What Is Wifi

WiFi®

Sometimes sometimes written as Wi-Fi®, is a type of wireless networking technology used across the globally. It refers to  systems that use an 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in initially in 1997. The standard was then  largely promoted by the Wi-Fi Alliance®, a trade group that pioneered and promoted the commercialization of the technology.

Any person or business or organisation can use a wireless router or similar device to create a "hotspot" or a zone in which appropriate devices can connect wirelessly to a network that is connected into the wirless device so all that ius connected to that point can then gain Internet access.

Basic Setup

In a WiFi® network, computers or now a variety of devices such as printers phones handhelds and tablets with appropriate network cards can connect wirelessly to a an appropriate router. This router is usually connected to the Internet by means of a modem, often one featuring a high-speed connection. Any user in range  within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can then connect to the Internet,Speeds can be affected by closeness to the central router  and for optimum  good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (around 30.5 meters) or less are often suggested. There are a number of factors that can affect quality of connection but in the first place the signal strength must be good and signal boosters can extend the range of a wireless networks.

Types of Networks

WiFi® networks can either be "open", so that anyone can use them, or "closed", in which case a password is needed. An area blanketed in wireless access through a device is often called a "wireless hotspot." Anyone with a device that includes appropriate functionality can connect to this network while in the hotspot. Through this connection, a local network can be accessed or Internet connectivity can be achieved. This allows people within the hotspot to connect to the Internet via the router and modem, often provided for employees at a business or as a complimentary or paid for service at Hotels Conference centers Social Areas and today in multiple locations.

Large Hotspots

There are efforts underway to turn entire cities, such as  Cambridge UK ,San Francisco, Portland, and Philadelphia, into big WiFi® hotspots. Many of these plans could offer free, ad-supported service or ad-free service for a small fee to anyone within the city. Such efforts require a great deal of infrastructure planning and support, though they would grant unparalleled connectivity for residents of those cities.There is also benifits of controlling many mechanisms using this connectivity and not only does it facilitate external communication but makes communication within that network optimum

How It Works

WiFi® technology uses radio signals for communication, typically operating at a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz). Electronics that are "WiFi® Certified" are guaranteed to operate and interact with each other regardless of brand and manufacturer, as long as they use the same version of the technology. So unlike some manufacturers that seem to insist on having say an adapter unique to their brand this allows all brands using the technology to function and network together It is as if every mobile phone charger was the same and has become an efficient industry standard Companies designed this standard to cater to lightweight computing systems, which are typically mobile and designed to consume minimal power. Hardware developers produce mobile phones, laptops, and tablet computers that are all compatible with this wireless technology. Desktop computers can typically connect to such a network through the installation of a wireless card or dongle.Any existing hardware can usually be made connectable using a card or simple usb adapter and some software driver.

Different Types

Different versions of the 802.11 standard have been released over the years, often indicated by a letter following the designation. Wireless-G, for example, introduced numerous improvements over the initial standard such as higher transfer rates. It is important for a computer or device user to recognize what type of WiFi® their device uses, to ensure compatibility with the router creating a hotspot. As the technology continues to improve, additional designations are likely to be released, though they are often in the spirit of the standard compatible with earlier versions.

It is simply an industry standardization that has been adopted globally and because of that creates many inherent benefits to users and manufacturers alike