi router, the weaker the signal. So multiple wireless routers, called range extenders, usually are placed throughout the workspace. Wi-Fi range extenders, placed in an array, boost or extend Internet coverage.

What is a mobile hotspot?

A mobile hotspot is a common feature on smartphones with both tethered and untethered connections. When you turn on your phone’s mobile hotspot, you share your wireless network connection with other devices that can then access the Internet.

What is portable Wi-Fi hotspot?

A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a mobile hotspot obtained through a cell phone carrier. It’s a small device that uses cellular towers that broadcast high-speed 3G or 4G broadband signals. Multiple devices, like iPads and laptops, can then connect wirelessly to the device, which in turn seamlessly connects to the Internet where ever you travel. Similar to a cell phone, the portable hotspot’s monthly cost is based on the data usage plan you select. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a more reliable way to access the Internet than searching for static public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Источник

What Is WiFi? Understanding Your Wireless Connection

We all use WiFi on a regular basis—it connects us to the Internet, to our jobs, and to each other. For the average person, however, the logistics of WiFi may get confusing. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about WiFi, including how it works and the terms you should know.

What is WiFi?

WiFi, short for Wireless Fidelity and technically called IEEE 802.11 after the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is the wireless technology that connects devices to the Internet. Though they’re sometimes mixed as terms because of their interconnectivity, WiFi and Internet are separate things. WiFi is what connects you and your device to your Internet service. It allows you to access the Internet to browse and do anything else you’d normally do on a computer, phone, or Internet-connected mobile device.

How does it work?

WiFi uses radio waves to transmit information from your device to a router. The radio waves measure in frequencies and vary based on the amount of data sent. The two primary frequencies—2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz—are divided into multiple channels in order to prevent interference.

When a user accesses the Internet, their information request is translated into binary code. The frequencies travel across radio channels and received by the WiFi router with your connected device. The router converts the frequencies back into binary code, translates it into Internet traffic, and receives the data via an Internet cable.

That process continues until the user gets the information they requested—an article, a website, or whatever it may be. While the process may sound long and tedious, in actuality, it happens in a matter of seconds, which is why you aren’t sitting at your computer for three hours waiting for a webpage to load.

Types of WiFi

There are a number of different ways to access a wireless local area network and get Internet service.

Router

A router is the most common way to access WiFi. WiFi routers are easy to set up and have high mobility within the router’s range, both of which are assets. However, make sure you use a router-modem combination device, which most routers on the market are, or purchase a modem separately. Though the devices work together, a router can’t access the Internet without a modem.

Routers also have the ability to connect and use multiple devices at once. On the other hand, they have limited bandwidth and lose some speed with every new device added to the network. The potential for interference from other electromagnetic devices is also greater. In some cases, routers also assign private IP addresses to devices and provide a public IP address for a WiFi router’s network, which can be viewed on the What’s My IP homepage.

Mobile hotspot

Though they’re not yet commonplace, the popularity of mobile hotspots is increasing. Most smartphones have the ability to act as mobile hotspots. They don’t function as a permanent hotspot, but they work temporarily. Keep in mind that you may have to pay extra for data rates and they can drain your cellphone’s battery life. Also make sure that you secure your WiFi network in case others attempt to access it; it’s better than using free WiFi, but your mobile hotspot can still be vulnerable.

4G LTE home Internet

4G LTE home Internet has high-speed Internet connections delivered over cellphone towers and mobile networks with average download speeds of around 25 mbps. They offer less latency and more data than a satellite. They offer better speed and reliability than other forms of wireless networks, but the availability is sometimes limited or unpredictable. Additionally, some 4G LTE home Internet packages cost for service and setup.

5G home Internet

5G home Internet is becoming more widely available and widely used. It utilizes radio frequencies over a wireless network, giving it greater speed and capacity than 4G LTE home Internet in addition to less latency. While it’s still not commonplace yet, future towers placed within a few miles of each other will result in great reliability.

WiFi terms to know

There are a few key terms that may come up when talking or reading about WiFi. Knowing what they are helps you understand how your WiFi works or if it’s experiencing issues.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data transmitted over an Internet connection in a certain amount of time. It’s sometimes mistaken for Internet speed. But bandwidth has no bearing on download speeds. Rather, it’s the volume of information that can go across a connection in megabits per second (Mbps).

The amount of bandwidth you’ll need depends on how many people are regularly on your WiFi and the kinds of activities you use it for. Check out the FCC’s broadband speed guide to determine the WiFi that’s the best fit for you.

Speed

Speed is simply a measure of response time for a network. Bandwidth, packet loss, and latency all impact speed, so having “high-speed Internet” isn’t as simple as some companies advertise it to be.

Latency

Latency is the response time for information getting from its source to you. Users also refer to latency as ping rate.

This is the amount of lag users experience while waiting for their connection to load. A low latency, or low ping rate, is good; a high latency, or high ping rate, isn’t. Test your ping rate to know how well your WiFi performs.

Throughput

Throughput is the amount of data that can be sent and received within a specific timeframe. It measures the rate at which messages, or packets, successfully get to their destination. The average throughput informs users how many packets arrive.

As the goal is to keep packets on track for delivery in order to improve network performance, monitoring network throughput is important. Throughput is ultimately measured in bits per second (bps), but it is also measured in data packets per second.

Frequently asked questions about WiFi

What is WiFi 6?

WiFi 6 is the most updated version of WiFi. It works to increase speed and usability by more effectively prioritizing traffic across channels within a wireless router. This leads to better connections, faster download speeds, and a more enjoyable online experience. The purpose of building WiFi version 6 is to improve connection communication when more devices are simultaneously using the WiFi 6 router.

What is the difference between Internet and WiFi?

Most often, these terms become used interchangeably, the difference between the Internet and WiFi comes down to connection and reach. A wireless network connects devices to the Internet; the Internet doesn’t connect devices so much as it just exists as a global web of networks. Devices can communicate across the Internet, but you need WiFi to connect wirelessly to the Internet in the first place.

While the Internet is worldwide (hence the «world wide web» abbreviation that comes before every website) WiFi networks are local, connecting a few devices to each other and to the Internet. It’s possible for users to become connected to WiFi and not the Internet if their WiFi is not working properly or if a webpage is down. However, more often than not, users can’t connect to their WiFi, which then subsequently means they can’t connect to the Internet.

It may be beneficial for users to troubleshoot their WiFi in order to boost their Internet connection; to do so, reset the router or clear the device cache.

Can you have WiFi without Internet?

Yes, it’s possible to have a WiFi connection without being able to connect to the Internet. While your wireless router is the driving force behind your Internet connection, it’s possible that your Internet service provider (ISP) is having issues with the Internet, whether it be dial-up, DSL, or fiber optic.

Your WiFi could be completely usable and experiencing no issues. However, your Internet connection will be nonexistent. In some instances, your router is the problem; in that case, try resetting your router to restore the connection. You can also try various methods for extending your WiFi connection if you find that your router isn’t reaching as far as you need.

What does WiFi stand for?

WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity.

How does WiFi work with cell phones?

Cell phones and smartphones connect to cell phone towers and networks for most of their function. However, many also have the option for users to take advantage of local WiFi networks. On a smartphone, users can have WiFi access and cellular network access simultaneously.

This usually provides faster speeds and a better online experience. Furthermore, in cell network dead zones where you can’t get service, users are able to connect to WiFi hotspots and share WiFi passwords with other phone users. This is beneficial to keep using their devices to make phone calls, text, use apps, and more.

WiFi also works with phones to enable WiFi calling. Users can use apps like Telegram or WhatsApp to do voice calls or send messages using their same phone numbers.

They don’t need cell service, which is great for anyone in a dead zone or traveling abroad. Ultimately, WiFi works much in the same way a cell network does for phones. It connects you to the Internet and others.

Источник