Wireless

WiFi

Wireless Networking Technology

wifi

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the internet or to other devices within a local area network (LAN) without the use of physical cables or wires. It uses radio waves to transmit data between devices, with a typical range of a few hundred feet.

There are several different types of Wi-Fi standards, which are identified by a letter-number combination such as “802.11ac” or “Wi-Fi 6”. Each standard specifies the frequency range, data transfer rate, and other technical details of the Wi-Fi technology. The most common Wi-Fi standards are:

  1. 802.11b: Released in 1999, this was the first widely adopted Wi-Fi standard. It has a maximum data transfer rate of 11 megabits per second (Mbps) and operates on the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band.
  2. 802.11a: Released in 1999, this standard has a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps and operates on the 5 GHz frequency band. It is less commonly used than other standards due to its shorter range and higher cost.
  3. 802.11g: Released in 2003, this standard has a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbps and operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. It is backwards compatible with 802.11b devices.
  4. 802.11n: Released in 2009, this standard has a maximum data transfer rate of 600 Mbps and operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. It supports multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) technology, which improves performance in areas with high levels of interference.
  5. 802.11ac: Released in 2013, this standard has a maximum data transfer rate of 1.3 gigabits per second (Gbps) and operates on the 5 GHz frequency band. It supports MIMO technology and is designed for high-performance applications such as video streaming and online gaming.
  6. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Released in 2019, this is the latest Wi-Fi standard. It has a maximum data transfer rate of 9.6 Gbps and operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. It supports MIMO technology and is designed to improve performance in high-density environments such as stadiums and airports.

Overall, Wi-Fi is a widely used wireless networking technology that has evolved over time to provide faster data transfer rates and better performance.
Product
Type
WiFi Protocol
Frequency Range
Security
ADC Resolution
Buy
DOC
ESP8266
Digital
802.11 b/g/n
2.4~ 2.5 GHz
WPA/WPA2
10Bit

Frequently Asked Questions

A Wi-Fi module is an electronic device that enables wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) or the internet through Wi-Fi technology. It typically consists of a small circuit board with a Wi-Fi radio, an antenna, and a microcontroller that manages the wireless communication.

Wi-Fi modules can be integrated into a wide range of devices, such as smartphones, laptops, routers, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They provide a simple and cost-effective way to add wireless connectivity to a device without requiring the design and development of a Wi-Fi circuit from scratch.

Wi-Fi modules may come in various forms, including surface-mount devices (SMDs), which are small and easy to integrate into existing hardware designs, and standalone modules, which can be used for prototyping or testing. Some examples of popular Wi-Fi module manufacturers include Espressif Systems, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Broadcom.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both wireless communication technologies, but they differ in several ways:

  1. Range: Wi-Fi typically has a greater range than Bluetooth. Wi-Fi has a typical range of several hundred feet, while Bluetooth has a range of around 30 feet.
  2. Data transfer speed: Wi-Fi is generally faster than Bluetooth. The latest Wi-Fi standards (such as Wi-Fi 6) can provide data transfer rates of up to 9.6 Gbps, while Bluetooth 5.2 has a maximum speed of 2 Mbps.
  3. Power consumption: Bluetooth is designed for low-power devices and consumes less power than Wi-Fi. This makes it suitable for use in devices such as wireless headphones or smartwatches that need to conserve battery life.
  4. Security: Wi-Fi has stronger security features than Bluetooth. Wi-Fi networks typically use encryption and authentication to prevent unauthorized access, while Bluetooth connections can be vulnerable to attacks such as eavesdropping or spoofing.
  5. Application: Wi-Fi is typically used for high-bandwidth applications such as streaming video or online gaming, while Bluetooth is often used for low-bandwidth applications such as wireless headphones or IoT devices.

In summary, Wi-Fi is generally faster and has a greater range than Bluetooth, but consumes more power and has weaker security. Bluetooth, on the other hand, is designed for low-power devices and has stronger security but is not as fast as Wi-Fi.