What Is Wi-Fi?

The terminology WI-Fi is derived from the words wireless fidelity and inspired by the term HI-FI.

So, what is Wi-Fi? WI-FI is a term that refers to a device that uses the 802.11 standard, developed and released in 1997 by the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electric Engineers. WI-FI can be spelled Wi-fi, wifi, Wifi or WiFi, and the phrase was coined by the commercial technology pioneering trade group Wi-Fi Alliance.

Within a Wi-Fi network, laptops or computers with wireless capabilities can connect directly to the internet without wires or cables through a wireless router, using a typical DSL or cable modem. Any computer/laptop within the vicinity of roughly 60m from the 'hotspot' (depending on the signal range) can connect to the internet through the wireless access point. Although average range distances of 30m are more common. Boosters can be purchased from retailers, doing a great job to expand the range and distance of the signal. 

Wi-Fi signals can be open to anyone within the range, or protected with an encryption login and password, and thus generally off-limits to the wireless internet seeker. An area with a good quality signal and range, available to the general public is accorded the term 'hotspot'. There are plans in the pipeline to turn many major US cities into one large wireless hotspot available to the general public with a small fee.

The typical and standard frequency for wireless internet devices is 2.4GHz, using radio communication technology. Wi-Fi Certified electronics are made to be compatible with each other, despite the brand or model types. The fairly new technology of Wi-Fi is designed for future lightweight systems and mobile devices that use minimal amounts of power. Everything from laptop computers to PDAs and other accessories are Wi-Fi compatibility designed for convenience. The latest technology of cellular mobile phones will be able to switch between phone networks and Wi-Fi networks seamlessly. 
 
Extended ranges of over 90m to 183m plus are expected to be released in the very near future, which will boost the transfer rates of data.

The modern workplace is becoming increasingly dependent on the laptops, PDAs, and other mobile devices need to access the internet/network from wherever they may be, without the shackles of a fixed network. This allows businesses to quickly deploy a network with more flexibility for lower costs. These defining factors ensure workers are connected for longer periods, thus being able to work more consistently and liaise with their co-workers more efficiently, when and where it is needed the most.

The ease and efficiency of setting up a Wi-Fi network is much improved compared to a wired network, by not being fixed to any one single point. Networks and connections can be created and disbanded within a short time period instead of the arduous and bulky structured cable network, which could take days or even weeks to create.

Overall, wireless network connections are a great way to set up a fully functioning, secure and robust local area network, with a minimum of fuss.