Update December 2022
WiFi is another word for “Wireless” (Some suggest it means Wireless Fidelity) and is a method of connecting to other “Wireless” devices by using radio signals, instead of using a physical Ethernet cable.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
A WAP is an electronic device that allows other “Wireless Devices” to connect to it using radio signals instead of a physical Ethernet cable. A WAP can be a stand-alone device or it could be built-in to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) provided Router see Internet Gateway Router
The WAP (normally) allows multiple connections and acts as a “Network Switch” that enables several “Network Devices” to “Talk” to each other and in most cases allows a connection to a network (LAN) and ultimately to the “Internet”.
See Lets network for a bit more networking stuff.
To use WiFi, you need :-
- A device that is “Wireless Enabled”. Most modern “devices” have a built-in Wireless Network Interface Card see WNIC. The device could be a PC or Laptop or Tablet or even Phone etc.
- A “Wireless enabled” device to connect to, this is usually a “Wireless Access Point” (WAP) often called a WiFi Router and is usually built-in to the ISP provided Internet Gateway (router) to provide Internet access but could be any other “Wireless enabled” device e.g PC, Laptop, Tablet, Printer.
Stand-alone WAP
In some cases, you can use a WAP that is not built-in to the Internet Gateway. The WAP would be a separate device that would normally be connected to the Internet Gateway using Ethernet cables but would then provide the means for Wireless devices to connect to the Internet or just the LAN.
To connect to a WAP, you will need :-
- To know the SSID / wireless network name of the WAP.
- The WiFi password.
Once connected, your device will be part of a computer network (LAN).
To connect to other “Wireless enabled” devices.
- You need to know the SSID of the device.
- The WiFi password.
A typical use of this is when you use your phone as a “WiFi Hotspot” to provide Internet access via the Mobile Network. This is often called “tethering”. In my case, I have an iPad without a SIM card so I can only use WiFi to connect to the Internet. This is not a problem at home but if I’m “out and about” and not near a “WiFi Hotspot”, it is a problem but if my phone has a decent 4G (mobile signal), I can set it up to be a “Wireless Hotspot” and then connect my iPad to the “created” HotSpot to get an Internet Connection. The Internet connection will be at the mercy of the mobile signal but if a good 4 or 5G signal is available, the Internet connection will be either pretty good or awesome.
WiFi General use.
WiFi is a game changer, you can connect to other devices without the constraints of cables.
- You can typically connect to your ISP Gateway to get an Internet Connection.
- You can connect to a network enabled printer, which can be very convenient.
- You can connect to other network devices and share files etc.
WiFi downside.
The convenience of WiFi (Wireless / no cables) is without a doubt awesome but WiFi has become a victim of its own success. The more modern WiFi routers (WAPs) have become more powerful and give a better performance. WiFi (currently) uses 2 (radio) frequencies, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz gives a “wider” coverage and greater range but is generally a slower connection. The 5 GHz is a very much faster connection but doesn’t traverse thick walls and other obstacles very well and the range is usually less than the 2.4 GHz. Generally speaking, the 5 GHz works best when the Router / WAP is within about 5 Metres and has “Line of sight” and has no obstructions like walls.
Modern WiFi routers (WAPs) can automatically adjust “channels” to try to get the best performance but if your neighbour also has a WAP with “automatic channel selections”, your WAP and the Neighbours WAP will constantly keep trying to get the best signal.
A good tool to troubleshoot WiFi problems is inSSIDer . Install this to give you all the info you need about your WiFi.
WiFi is subject to interference from other electrical equipment.
WiFi General notes.
If you are out and about, visiting maybe a pub, you can make use of their “Hotspot”. Just ask the bar staff for the WiFi log in details. Chances are that the Internet will be very slow.
Note WAPs in pubs and in some other public places are often called “WiFi Hotspots” and in many cases they are not secured so you don’t need a password. In this case, from a security point of view, I suggest you use your mobile phone data instead of WiFi.
When you are out and about and have a decent 4G /5G signal, this will in most cases be a better (faster) connection than a WiFi Hotspot that is used by a lot of people.
WiFi Internet Connection.
Connecting to the Internet via WiFi is perhaps coming to “the end of its days”. The Mobile phone networks are rolling out 5G (fifth Generation) and if you can get a good signal, it out performs WiFi by a long chalk. WiFi and 3G / 4G / 5G are all radio signals and are subject to interference. WiFi is mainly subject to “local” conditions and the number of people using the WAP but the WAP is usually connected to the “Internet” via cables. 3 / 4 / 5 G signals are more dependent weather and other conditions and in most cases it depends on which mobile network you use and their coverage in that area.
A bit of history :-
Years ago (20+) the only way to connect 2 or more computers (to create a network) was by using Ethernet cables and a “hub” or “Switch*” or by using a “cross over cable”. Have a look at Lets Network for more info on networks.
*Switches are now used more than hubs but both are electronic devices that allow Ethernet cables (from your network devices) to be inserted into the “ports” of the device and this creates a “junction box”. The result is that all devices connected to the switch can communicate with each other and they are all on the same Local Area Network (LAN).
When laptops started coming in the the market place, you still had to use an Ethernet cable to connect the laptop to the network and this was a bit of a gotcha because the laptop was designed as a portable computer (device) but you were restricted by the length of the Ethernet cable!
The first portable computer was released in 1975
The first truly portable computer was released in 1981
The concept of WiFi has been around since the 1970s or earlier. Being able to connect computers together using “Radio Signals” (wireless) instead of a physical Ethernet cable was awesome. WiFi has seen many improvements over the years and these days it is a lot more reliable but “Radio Signals” are subject to interference from other “Electrical signals”. The use of WiFi has freed us up, we now use WiFi on our phones, Tablets, laptops and even weighing scales (not joking – check out Withings) to connect to our home network and the Internet, with no Ethernet cables in sight 🙂
Apple introduced the first WiFi enabled laptop in 1998
Security note (yes I’m paranoid Pete) 🙂
The router (Internet Gateway) supplied by your ISP will enable you to connect several devices using a combination of Ethernet and WiFi. The router will have some sort of Firewall and it will use something called NAT which allows all your connected devices to use an “Internal non routable IP address”, instead of the “public” External IP address, see the glossary for info about IP addresses.
For most people, using only the ISP router should keep you and your devices fairly safe when connected to the Internet / WWW but it is a little restrictive because all the devices on this LAN can be accessed by any device connecting to this LAN (if you have enabled file sharing) and you only have the one firewall, which should ideally only be seen as “border protection”.
I would suggest that you obtain a separate stand-alone combined router, switch, firewall and WAP to create you own home LAN. This would enable you to more safely share info between your devices and share printer etc. The WAP on the ISPs router would then only be used for “guests” who need Internet access but would not have access to your home LAN and devices. Have a look at the bottom of the page of Lets Network to see a diagram of a home network (LAN) with a “Guest LAN”. Basically you would have 2 LANs, one for “home” and one for Guests, each of the LANs would be on different networks and the “home LAN” would be protected by 2 firewalls which adds to your layered defence.