What is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)?

Understanding Wi-Fi technology is vital in today’s interconnected world. From its inception to its widespread adoption, Wi-Fi has revolutionized the way we join the Internet.

In this article, I will discuss the definition, history, evolution, and practical applications of Wi-Fi. Plus, I will touch on the benefits of basic wireless technology.

Definition of Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technology that operates WLAN (Wireless LAN) and IEEE 802.11 standard waves. In fact, “Wi-Fi” is not an abbreviation but a commercial name.

History

In 1999, 3com, Intersil, Lucent Technologies, Nokia, and Symbol Technologies came together. This association was renamed the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2003. Their goal was to create standards that would ensure that equipment equipped with wireless technology would be compatible.

In April 2000, they defined their first standard. This was Wi-Fi 802.11b, which used the 2.4 GHz band and reached speeds of 11 Mbps. This was followed by 802.11a. However, while 802.11a was free in the United States, they reserved it for military purposes in Europe. This made it difficult for North American manufacturers to sell their products in Europe.

They then approved the 802.11g version, which used the 2.4 GHz band but provided speeds of 54 Mbps. However, they experienced incompatibility problems in the market. Therefore, they launched multipoint solutions to make it compatible.

Later, they opened the 5 GHz band for civilian use. This was a significant advancement because there were no other wireless technologies at the same frequency. Therefore, the Wi-Fi communication standard was in two types: 802.11b (11 Mbps) and 802.11g (54 Mbps). These standards provided a suitable formula for wireless Internet access.

The 802.11n specification included the introduction of products to the market before they were approved. These products were called Draft-N. Thus, it was stated that they were subject to the draft rather than the final standard.

Wi-Fi Call

Wi-Fi calls are not to be confused with the High-Fidelity used in voice recording. WECA chose the term Wi-Fi to give users an easy-to-remember name. They hired an advertising agency for this purpose.

“The Interbrand agency designed the logo for Wi-Fi and Ying Yang,” said Phil Belanger, a founding member of the Alliance that supports the Wi-Fi name. Interbrand was hired to create a short, easy-to-remember name.

A more striking name was needed than the previously used “Direct Stream IEEE 802.11b” names. Interbrand created names like “Prozac,” “Compaq,” “OneWorld,” and “Imation.” They also invented the name VIVATO for the company.

Wi-Fi Setup

Having a wireless network at home is quite simple. First of all, you need an access point that connects to the ADSL modem. In addition, a wireless router terminal is required to connect to these devices. Some devices connect to the computer via USB.

However, PCI cards are faster and more efficient. Plus, you can find these cards in laptops as external PCI cards. Most devices come with integrated cards. In addition, you can increase the connection speed and ensure fluidity by keeping the access point in a high place.

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

Wi-Fi networking is quite simple. You need to connect the devices and install the software. Wireless routers usually include configuration tools. Each computer has a wireless network adapter. These adapters send and receive data via radio waves.

Wireless networks allow data information at speeds of 11 Mbps or higher. This speed is sufficient for most applications. The wireless environment offers the possibility of a “mobile office” anywhere. Therefore, the Wi-Fi connection ideally combines mobility and connectivity in data transmission.

Transmission Encryption

In wireless connections, it is easy to intercept communication and access the flow of information. Therefore, transmission encryption is recommended. This method is much more secure than WEP.

It provides new security features such as WPA and dynamic access key generation. In addition, you can configure the access point specifically for specific devices. In particular, you can also assign a unique identifier to devices using the MAC address. At this point, you only grant access to defined devices.

Parallelism of Connections

There is no difference between wired and wireless networks. Wireless networks transmit data using electromagnetic waves.

Plus, this eliminates cables. As a result, it offers high flexibility in communication and creates a better-organized work environment.

Security and Reliability in Wireless Connections

This technology is facing saturation of the radio spectrum due to the increase in the number of users. This problem is especially evident in long-distance connections (more than 100 meters).

Wireless networking was initially designed for short-distance use. However, when used in long-distance locations, the risk of interference increases.

In addition, most Wi-Fi networks are built without high-security measures. In this case, they lead to open networks and unprotected information.

There are various alternatives to secure these networks. The most common method is data encryption protocols using Wi-Fi standards. These standards include WEP, WPA, and WPA2. Here are some details:

• WEP: You encrypt the data on your network so that only the specified recipient can access it. There are 64-bit and 128-bit encryption options. However, I do not recommend WEP because of its primary security vulnerabilities. Password cracking software can easily decipher and reveal this key.
• WPA: It allows you to generate access keys dynamically. That is, you can add keys with alphanumeric digits, and there is no length limitation.
• IPSEC (IP tünelleri): VPNs provide user authentication and authorization. This security method also uses IEEE 802.1X standards.
• MAC Filtreleme: You can ensure that only authorized devices can access the network. However, it is better to use this method only when you have a small number of devices.
• Erişim Noktasını Gizleme: You can hide the SSID or Wi-Fi network name from your router device. This way, other users will never be able to see your network.
• WPA2 (802.11i standardı): It is a more secure protocol than WPA. However, it requires compatible hardware and software.

However, there is no utterly reliable alternative, so all methods carry the risk of being breached.

What are the Types of Wi-Fi?

Several varieties of Wi-Fi use the 2.4 GHz UHF and 5 GHz SHF radio bands, each with different characteristics and capabilities in terms of both transmission and throughput.

1. 802.11a

• Frequency: It operates at 5 GHz frequency.
• Speed: It provides data transfer speeds of up to 54 Mbps.

2. 802.11b

• Frequency: It operates at 2.4 GHz frequency.
• Speed: It provides data transfer speeds of up to 11 Mbps.

3. 802.11g

• Frequency: Operates at 2.4 GHz.
• Speed: It provides data transfer speeds of up to 54 Mbps.
• Compatibility: Backward compatible with 802.11b.

4. Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)

• Speed: It offers speeds of up to 600 Mbps.
• Frequency: It works on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
• Range: It provides better coverage and range compared to its previous versions.
• MIMO Technology: It uses multiple antennas to increase data transfer efficiency.

5. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)

• Speed: It supports speeds up to 3.5 Gbps.
• Frequency: It operates in the 5 GHz band.
• MU-MIMO Technology: It provides simultaneous data transmission to multiple devices.
• Beamforming: It focuses signals on connected devices for improved reliability and speed.

6. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

• Speed: It is capable of reaching speeds exceeding 9.6 Gbps.
• Frequency: It operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
• OFDMA: It increases efficiency in high-density environments by splitting channels into smaller sub-channels.
• Advanced Security: It offers advanced WPA3 encryption for more robust wireless security.

7. Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax-2021)

• Frequency: It uses the 6 GHz band in extra to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
• Extended Bandwidth: It reduces congestion and interference by providing access to the new 6 GHz frequency.
• Low Latency: It reduces latency for better real-time application performance.
• Enhanced Spectrum: It utilizes additional spectrum available in the 6 GHz band for better performance.

8. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)

• Speed: We expect to offer multi-gigabit speeds.
• Frequency: It is likely to operate in the 6 GHz band and potentially higher frequencies.
• Enhanced Efficiency: It offers improved modulation and coding for higher data rates and efficiency.
• IoT Support: They are designed to meet the increasing demands of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

From the oldest to the newest, all types of Wi-Fi are evolutions of technology. Hiri has led to the development of multiple types that offer improved speeds, reliability, and performance.

You need to understand the differences between these Wi-Fi types so you can determine the wireless solution that works best for you in your home or workplace.

Wi-Fi Network Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros

Wireless networks have several advantages, among which we can highlight:

• As with wireless networks, the comfort they offer is far superior to that of wired networks because everyone who has access to the network can connect from different points within a sufficiently wide area.
• Wi-Fi networks are, of course, more advantageous than cable technology. You do not use any cables in this infrastructure. Instead, you can access wirelessly from more than one computer without any extra cost.
• The Alliance provides total compatibility between Wi-Fi-branded devices. Thus, we can use wireless technology with full compatibility anywhere in the world.

Cons

Wi-Fi technology has more disadvantages than advantages.

• One of the disadvantages of wireless structure is the interference that the environment can cause. In other words, it provides a lower speed than a wired connection due to signal losses.
• The main disadvantage of these networks is the security area. There are some malicious software that can calculate the network password. Therefore, they can capture packets in wireless transmission. These programs are software that can work in mixed mode with your Wi-Fi card. In short, they detect WEP-type keys even more efficiently.

The Alliance developed the WPA and WPA2 standards based on the 802.11i working group. These standards solve security problems. Networks that you protect with WPA2 provide perfect security and are, therefore, generally robust. However, many companies do not allow wireless networks.

You may also experience problems with the range of the connection. A receiver may not be able to transmit outside the area where you position it. For example, it is usually possible to connect from outside the office or from a neighboring house. In addition, Wi-Fi technology is not compatible with other types of wireless connections, such as Bluetooth, GPRS, and UMTS.

What is SSID for Wi-Fi?

SSID stands for Service Set Identifier. It is an essential component in Wi-Fi networks. It acts as the name of the wireless network, and through it, we connect our devices to the network.

SSID identifies a specific wireless network. So, when you turn on your device, various SSIDs appear in the list. This list allows you to choose between different networks. Thus, you can select the network you want to join.

However, SSID and Wi-Fi passwords are different things. SSID is similar to the name of the network, but the password is the network’s security key. Without the correct password, you will not be able to connect to the network even if you know the SSID.

Also, the SSID plays a vital role in security. If the SSID is broadcast, devices within range can see the network. On the other hand, if the SSID is hidden, the network is more complex to detect. This adds an extra layer of security. However, hiding the SSID can be easily discovered by hackers. Therefore, it does not provide complete protection.

When setting up a router or access point, you can use the default SSID or create a custom one. The default SSID can be helpful, but a unique name is preferable. This adds a personal touch and makes it harder for unauthorized users to guess the web.

In addition, it is a good idea to use an SSID that does not contain personal information. Avoid using your name or address as the SSID. This is important for privacy and security reasons.

What is the Difference Between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth play an essential role in our wireless environment. Both technologies provide wireless communication. However, they have different purposes and capabilities. Knowing these things will help you pick the right technology.

Wi-Fi stands for “Wireless Fidelity”. This technology connects devices to the Internet without using cables. It also allows us to communicate over a local area network.

We usually use it at home or in the office due to the visual pollution caused by cables. In addition, these networks operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. They offer long-range and high-speed. These features are also suitable for video streaming and online gaming.

On the other hand, Bluetooth provides short-range communication. We primarily use it to connect our smartphones, headphones, mice, and speakers to our PC. Bluetooth uses low-power radio waves. Therefore, it is the most popular choice for connecting peripherals to a computer. However, it usually operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and suggests a range of about 30 feet.

The main difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is their purpose. While Wi-Fi helps in accessing the online world, the other facilitates data exchange between devices. We also see these differences in range, data transfer speed, and power consumption.

Wi-Fi generally offers a more extended range than Bluetooth. In other words, routers provide connection support to large areas. On the other hand, Bluetooth is insufficient in terms of range, so we use it at close distances.

When it comes to data transfer speed, Wi-Fi is faster. For this reason, it is ideal for high-resolution video streaming. The other one works at lower speeds and is suitable for wireless audio streaming.

Also, when we look at power consumption, we can say that Bluetooth is energy efficient. In other words, it is suitable for battery-powered devices. Wireless connection, on the other hand, consumes more power, which affects battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

In my final words, Wi-Fi wireless connection has made it easier for us to access the Internet and share information. This technology offers a seamless and valuable way for wireless. It has also shown significant advances from its essential evolution to the present day.

As a result, with advanced standards and encryption technologies, it is now an integral part of our daily lives. In addition, this technology has provided mobility and connectivity. As we continue to embrace the benefits and advancements of wireless access, it is essential to remember the contributions of companies and organizations. In summary, Wi-Fi networking has increased our interaction with technology, and its impact will persist and grow in the future.