Did you know that unlike HiFi, which is the short form for High Fidelity, WiFi is definitely not the short form for Wireless Fidelity. We've had HiFi for decades, and WiFi is a far more recent invention ...
WiFi makes the world very convenient, but it can have issues!
The WiFi Alliance, the organization that owns the registered trademark for WiFi, specifically defines WiFi as, "Wireless local area network products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' 802.11 standards.".
"There we have it ... clear as mud!"
Some days I have customers phoning me and saying, "my WiFi is not working" and what they actually mean is that the internet connection is down. Some days I get, "The Internet is down" when actually, the internet is active and the WiFi signal is poor from the router or a local Access Point (AP) or WiFi Extender to the device.
There are literally hundreds of devices that transmit WiFi signals and the main use is that WiFi hardware allows wireless transmission of data to and from a smartphone, smart speaker, tablet, smart TV and many other Internet-connected devices ... without the need for a cable.
The most common transmission device is the WiFi-enabled router which is connected to your broadband connection. The reason for so many access points and extenders on the market is due to the range of the in-built WiFi chip in a router.
Most routers are not in a central position in the house to send the signal out evenly and are usually located at one end of the premises wi the signal required at the other end of the property. When most people expect to simply connect via WiFi and have unlimited internet access, even the smallest problem with the signal can cause frustration.
There are literally thousands of WiFi signals floating around in the air and they only work on a range of 14 frequencies, not all of which can be used, depending on your country's regulations!
So, there's a huge potential for signal clashes. Routers and extenders would need to be adjusted to a different frequency to your neighbours' to help get a clean signal. This need has led to the explosion of MESH technology.
"Having tested several mesh kits, they do what they say on the tin!"
A master transmitter plugs in by cable to your router and substitutes the WiFi signal to its own. The slave units receive that signal and spread it out evenly to create a single network that covers a far greater area than the WiFi on the router can on its own.
The other advancement in WiFi technology has been the creation of the 5GHz band, in addition to the existing 2.4GHz one. Many common consumer devices are not equipped to pick up both frequencies to help load balance of WiFi transmitting equipment.
On a commercial and business basis, MESH systems allow whole buildings to be 'flooded' with access points with the same identification names and single passwords (but can still have company and guest access rights) so that users can stay connected wherever they are on the premises.
A single commercial-grade access point can cope with over a hundred (up to two hundred in some cases) simultaneous connections. The only funnel effect of experiencing poor performance is that the internet connection serving the building may not have enough bandwidth to support all those simultaneous connections.
"Slow WiFi is very often down to the broadband connection!"
Here at BTS (UK), we carry out surveys to check the surrounding interference levels from other WiFi signals to understand the problems you're having. Whether you're at home or at your business premises, we can help you.
Until next time ...
PRITESH GANATRA
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01604 926100 or take a look at my website which you can find by clicking here.
The word 'Technology' has too many connotations in today's world!
Where do we start? Simple terms like 'IT' and 'Telecoms'? or terms that appear NOT to have an actual meaning at all!, e.g. 'Internet of Things (IoT).
Technology also encompasses specialist products and services like 'Rugged' and 'Tough' android devices, Lone Worker Software, panic alarm devices, smart energy devices, low energy lighting, credit card terminal (PCI DSS) security, indoor/ outdoor Wi-Fi systems, Ultrafast Gigabit internet connectivity, access control systems, industrial IoT circuit controllers.
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