What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi Standards
What standard should I choose for an apartment and office
The pros and cons of Wi-Fi
How to increase the speed of Wi-Fi
What to remember
How to make Wi-Fi correct and secure
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technology through which computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices exchange data via ultrashort radio waves.
Wi-Fi creates a wireless LAN in a limited area: within the home, office, or other space. Computers, tablets, smartphones, printers, and other devices can be in the network.
Wi-Fi is often used for wireless Internet connection in a house, apartment, or office. However, a local network can exist without an Internet connection, providing only data exchange between devices inside this wireless LAN.
Wi-Fi transmits data from one device to another using radio waves in a certain frequency range — 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz.
To create a network, routers with a built-in Wi-Fi access point or full-fledged Wi-Fi access points are usually used
Any of these devices have antennas to transmit the signal. The antennas can be located inside the device body or externally. In the latter case, they can be directed towards the connected devices to improve the signal quality.
The receiving device, for example, a laptop or smartphone, also has an antenna, usually inside the case. Its size and shape depend on the specific gadget.
Radio signals pass through walls and other obstacles, ensuring indoor and outdoor communication. The total Wi-Fi coverage area is several tens of meters inside buildings and about 100 meters near street access points. It depends on the router’s power, frequency range, and standard version. Walls, furniture, metal objects, and other obstacles reduce the coverage area, and various electronic devices create interference, degrading the signal quality.
Wi-Fi uses radio waves in the range of 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz. There are separate channels for connection within the range:
For 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, three disjoint channels with a width of 20 MHz each are used.
For a frequency of 5 GHz, 33 channels are used, 19 of which do not overlap. At the same time, the channels are 40 MHz wide, that is, twice as wide as Wi-Fi with a frequency of 2.4.
59 channels of various widths are already used for the 6 GHz standard. There are 14 additional channels with a width of 80 MHz and seven additional channels with a width of 160 MHz.
It sounds complicated, but a simple rule works here: the more disjoint channels and the wider their width, the less interference will occur due to the simultaneous operation of several networks. Therefore, in apartment buildings or business centers where dozens or hundreds of wireless networks exist simultaneously, it is better to use Wi-Fi with a frequency of 5 GHz rather than 2.4 GHz. In the latter case, they will overlap, reducing each other’s stability.
Wi-Fi Standards
Several variants of the 802.11 standard exist, which differ in data transmission parameters, network coverage radius, and characteristics of radio transmitters and connected devices.
| STANDARDS | DATA TRANSFER RATE | FREQUENCY | FEATURES |
| 802.11b (2001) | Up to 11Mbps | 2.4GHz | Outdated and not in use |
| 802.11g (2003) | Up to 54Mbps | 2.4GHz | Outdated and not in use |
|
802.11n (Wi-Fi 4, 2009) |
Up to 600Mbps | 2.4GHz /5GHz | One of the most popular versions of the protocol. It was in it that MIMO technology was used for the first time to improve coverage performance due to spatial encoding of the signal |
|
802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5, 2014) |
Up to 1Gbps | 5GHz | Wide channels at 5 GHz and an advanced version of MIMO |
|
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6, 2021) |
Up to 11Gbps | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | OFDMA is used, a digital modulation technology that divides the transmitted data into small packets that can be transmitted in parallel |
|
802.11be (Wi-Fi 7, 2023) |
Up to 40Gbps | 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz | Simultaneous use of multiple parallel connections at different frequencies. Improved versions of MIMO and OFDMA |
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Adapters in routers and connected devices work with certain Wi-Fi standards. For example, if the gadget supports 802.11ac, it means that it is certified for this version of the protocol. The Wi-Fi Alliance carries out the certification of devices.
Usually, routers and gadgets with new standards are backward compatible with devices of the old standard. That is, a smartphone with Wi-Fi 6 support will connect to a router with Wi-Fi 5 without any problems. But if you need maximum data transfer speed and stable connection, choose devices of the same standard.
What standard should I choose for an apartment and office?
The choice depends on the required data transfer rate, the number of connected devices, and other factors. Let’s look at the most popular versions of the protocol.
Wi-Fi 4 is suitable for rooms where up to 20 gadgets connected to Wi-Fi are located simultaneously. It is a good choice for small offices and apartments with limited devices.
Important! All modern routers, starting with Wi-Fi 4, are suitable for an apartment or house with fewer than 20 devices simultaneously. If the data transfer rate is low in individual rooms, then the problem is not in the standard but other factors, such as using the 2.4GHz frequency range.
Wi-Fi 5 is the “gold standard” for offices and businesses. Supports consistently high data transfer rates for 20-30 devices.
Wi-Fi 6 provides even more channels on the local network. It is suitable for connecting 30 or more devices to a network.
The pros and cons of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the main wireless communication protocol used in apartments, offices, and industrial facilities. Its widespread use is due to the advantages of the standard:
When moving devices in space, the stability of the connection and high data transfer rates are maintained.
One wireless network can serve several dozen devices at the same time. The maximum number of gadgets depends on the Wi-Fi standard, router type, and network bandwidth.
You can connect various smart devices and sensors to Wi-Fi and create a network to control a smart home, media center, security system, and other IoT applications.
Wi-Fi can be used to create local wireless networks. Devices inside the home or office can exchange data with each other wirelessly and connect to shared resources, such as a printer or scanner.
The ability to set up a mesh network with multiple routers provides a “seamless” connection of devices to the Internet, even in rooms with many shielding objects—for example, thick walls or industrial equipment.
But some disadvantages should be considered when working with Wi-Fi:
The signal is limited to a certain coverage area. As a rule, it is 50-70 meters indoors, depending on the type of router. Walls, especially reinforced concrete, massive furniture, and other obstacles degrade the signal quality. Repeaters and mesh networks can solve this problem, but this requires additional costs.
The stability of the connection is affected by electromagnetic interference from other wireless gadgets and electronics. They are created, for example, by fluorescent lamps, electric heaters, or fans. The same is done by microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth, security and wireless systems, and other devices using the same frequency range as Wi-Fi — 2.4 GHz.
The solution is to use a 5 GHz network.
The same channel can be used by nearby networks, which leads to its overload. Connection stability and data transfer speed are reduced. This should be considered when locating an apartment or office in densely populated areas or places with a high concentration of wireless devices. Using networks with a frequency range of 5 GHz will help cope with channel congestion since they have more channels with a larger width that do not overlap.
How to increase the speed of Wi-Fi
The speed of Wi-Fi depends on various factors. Let’s look at the main ways to increase it.
Reduce the distance to the router. The smaller it is, the better the signal quality and the higher the Wi-Fi speed. Therefore, work on a laptop or browse social networks closer to the router.
Eliminate the obstacles between the router and the gadgets. Walls, furniture, and other obstacles can weaken the Wi-Fi signal. If the router is in the hallway, then the signal in the far room is likely to be very weak. Try installing the router in the center of the house so that there are fewer walls between it and the devices in other rooms.
Restart the router. By default, the router settings have an automatic channel selection mode. It selects it when enabled from the available free or least loaded ones. Therefore, when the Wi-Fi speed drops, you can try to restart the router so that it changes the channel.
You can change the router to a more modern one, from the Wi-Fi 4 standard to Wi-Fi 5.
Use the 5 GHz band if the router supports it. It has more channels for connection, which avoids the influence of other wireless networks on the connection.
Update the software. Always install the latest version of the router software. Updates often include performance improvements.
Use signal amplifiers—repeaters. These devices extend the Wi-Fi coverage area without reducing the connection speed. They eliminate “dead zones” in an apartment or office. For example, if a thick wall separates the work area from a room with an installed router, it is best to place a repeater. You can buy them at any electronics store.
Organize a mesh network in the room. A mesh network is a type of wireless network where multiple routers are connected. Unlike traditional networks, where all devices are connected to a central router, each router can simultaneously be a router and a client in a mesh network. This increases the Wi-Fi coverage area without reducing the data exchange rate.
Limit the number of active connections. The more devices connected to Wi-Fi, the lower the signal speed. It works simply—the Internet provider limits the connection speed. Therefore, if several devices are connected to the network simultaneously, the speed will be distributed between them. Disconnect some of the gadgets from the network, if possible.
Use a wired connection where required. A device requiring high data transfer speeds, such as a TV for watching 8K movies, is better connected directly to the router via a network cable.
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What to remember
To summarize what we learned about Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi is a technology by which devices — computers, smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets — exchange data wirelessly using radio waves.
Wi-Fi is a set of standards that differ from each other in the frequencies used, the speed of data exchange, and the maximum number of simultaneously connected devices. Modern Wi-Fi protocols — from version 4 and above.
The technology is based on the modulation of a signal by a router or router, a change in its amplitude, frequency, or phase, encoding bits of information. Demodulation occurs on a receiver installed in a laptop or other devices — the signal is decoded into the original data, that is, into zeros and ones familiar to computers and gadgets.
If the data exchange rate drops, you can try to bring the device closer to the router or router, reboot it, switch to the 5 GHz frequency range and a new version of Wi-Fi, install repeaters, or assemble a mesh network.
How to make Wi-Fi correct and secure
1. Make a list of devices that will connect to a wireless Wi-Fi network at home or office, for example, a laptop, printer, TV, server, and network storage. The MAC addresses of these devices must be registered and allowed to connect to a wireless network.
2. For a wireless Wi-Fi network at home or office, use the WPA2 PSK key, example key: IKwySZ?sohJ@xn2n<“Z[4rrW&38TU#TUI9I{iKJN+<|HQ)+}2dwo80-vs5Q22VU
3. For guests at home and office visitors, use a guest wireless Wi-Fi network with a simple password. If configured correctly, the guest network is isolated from the main home or office network.
4. To increase the working area of a wireless network, it is better to use several wireless points with reduced radiation power instead of one with high radiation power.
5. If a wireless Wi-Fi network is unnecessary, for example, after business hours, it is better to turn it off. This will increase the security level of the office network. The wireless network should be turned off for the home, especially at night. After a week, you will notice that sleep and general well-being have improved. The correct devices can set up a wireless network schedule.
6. Finally, Wi-Fi is not a panacea for wires. If a cable connection is possible, use it.
Remember, if important, confidential information exists on your computers, servers, and network storage, you should not neglect network security. A properly organized network with its storage is much better and safer than storing your data in the cloud, but it depends on the task.
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