What is Wi-Fi?

Published on 20.02.2023

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Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, is a wireless networking technology that allows information exchange, enabling devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets to connect to the internet. Today, Wi-Fi technology has become ubiquitous, making connectivity without wires for every home or business effortless. It enables us to communicate conveniently and access information over the internet seamlessly.

Let us Understand - What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi technology enables electronic devices to connect to the internet and communicate with each other wirelessly using radio waves, establishing a network connection without physical cables.

How does Wi-Fi work?

Similar to cell phones or television sets, Wi-Fi uses radio waves or frequencies measured in Gigahertz(GHz). The main elements of a Wi-Fi network are:

Wireless Router: A wireless router serves as the central hub of a Wi-Fi network. It connects to the internet through a wired connection (such as a broadband modem) and then broadcasts wireless signals to allow devices within its range to connect.
A Wireless Access Point: Provides a radio connection allowing wireless devices to connect to the router.
Modem: Connects the local network to the internet service provider (ISP) through a physical connection.

Usually, all three of these components are in a single box that you receive from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

For Wi-Fi to work, you require a modem connected to a wireless router.
The wireless adapter in a device converts data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
The wireless router receives this signal and decodes it into information.
The router then sends this information to the internet using a physical connection, the ethernet.

There are four types of wireless networks, Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), and Personal Area Network (PAN). LAN usually connects a small group of computers, WAN is a comparatively wider network that covers towns or cities, WAN spans even larger and connects various countries, while, PAN covers short-distances connecting devices within an individual's reach.

Although Wi-Fi requires wired layout through ethernet cables, there are other internet connectivity options available.

Read on to understand how to connect a laptop/tablet to the internet without a Wi-Fi router.

1. Mobile Hotspot:

Most smartphones today have an in-built feature known as the personal hotspot, that allows the mobile device to act as a mobile modem and share mobile data with other devices in the proximity. The Wi-Fi speed in the connected devices depends on the network strength in your mobile phone.

2. MiFi Devices:

MiFi devices are pocket-sized portable Wi-Fi routers that connect devices to the internet via a data only SIM card. These devices enable creation of a personal hotspot to connect multiple devices to the internet.

Visit the Vi MiFi page to order your MiFi device and to read more details.