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WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)

A family of wireless networking protocols based on IEEE 802.11 standards that enables devices to connect to local networks without physical cables.

What is WiFi?

WiFi is a family of wireless networking technologies based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. It allows devices to connect to local area networks and the internet without physical cables, using radio waves in specific frequency bands.

WiFi Standards Evolution

  • 802.11b (1999): 11 Mbps, 2.4 GHz
  • 802.11g (2003): 54 Mbps, 2.4 GHz
  • 802.11n/WiFi 4 (2009): 600 Mbps, 2.4/5 GHz
  • 802.11ac/WiFi 5 (2014): 6.9 Gbps, 5 GHz
  • 802.11ax/WiFi 6 (2019): 9.6 Gbps, 2.4/5 GHz
  • WiFi 6E (2021): Extends to 6 GHz band
  • WiFi 7 (2024): 46 Gbps, improved latency

Key Concepts

  • SSID: Network name
  • Channel: Specific frequency for communication
  • WPA3: Current security standard
  • MIMO: Multiple antennas for better performance
  • Mesh: Multiple APs for seamless coverage

Security Best Practices

  • Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption
  • Strong, unique passwords
  • Disable WPS
  • Regular firmware updates
  • Separate guest networks