Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) is becoming quite popular in meeting the increasing internet needs. But do you already know how WiFi works and what its functions are in our lives?
The presence of WiFi is also undeniable because it is caused by the rapid development of digital technology in the past few decades. Knowing how WiFi works is important for you to know as additional information related to current technology.
This article will inform you how WiFi works and its functions in everyday life.
How Does WiFi Work?
WiFi works by emitting radio waves at various frequencies to provide a wireless internet connection. To capture the internet connection, you need a device that can manage the internet network, such as a router.
When a device wants to connect to a WiFi network, it will send a request message that can scan for the nearest available network.
Then the request will be responded to by the router by sending a message containing the network name (SSID), encryption type (if any), and signal strength (RSSI).
Upon receiving a signal from the router, the device will be prompted to send an authentication request (such as a WiFi password). Next, the router will verify and assign it an IP address so that it can connect to the internet network.
WiFi Generations Explained: From WiFi 4 to WiFi 7
WiFi technology has evolved significantly since it was first introduced, with each new generation bringing faster speeds, better efficiency, and support for more connected devices. Here’s how the generations compare:
| Generation | Technical Name | Year Introduced | Max Theoretical Speed | Frequency Bands |
| WiFi 4 | 802.11n | 2009 | Up to 600 Mbps | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| WiFi 5 | 802.11ac | 2013 | Up to 3.5 Gbps | 5 GHz |
| WiFi 6 | 802.11ax | 2019 | Up to 9.6 Gbps | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| WiFi 6E | 802.11ax (extended) | 2021 | Up to 9.6 Gbps | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz |
| WiFi 7 | 802.11be | 2024 | Up to 46 Gbps | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz |
It should be noted that these figures are indicative of results from ideal laboratory tests. In reality, real-world speeds are often lower and depend on the hardware, the distance from the router, and the number of devices connected simultaneously.
WiFi Functions
WiFi has several functions that help us in our daily lives. Here are the functions of WiFi that we can enjoy:
- Internet network connection: users will easily access the internet wirelessly, with speeds that continue to improve as newer WiFi generations become more widely available.
- Making internet connections faster: modern WiFi standards like WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E can reach theoretical speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, making internet connections significantly faster and more reliable than earlier generations.
- Connecting PC and Smartphone: can connect a smartphone with a PC without an intermediary cable.
- Turn Smartphone as Modem: we can use a Smartphone as a modem by using a hotspot.
- As a medium for various files: allows two or more electronic devices to exchange data without having to use an intermediate cable.
- Transferring photos and videos from digital cameras: can directly transfer photos and videos of your work to your Laptop or PC.
- Printing on a printer: printing documents from a PC to a printer does not need to use a USB cable.
Now you know how WiFi works by emitting radio waves and sending SSID messages. And WiFi functions are quite diverse that we can utilize in using electronic devices in everyday life.
For additional information, you must know that WiFi products that are marketed have gone through a standardized test process and have received certification. This certification is called Type Approval certification.
Every country has its own standard for each product. This certification ensures that telecommunication products are safe to use and do not interfere with other devices.
