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Wi-Fi: What is it, what is it for and how do these wireless networks work?

Wi-Fi: What is it

Currently WiFi networks have become one of the most popular tools worldwide, and that is that anyone who has used Internet has surely used one of these networks, so you don’t need much presentation.

These are usually included in all current smartphones , as well as in any other state-of-the-art technological device . In addition to the routers offered by the different telecommunications companies that have this type of connections .

Therefore, WiFi networks have been established in a very strong way around the world, becoming one of the most important and advanced tools of today >. With this in mind, here we explain a little more about them.

100% cable-free Internet What is WiFi and who invented it ?

Internet 100% libre de cables ¿Qué es el WiFi y quién lo inventó?

Without a doubt, this type of connections is here to stay, and it is that it has now managed to replace Ethernet connections in a large percentage, thus eliminating any type of cable connection , offering a number of advantages to each of its users compared to traditional systems cable and Ethernet adapters .

And these networks give their users the possibility to connect to them through a wireless point with a certain transmission range . They will not need to use any cables or adapters to establish such a connection. All this has made it a faster and cheaper tool than traditional systems. To do this, here we explain a little more about the history and evolution of WiFi networks.

Origin

The first transmissions by wireless means were in the year 1888, carried out by the German physicist Rudolf Hertz , who decided to conduct an experiment with an oscillator and resonator thus obtaining a favorable result. After this, these types of transmissions were continued and in that same year they began to be used as means of communication in radio waves .

For the year 1907 began to be transmitted what were the first complete messages that crossed the Atlantic environment . While, in 1971 , at the University of Hawaii it began to design what was the first packet communication system for radio communication networks . These became the first WLAN networks , which were formed by 7 computers located on different islands where they all communicated to a single central computer.

All these projects were becoming the beginnings of these types of connections, until in 1990 technology manufacturers began to include them in their different devices, where companies like Nokia or Symbol Technologies began to create WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility) networks, what happened to be called WiFi Alliance for 2003 . From this moment on, this technology would begin to be applied in a mass use within the devices.

Evolution

When all this technology began to establish, it became a mess, and it was until in 1997 that the IEEE 802.11 standardization was established or also known as the standardization of WLAN wireless communication.

Since then, all this has had a constant evolution until today and which we explain to you below:

  • Standard 802.11G: This standardization was in effect until in 2003, which served to join all the technologies that They had been created so far. They served to improve the routers , thus making them have much more power in their signal , as well as a greater range.
  • Standard 802.11n: Appears in the year 2009 , which began offering connections at a faster speed thus increasing its effectiveness where MIMO (Multiple Imput Multiple Output) data was attributed. That is, different antennas were used that were able to improve the communications signal.
  • WIFI massification: Thanks to the appearance of the 802.11n Standard , it was possible to extend the range to 4 GHz, thus allowing these networks to be within reach of a greater number of devices . However, at the time this caused great inconvenience, since there was a large number of devices connected to the same network caused a congestion in data transmission.

In order to solve these problems, the companies of wireless networks were forced to manufacture the dual band routers , where links of 2.4 GHz and 5 were carried GHz simultaneously.

  • WiFi currently : Its use is currently defined in “Rethink Wireless”, where it can be said that this service has continued to improve markedly, becoming in one of the most important technologies worldwide . So much so, that there are now points of free Wi-Fi networks and paid in both houses and public places , being available to everyone.

This technology allows all technological devices , such as smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, printers, radios , among many others to connect to it and carry carry out a lot of functions in a very simple and fast way.

Wireless Standards

The frequencies most used and commercially for connection to Wireless networks are:

  • 802.11a : approved in 1999, it brings together the original protocol set of the standard, operating with a 5Ghz band. The maximum speed is 54Mbit / s, although the speeds are usually around 20Mbit / s in practice.
  • 802.11b : in this case, also ratified in 1999. With a band of 2.4Ghz, a frequency band quite widespread and used. The maximum transmission speed of 11Mbit / s, although in practice it is about 5.9Mbit / s.
  • 802.11g : it is an evolution of the previous one, using the same frequency band but with a theoretical maximum speed of 54Mbit / s as the case of 802.11a. As usual, the average in practice or actual speed usually decreases to 22Mbit / s. In addition, there is a variant called 802.11g + that could reach up to 108Mbit / s.
  • 802.11n : it appeared in 2004 as a new revision of the standard. The real speed in this case reaches up to 600 Mbit / s, so it represents an important performance jump compared to the previous ones. In addition, it can work in both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, so it is compatible with all devices from previous editions.
  • 802.11ac : it is the standard we usually find in the most modern electronic devices and the one that operates with the 5Ghz band. This standard supports speeds of up to 3.46Gbps allowing transfer speeds much higher than Wi-Fi N.

What are the fundamental elements of a WiFi connection?

This type of connections is a mechanism that allows different technology devices such as smart TVs, video consoles, mobile devices, computers , among others they can connect to a wireless network wirelessly.

These access points usually have a varied scope that will depend on each of the teams. In addition, this type of networks has fundamental elements which we show you below:

Access point

An access point is a WLAN device that acts as a central point and allows you to interconnect Ethernet networks with the networks wireless . That is , wired and wireless networks.

Wireless bridges

This has been designed to be able to connect two or more networks that are in different locations. In addition, it offers high-speed data that helps improve connections . These Bridges have as main function to connect those places where it is very difficult to be able to carry a wired connection , that is, university facilities, non-continuous building floors, offices very separate , among others.

Router

This device allows you to carry out the interconnection of networks other than wired routers. Many of these devices have the functionality of Gateway, also have WAN and LAN ports, where WAN is considered as a host over the wired network while LAN is a private network or also known as the private wireless network.

Gateway

The Gateway is the one that connects to the network and has been designed to allow the hosts of these networks to access the internet . It has a security based on Firewall and a NAT / PAT service , as well as a DHCP server .

Adapters

These are presented according to the connection and there are three types of them, whether for a USB connection, PCI and PCMCIA , they also have antennas that can be external or integrated into them.

Print Server

In this case its function is the same as that of a cable network . This will allow you to connect a printer or any other device to a network without the need to have a wired connection, thus improving its operation and the use of the resources of each of the teams.

How does the WiFi router work to provide wireless Internet?

¿Cómo funciona el router WiFi para brindar Internet sin cables?

The WiFi router have become a routing device that allows the connection between two or more devices simultaneously , at which can also be called mediator between devices . Through this device the user can connect to a server from his computer, smartphone or any other technological device.

In the same way, this device must follow a series of processes in order to carry this Internet signal.

As we explain below:

Establish connection and authentication

This first point is when the devices must establish a connection with the network, at that moment all the details go into detail corresponding parameters for user identification. This is carried out from authentication protocols, in addition this protocol allows the creation of a router access key , thus offering greater security.

Network reception

Once router has communicated with the modem , which is the device responsible for receiving the cable Internet signal , the starts working routing hardware , this is where the distribution begins of the signal.

Signal coding protocol

All this is done through the point-to-point protocol (PPP), where all information is encrypted, compressed and authenticated . This allows the required data to be ready to be delivered to the network nodes.

Route selection

Once you have all the conditions to be able to distribute the data, the following will be to find out which is the best route for it . In this case it is necessary that there is efficiency between the sender and receiver.

Data delivery

Once the best route has been chosen, the following will be the delivery of the data package , this is carried out through radio waves to the computer or any other device that made the request to the Internet server.

Reverse path

When a device needs to establish a Internet connection , it ends communicating with the router, who receives all the information and sends it to perform a work midway r between the page server and the computer

What is the frequency of a wireless network and which ones currently exist?

¿Qué es la frecuencia de una red inalámbrica y cuáles existen actualmente?

This type of WiFi networks works on two standard frequencies . It is the one that is responsible for representing the speed with which the network works , that is, the speed with which data is transmitted and received between devices connected to the Internet. This frequency where the technological devices connect is based on the Network Box model and the physical location of the equipment .

In addition, we find different types of frequencies which we explain below:

4th generation

This centralization known as 4G or fourth generation WiFi allows to reduce the number of access points and at the same time improve the coverage of the connection. In addition, it helps reduce signal noise , as well as all the spectra of the microcell that have been used in the previous generations, where frequencies intersect causing more restricted and reduced coverage at the same time .

And this fourth generation is able to multiply by six times the bandwidth of third generation networks and five times the number of users at access points >, all this helps to reduce infrastructure costs. In addition, all this was developed by Meru Networks .

5th generation

The fifth generation of WiFi or also known as gigabit Wireless and is called 802.11ac , has been developed to continue improving the user connections and it works exclusively in the 5Ghz band. Where it has speeds of 3.47 Gbps in case of work in ideal conditions .

¿Qué es la frecuencia de una red inalámbrica y cuáles existen actualmente?

6th generation

Finally we find what is the 6th generation in WiFi networks , this new 802.11ax standard is in the development phase and It has been a change that presents a large number of new features and features that will allow a large number of devices to access the same network simultaneously, where it is not You will see affected in its power and charging speed.

This is how both products and networks are able to operate under this new 802.11ax standard , where they currently work with the previous 5th generation standard. In addition , this new WiFi 6 is compatible with all the previous protocols , which will not become a problem for the connection of the current equipment .

How to have a secure Wi-Fi password and prevent hack us our internet connection?

¿Cómo disponer de una contraseña Wi-Fi segura y evitar que nos hackeen nuestra conexión a Internet?

Security is one of the most important factors of today , especially if it is an Internet connection, where we can avoid that third parties can hack it and steal data and private and important information . For this it is important that a good password be created, this being the first step in creating a safe environment for any type of danger.

Therefore, here we are going to give you some advice so that you can keep them in mind when creating a password.

Create a fairly long password