Wi-Fi has become an integral part of our fast-paced everyday lives. Thanks to Wi-Fi, we no longer have to be tethered to the Internet with cables. But have you ever stopped to wonder how it works?
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit information between your device and a router via frequencies. Two radio-wave frequencies can be used, depending on the amount of data being sent: 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz. What does that mean, though? Well, a hertz is just a measurement of frequency. For example, let’s say you’re sitting on a beach, watching the waves crash to shore. If you measured the time between each wave crash, you’d be measuring the frequency of the waves. One hertz is a frequency of one wave per second. One gigahertz, on the other hand, is one billion waves per second. (Thank goodness beaches aren’t like that—it probably wouldn’t be too relaxing.) The higher the frequency, the greater the amount of data transmitted per second.
The two Wi-Fi frequencies are split into multiple channels so as to prevent high traffic and interference. When it comes to sharing the data across these channels, well, that’s when the magic—er, computer science—happens. The first step in the process is initiated by you (the user). When you access the Internet on your device, it converts the information you’ve requested into binary code, the language of computers. Everything computers do is based in binary code, a series of 1s and 0s. When you click on this article, your request is translated into a bunch of 1s and 0s. If you’re using Wi-Fi, these 1s and 0s are translated into wave frequencies by the Wi-Fi chip embedded in your device. The frequencies travel across the radio channels mentioned earlier and are received by the Wi-Fi router that your device is connected to. The router then converts the frequencies back into binary code and translates the code into the Internet traffic that you requested, and the router receives that data through a hardwired Internet cable. The process repeats itself until you have loaded this article—or anything that requires the Internet. All of this happens at an unbelievably fast rate; most routers operate at 54 Mbps (megabits per second), meaning that when such routers translate and transmit binary data, 54 million 1s and 0s are taken in or sent out in a single second.
Wi-Fi is the radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into data you can see and use. The device transmits a radio signal back to the router, which connects to the internet by wire or cable.
Wireless devices can be connected to WiFi but it is not necessarily to the Internet. While on the Internet, Wi-Fi is not required to connect computers globally. In WiFi, a computer is connected to the Internet.Whereas on the Internet, many computers are connected to a network.
Your home Wi-Fi won't work unless you have the right equipment. You'll need two devices—a modem, and a router. The modem is responsible for receiving your internet connection and communicating with the internet. Then, a router broadcasts a wireless signal to your computers, TV, and other smart devices.
WiFi transmits data using radio waves. A device's wireless adapter converts data into a radio signal and sends it out via an antenna. This process works both ways: the router also takes data from the Internet, converts it to a radio signal, and sends it back to the device to be decoded.
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit information between your device and a router via frequencies. Two radio-wave frequencies can be used, depending on the amount of data being sent: 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz. What does that mean, though? Well, a hertz is just a measurement of frequency.
Another easy way to get Wi-Fi without internet when you're away from home is to use your mobile phone as a personal hotspot. Most mobile devices offer the option of turning the device into a portable internet provider by creating a private Wi-Fi network that you can then link to your laptop or other devices.
To make a complicated concept simple, WiFi refers to a type of wireless connection, while the Internet is what WiFi connects to. You can't have WiFi without Internet, but you can access the Internet without WiFi—most commonly via a wired connection or by using cellular data.
Cellular data uses the satellite communication methods used to connect cell phone calls. These transmissions can be converted to Internet data signals and back, which is what allows you to do things like check your email on a smart phone without being connected to the Internet via WiFi.
Can you use a laptop without Wi-Fi? Yes, you can still use your laptop without the internet for tasks or apps that don't require internet. However, if you don't have an internet connection but still need to be online on your laptop, you can connect it to a hotspot from your cell phone.
Various last-mile connectivity technologies are used, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, fiber-optic, and wireless connections. A Network Interface Device (NID) brings the fiber into your home. DSL connections utilize existing telephone lines to transmit data.
Similar to the way a radio receives sound through the airwaves, WiFi-enabled devices like laptops and smartphones have built-in wireless adapters that can detect these radio waves. These adapters convert the radio waves into binary data (ones and zeroes) that computers understand.
Since your device is connected directly to the router -- compared to wirelessly through Wi-Fi -- you can expect faster bandwidth, which is how much data you can transmit through an internet connection. Ethernet also boasts more consistent speeds since wired signals don't fluctuate as easily as wireless ones do.
The good news is that most public establishments -- such as businesses, coffee shops, parks, libraries, hotels and restaurants -- typically offer free public hotspots. Certain apps like Instabridge can help narrow your search for free Wi-Fi hotspots available near you.
Bluetooth is used for short-range device-to-device communication, whereas Wi-Fi provides Local area networking and internet access. Bluetooth ranges up to only 30 feet, while the range of Wi-Fi is hundreds of feet.
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.
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