March 19, 2024

​8 Things You Didn’t Know About Wifi

From helping you keep your phone bill low to allowing you to connect your laptops, tablets, or desktops to the internet, Wifi has a ubiquitous presence on this planet. Wifi is also helpful for specific IoT applications like home automation, building automation, or in-house energy management.

Given the necessity and importance of Wifi in your daily life, here are some exciting things about Wifi that you must know.

Wifi is around 30 years old.

The group that developed IEEE 802.11, marketed as WIFI, came across to discuss WIFI’s shape and how they formed and managed services in the 1990s, which was around 30 years ago.

The name does not mean anything.

You may have heard about IEEE 802.11. If you have not, go through this recap: IEEE 802.11 is the standard that elucidates local area networks’ communication. The complete form of IEEE is the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers. 802.11 is the protocol and method of sending network info without annoying cables.

This technology was marketed and promoted as WiFi in the year 1999. WIFI does not mean anything, but you can agree that it is much simpler to remember.

Quick note: It is not an abbreviation for the term “wireless fidelity​”.

There are currently over 9 billion Wifi devices.

Towards the end of 2017, it was estimated that there were over 9 billion Wifi devices worldwide. This number obviously will be a lot higher now in 2022.

Wifi makes use of radio waves.

Let us go back to the basics. The technology that Wifi uses is radio waves. Through radio waves, the network transfers info from one device to another.

Wifi is susceptible to interference.

Nothing is more confusing or frustrating than streaming a movie that keeps on buffering, right? This drop in connection or signal strength can be because of interference.

WiFi utilizes radio waves to send the signal. However, they often bump paths with various other radio waves at nearly the same frequencies. With over 9 billion Wifi devices in function, hindrance in the network is certainly no surprise.

Some sources that result in interference with the Wifi involve smart TVs, cellphones, microwaves, Bluetooth-enabled devices, etc. Different barriers might even cause interference. While wood is not very bad, metal may stop the Wifi signal. To manage the Wifi signal and make the most of it, ensure you stay near the Wifi device. If you cannot stay in proximity, use a Wifi extension device.

You can lower interference by unplugging electronic devices. 

Your Wifi likes to remain the only power source in the system. Therefore, it may slow down or may not function in the case of any interference. You can reduce such interference by switching off and unplugging electronic devices like Bluetooth, TVs, printers, microwaves, etc. You can also change the channel on your wireless network in case of interference or move the Wifi nearer to your operational devices like a mobile or computer.

You may also be one of the blockers of your Wifi network.

Water is a good signal blocker. Given that the human body consists of 75% water, if you sit between your computer and router, your body may considerably lower the Wifi signal. It is good that our bodies are not made of metal because, as mentioned previously, metals are better blockers than water and wood.

Wifi frequencies are distinct.

Wifi transmits frequencies of about 2.4 gigahertz or 5 gigahertz, and the Wifi frequencies are way higher than those for cellular transmission. In short, higher frequencies indicate that signals have the potential to carry more data.

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