The Different Wireless, Wi-Fi Technologies and Options

For most of us, having access to the internet is something that is virtually taken for granted. With high-speed, reliable connections available usually for around a dollar per day, it is no wonder that current studies show 90 percent of the people that live in the United States are equipped with some kind of connection to the Information Highway.

There are multiple different ways that a connection to the internet can be established, with different options carrying certain strengths and weaknesses that make them ideal for various types of situations. For example, usually the quickest download and upload speeds can be obtained with a physical connection to the internet. On the other hand, wireless connections allow you to connect without having to worry about tripping over wires or moving away from the internet cable. In fact, wireless technology has started to advance to a level of sophistication that provides speeds approaching what you will find with a physical connection. These facts make it obvious that wireless will most likely become the premier way to connect to the internet in the future.

Since wireless is such an integral part of so many people?s computing practices, it is important to understand it fully and realize that there is more than one type of wireless technology available. With this understanding, you can ensure that the wireless connection you use is the best available. Following is a breakdown of the most common wireless technologies that are currently available, as well as which are the fastest and most reliable.

Standards

When WiFi was first introduced back in 1997, standards were laid down to implement its usage and governance. This was accomplished by a governing body known as the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee. These standards are known as the IEEE 802.11 collectively and contain several different variations. The very first that was introduced, IEEE 802.11, became available in 1997 and allowed for one to two megabits per second (Mbit/s) of transfer speed and a range of 20 meters from the wireless router. Subsequent releases were identified by a lower case number located at the end of the original 802.11 identifier. This would lead to increasingly faster rates of transfer speed, as well as a larger range that the connecting device can be from the wireless router.

The current top-of-the-line standard is 802.11n. This standard was released in October of 2009 and allows for transfer speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s and a range of 70 meters from connecting device to wireless access point.

Frequencies

Another important identifier when it comes to wireless technology is which frequency your access point operates on. These frequencies are set aside from the radio frequency spectrum strictly for use by wireless technology. The most common frequency in use is 2.4GHz and has been applicable to all standards since the original 802.11.

However, with newer standards, such as 802.11n, the 5GHz frequency is also used. This frequency provides for a much higher level of data throughput as well as being less susceptible to interference by other electronic devices in the home.

Tips To Maximize the Potential Of Your WiFi

One of the most important things to remember when setting up your wireless network is that where the router is positioned can play a large part in how fast and reliable your wireless connection is. Because WiFi is connected through the sending and receiving of signals without any landed connection, the best results come when the router is placed with an unobstructed view of the outside world. The signals will then have fewer solid objects to pass through in order to reach your router, a fact that can prevent signal degradation and loss of speed.

Another important thing to consider is where you place other electronic devices in reference to the wireless router. Some electronics can interfere with not only the signal coming in to your wireless router, but also the signal that goes from your router to your device. By placing the router in an area not cluttered by other electronics, you can easily begin to see a marked improvement in your upload and download speeds.

WiFi is one of the most important technologies to hit the computing world since it first started its current level of popularity in the 1990s. With new standards and increased speed potential being developed, expect it to virtually replace wired connections in the not-too-distant future.

Source: http://www.techtous.com/blog/the-different-wireless-wi-fi-technologies-and-options/

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