Wireless Fidelity Simplified

Connecting to the internet is increasingly important. At some point in every one of our daily activities, we would need our devices to interface with the internet to enable us to work, send messages, and communicate. If you've been to a public place recently, say, an airport, a restaurant, a coffee shop or lounge, even a hotel or a library, chances are you've walked right into an environment where wireless connection to the internet is available.

^{WiFi sharing. By Shaunleeyh - during an event, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48523610}

Wireless Fidelity often called Wi-Fi is commonplace in our world today. Both individuals and organizations have a great need for Wi-Fi. Many individuals employ wireless networks for an internet connection to achieve different aims. The technology is rapidly spreading in different parts of the globe as some countries and states seek to employ wireless networks in their nation to provide free or low-cost internet access to residents.

Do you sometimes let the thoughts of how Wi-Fi works run through your mind? Lacking the knowledge of how certain things work can leave you puzzled. The technology behind wireless fidelity is the reason you can stream online videos for hours, connect seamlessly to the internet or have an email pop up on your smartphone real quickly.

What Is Wireless Fidelity?

Generally, Wireless Fidelity is considered the same thing as Wireless Local Area Network WLAN. Wi-Fi is a kind of networking technology that enables electronic devices such as desktops and laptops, mobile devices including smart wearables, and any other equipment that needs an internet connection, to interface with the internet with no wires connected. Simply put, Wi-Fi allows the devices to share information with one another, building a network.

It is not uncommon to see individuals call a pocket-sized device Wi-Fi. It is just like calling your phone "communication" just because you use it to communicate. Wi-Fi ensures internet connectivity through a wireless router that enables devices to connect to the internet. Just like every other wireless device you can think of, wireless fidelity is powered by radio frequencies and this is the sole reason it is able to send signals across several devices. They all work off of the same principle.

How Does Wireless Fidelity Work?

The wireless network utilizes radio waves to function the same way the portable radio, televisions, and cell phones work. The way communication works in a wireless network is somewhat straightforward, a lot like a two-way radio communication. It works like this: a device's wireless adapter interprets data into radio signals and sends it across using an antenna. A wireless router gets the translated signals and sends them to the internet via a real word Ethernet connection after analyzing it.

This pattern can also work in reverse. The wireless router receives data directly from the internet, translates it into radio signals, and transmits it to the wireless adapter of the devices.

Types Of Wireless Technologies

Wireless technologies are of four different types and series. They include:

802.11a

802.11a is a series of wireless technology that has been around for a while now. This type of wireless technology defines the configuration and layout of the radio signals translated and transmitted by Wi-Fi networking routers and antennas. 802.11a delivers definitions for wireless ATM systems and is commonly utilized in access hubs. Wireless networks employing 802.11a operate ad radio frequencies varying between 5.725GHz and 5.850 GHz. Data speed can be as high as 54 Mbps.

802.11b

This series of wireless technology is specially employed in homes and basic appliances because it costs less and has a good signal range. 802.11b was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) over two decades ago alongside 802.11a. The 802.11b standard gives a wireless range of circa 35 meters indoors and 140 meters outdoors. It favors a transfer rate up to 11Mbps or 1.375 megabytes in one second.

802.11g

This series of wireless technology became a thing in the early 2000s. It came off as a support for the existing 802.11a and 802.11band is considered the best in its range. It works perfectly on a 2.4GHz bandwidth and facilitates data transfer rates up to 54Mbps. It is quick to access at a considerably matchless speed.

802.11n

The 802.11n is the latest type of wireless technology specifically developed to improve on the previous series – 802.11g. It supports about 100Mpbs bandwidth and improved signal vigor, and this is made possible with the use of numerous wireless signals and antennas.

Why Does Wi-Fi Matter?

It's been over two decades since the inception of the revolutionary technology and it is becoming clear that it will be an important aspect of technology for many years. The technology is seeing massive success and adoption rate growing at an interestingly exponential pace. Asides from backing connectivity within short distances, the technology behind Wi-Fi seeks to create interoperability certifications for novel Wi-Fi 6 products that work over the currently launched 6 GHz frequency band.

With that being said, wireless technology will never be in a position of negligible importance. Developers are steadily exploring the prospects of enhancing internet connections and launching several upgrades to improve speed, reduce congestion and traffic, aid interoperability, and design innovative devices that will facilitate seamless networking connectivity to a local area network or the internet.

The technology giving wireless fidelity a boost is rapidly hitting new milestones and overtaking and flipping over wired technologies. The traffic for wireless and mobile devices as of 2020 was accounted for two-thirds of all IP traffic, with an estimated number of 20.4 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices fully connected to the network.

^{source: flickr}

The future of wireless connectivity is promising for the world of wireless communication. With over 50,000 different types of Wi-Fi products and more to be developed, all with the capacity to give wireless communication a boost, the technology is progressing impressively as network vendors work to improve wireless networks.

In a few years, wireless technology will be more ubiquitous on thousands of millions of different devices, completely displacing and diminishing the need for wired technology.

References

• https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/what-is-wifi.html#~q-a
• https://www.elprocus.co,m/how-does-wifi-technology-work/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/wireless-fidelity
• https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-wi-fiwireless-fidelity/amp/
• https://www.semiconductorstore.com/blog/2014/WiFi-standards-802-11a-b-g-n-vs-802-11ac-Which-is-Best/806/