WiFi is a wireless communication standard used for local area networks. It allows devices to share files and resources, and can create hot spots for public access. WiFi networks are easy to set up and require a NIC card. Different versions of the standard exist, with varying speeds and frequencies. Security is important and can be ensured through password protection and traffic encryption.
Wireless Internet is just one of the services that WiFi® optionally supports. WiFi® is a wireless communication standard used between computer devices to share files and resources. The signal cannot travel long distances without loss of integrity, and is therefore used for local area networks (LANs). In the home, the LAN might include a personal desktop system and a laptop, while in the workplace, the network commonly connects numerous computers within a commercial building. The signal could also cover a small region within a city, creating hot spots or locations where the signal enables connectivity to the public via wireless access points (WAPs).
A WiFi® network is very easy to set up. The main computer acts as a server with a network interface card (NIC). The NIC card has a small antenna that transmits and receives WiFi® signals. A router and switch direct traffic on the network and are commonly built into a high-speed modem to integrate the Internet into the WiFi® LAN. Each computer connected to the network, called a client, also requires a WiFi® NIC.
Personal digital assistants, cell phones, and other portable electronic devices commonly have built-in WiFi® functionality. This allows them to connect wirelessly to a WiFi®-enabled network to transfer files, access data or browse the Internet.
WiFi® previously stood for “Wireless Fidelity,” but the Wi-Fi Alliance that designed the standard is moving away from that designation. The standard exists so that manufacturers can produce interoperable components that will be compatible in this environment. Were it not for this common standard, every manufacturer would have proprietary WiFi®, making it very difficult for consumers to purchase equipment. Every network should be built around a single brand. Furthermore, individual networks of different brands would have no way to communicate with each other and public access strategies would be nearly impossible.
As the standard is continuously improving, different versions represent the standard in different stages of evolution. The 802.11a standard has had some success, but it operates in the 5 gigahertz (GHz) range, requiring virtual line-of-sight operation. The first widely adopted WiFi® standard was 802.11b, which uses the 2.4 GHz band, a lower frequency that does not require near line-of-sight operation.
The 802.11g standard is followed by an increase in the maximum data rate from 802.11 megabits per second (mbps) of 11b to 54 mbps. Beginning in fall 2006, the new draft standard, 802.11n, increases this speed to 540 Mbps. Signals can successfully transmit data without loss of integrity from approximately 100 to 160 feet (30 to 50 meters), depending of the version used.
Security can be an issue with these technologies, as eavesdroppers can monitor unsecured data traffic. However, secure setup is critical for these networks, and users can enable password protections and traffic encryption by following the instructions in the accompanying software.
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