Wi-Fi

      Computers and devices that have the appropriate wireless capability can communicate via radio waves with other computers or devices using  Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity), which identifies any network based on the 802.11 standards. Developed by IEEE,  802.11  is a series of  network standards that specifies how two wireless devices communicate over the air with each other. A designation of 802.11 a/b/g on a computer or device indicate it supports all three standards. The newest standard, 802.11n, uses multiple transmitters and receivers, known as MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output), to reach speeds from 2 to 10 times faster than 802.11g.

       Wi-Fi sometimes is referred to as wireless Ethernet because it uses techniques similar to the Ethernet standard to specify how physically to configure a wireless network. Thus, Wi-Fi network easily can be integrated with wired Ethernet networks. When a Wi-Fi network accesses the Internet, it works in conjunction with the TCP/IP network standard.

       Wi-Fi Certified products are guaranteed to be able to communicate with each other. Most of today’s computers and many mobile devices, such as smart phones and handheld game consoles, are Wi-Fi enabled.

       One popular use of the Wi-Fi network standard is in hot spot that offer mobiles users the ability to connect to the Internet with their Wi-Fi enabled wireless computers and devices. Many homes and small businesses also use Wi-Fi to network computers and devices wirelessly. In open or outdoor areas free from interferences, the computers or devices should be within 300 feet of each other. In closed areas, the wireless network range is about 100 feet. To obtain communications of the maximum distances, you may need to install extra hardware.

       Some large areas, such as college or business campuses, are set up as a Wi-Fi mesh network, in which each mesh node routes its data to the next available node until the reaches its destination usually an Internet connection. A Wi-Fi mesh network is more flexible than a hot spot because each node in a mesh network does not have to directly connected to the Internet.