Definition of WiFi - What it is, Meaning and Concept

WiFi , also known as Wi-Fi , is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance (an organization that adopts and certifies equipment that meets the 802.11 standards of local area wireless networks.) The Wi-Fi Alliance was known as WECA ( Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance ) up to 2003.

The goal behind the WiFi brand is to promote wireless connections and facilitate the compatibility of the different equipment.All products with WiFi connectivity are certified interoperability.

The WiFi name was created by the agency Interbrand , also responsible for developing terms such as Prozac and Compaq .The intention of the WECA it was to establish a name that was easy to remember.Over time, many associated WiFi with Wireless Fidelity ( "Wireless Fidelity" ).

In the Today, WiFi-certified standards are very popular worldwide.This growth threatens the availability of the radioelectric spectrum, especially when connections must be made more than 100 meters away (which increases the risk of interference).

One of the main defects attributed to WiFi connectivity is its poor security .There are, however, various encryption protocols that allow you to encode the transmission of data and ensure its confidentiality.

The infrastructure of a WiFi connection includes access points (remote transmitters), routers (receiving the signal emitted by the telephone operator) and receiving devices (USB, PCI or PCMCIA cards).

The popularity of WiFi allows anyone who has a laptop with the necessary components to access a wireless network to enter a large number of hotels or restaurants and connect to Internet with their own team.

In recent years, there has been considerable growth in the adoption of the WiFi standard by users of all levels, in all parts of the world.It is true that it has great potential; However, as with any other technology, it also causes a number of problems.

Advantages of WiFi

Without a doubt, the strong point of this technology is the absence of cables; It is a type of connection that can connect a host of devices of various characteristics (such as video game consoles, telephones and televisions) avoiding users the headaches associated with the search and acquisition of the right cable for each one of them.

WiFi networks are especially useful in cases that do not support the use of cables; for example, they are widely used in conference rooms and international exhibitions, and are also ideal for buildings considered historical monuments, where it would be unacceptable to make the necessary wiring for Internet use.

In many cities, there are free access points in public places such as parks, shopping centers, subway stations and airports.Just have a device with Wi-Fi Internet connection and tell you to look for the available open networks.

Disadvantages of WiFi

The quality of the connection is the result of a number of factors, such as the electromagnetic radiation generated by the appliances, and this directly affects the transmission speed.In spite of their global standardization, many devices of different brands They are not absolutely compatible with WiFi technology, which also has an impact on speed.

Its radius of action is limited, so it is especially useful for home connections, however, it is necessary to clarify that the same router offers a much more stable transmission and with a much greater range outdoors than in a house, due to the interference mentioned in the previous paragraph.

The proximity of two or more access points may affect the quality of communication; This is especially true in buildings where many people use this technology simultaneously.