PC Networking

What is Wi-Fi?


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What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity and means wireless connection area. As can be understood from the definition of wifi, it is a wifi signal area and you can access the internet wirelessly with tablets, phones, smartwatches, audio players, televisions, game consoles, and similar devices in this area.

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

Wi-Fi technology is the same as the working principle of transistor radios. In order for the Wi-Fi connection to be established, if a device that emits the signal at one end is at the other end, another device that can receive these signals and convert them to data is required.

Let's consider how the wireless internet connection takes place in an average home: Devices such as routers, phones, or computers have hardware that can transmit the signal wirelessly.

Router or modem creates a network by spreading the connection provided by your internet service provider at a frequency that your home devices can understand. Communication between devices that have Wi-Fi hardware such as a computer or smartphone and are allowed to access this connection is through the signal exchange, enabling wireless data exchange.

When Was Wifi Released?

The key invention for Wi-Fi technology is a set of local area network standards referred to as IEEE 802.11. Based in the USA, these standards announced by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, an international non-governmental organization, in 1997, were further developed in the following years and the speed and capacity of the connection were increased.

The standardization performed by the IECC on this issue is very important. Before 1999, when Wi-Fi technology started to be marketed, there were technologies that can provide a wireless connection between devices, but since there is no standard, incompatibility between these technologies created various difficulties in use.

The development of a technical standard has enabled different technology manufacturers to use this technology effectively and widely, and many products with Wi-Fi capability to enter the consumer market.

What is Wifi Bandwidth?

Wi-Fi technology works by means of radio signals. Bandwidth refers to the range of radio frequency that enables wireless data transmission. The specified range for the wireless network connection is between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Wi-Fi radio waves are generally at either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency. The biggest difference between the two frequencies is that a device with a frequency of 5 GHz can emit a signal to half the area of


2.4 GHz. In addition, the 5GHz frequency signal cannot cross solid objects such as walls and the connection will be interrupted. However, data is transferred much faster at a frequency of 5 GHz.

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