WHAT IS WiFi?
"WiFi", also known as Wireless Fidelity, is the way to connect devices together without wires. It can be done in homes, businesses, between businesses, etc. WiFi offers a lot of advantages over LANS (Local Area Networks).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Wireless Internet Access has four components that form its structure: high-speed access, a networking gateway, a wireless network, and a wireless customer. The customer connects wirelessly through the wireless network to the gateway, which launches their Internet browser and authenticates through the gateway by entering a coupon code or by purchasing time. The user now has high-speed Internet.
The four components are:
1) High-speed access, which is also known as broadband, is an Internet connection which is generally much faster than dial-up service. Examples of high-speed Internet access are ISDN, cable modem, DSL, and satellite services.
2) The Network Gateway is the link between your high-speed access connection and the wireless network; it acts like a gate. This gate will prevent people from accessing your wireless network without your knowledge. The gateway also allows managing tools as well. These can include authentication, network monitoring, and other services such as printing and VOIP (Voice-Over Internet Protocol.)
3) A Wireless local area network (LAN) is a system of connecting Personal Computers (PC) and other devices within the same physical proximity using high-frequency radio waves instead of wires. Wireless networks work as long as your wireless-ready device is within range.
4) Wireless customers are the end users. They include anyone who has a PC, Laptop Computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Cellular Phone, or other handheld device equipped with a wireless adapter (for wireless connectivity.) The wireless adapter can be built in or it can be an external device plugged into your computer.
WiFi allows a universal Internet connection to be broadcasted through radio waves.
Radio waves enable WiFi to exist and function. They allow WiFi networking to occur between numerous people. The radio waves are transmitted from antennas and routers and are picked up by WiFi receivers such as computers and cell phones that are equipped with WiFi cards. When these devices receive a signal within the range of a WiFi network, the WiFi card then reads the signal and produces a Wireless Internet connection. Once a connection is established between the user and the wireless network, the user will typically be prompted with a login screen and password.
WiFi networking is in the forefront of wireless technology. Around the world, "Hot Spots" are being created in cities and communities so that anyone with a Laptop Computer, PDA, or Cellular Phone can wirelessly plug into the Internet. Hot Spots are connection points for WiFi networks; areas where Wireless Internet is available for those who have Internet-ready devices. Hot Spots are rapidly becoming available everywhere - in restaurants, hotels, airports, schools, municipalities, etc.
As people have begun using WiFi at home, and wireless Hot Spots have began to sprout here and there, it is clear we are all becoming hooked. Today, millions of wireless access points (APs) are sold annually and hundreds of thousands of wireless Hot Spots have emerged worldwide. We're all learning fast there's a tremendous amount of freedom, convenience, and productivity packaged up in that little wireless access point.
If you use a cordless phone, then you already understand WiFi
WiFi is radio technology and is quite analogous to a cordless telephone in function. Your wireless access point (AP) is the base station and your PC, Laptop, or PDA is the handset. WiFi even uses the same slice of the electromagnetic spectrum (2.4-5.8Ghz) as most modern cordless telephones.
The following is a simple and understandable way to picture the way WiFi works. The main source is the antenna; the antenna sends radio signals to the people who want to access the internet. The people wanting access must have a WiFi card. The WiFi card receives the radio signals through its receivers and creates a wireless connection.