WiFi Direct: What is That? How Does It Work? And What Its Benefits?

WiFi Direct is a method that allows WiFi to connect two different devices for the purposes of transferring data, printing documents, and various other functions.

The advancement of technology is indeed so fast, the days of plugging a computer into nearby devices such as printers using a cable are long gone with the invention of WiFi Direct.

It is not only able to improve convenience but also saves setup time thus improving your overall productivity.

So, what is WiFi Direct? How does it work? And what are the benefits you can get with this feature? Let’s dive deeper into it!

What is WiFi Direct?

Wi-Fi direct is a wireless technology, a method that allows you to connect two WiFi-equipped devices to communicate directly with each other without connecting to an existing network.

This will provide you a simpler method of getting devices to “talk” to each other without needing any other additional software or technology.

Think about it like a Bluetooth connection, with the exception that WiFi direct can provide you with a better connectivity, range and can transfer bigger files faster.

How does WiFi Direct Work?

To put it simply, WiFi Direct works by using the device’s built-in WiFi adapter to find and communicate to other devices with the same feature.

With that being said, WiFi Direct is different from regular WiFi connections that connects devices with the help of an additional device like an access point or router.

Think WiFi Direct like a walkie-talkie radio that uses their transmitters and receivers to communicate. Whereas regular WiFi is almost the same like mobile phones that connect via radio masts.

However, because Wi-Fi Direct uses the standard WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) to manage the authorization of connection, it doesn’t offer the best security protection.

However, the said type of security is fit for this kind of short-duration connections where the probability of an attacker is sufficiently low for everyday applications.

Wi-Fi Direct operates by scanning for any other device that has Wi-Fi Direct enabled within the detection range. 

The range itself can be anywhere for up to 200 meters and greatly depend on structures between the devices such as thick walls, metal structure or dense furniture.

Benefits of WiFi Direct

• No Need for a Router or Access Point: It allows devices to connect and communicate directly with each other without the need for additional wireless router or internet connection.
• Faster Data Transfer: Compared to other wireless connection technology such as bluetooth, WiFi Direct can reach the speed of up to 250 Mbps or higher depending on its version.
• Low Latency: If you use it for real-time communication such as gaming or video calling, Wi-Fi Direct can be your best friend due to its low latency and responsiveness.
• Wide Device Compatibility: It can be used in a wide range of platforms and devices, ranging from laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, printers, scanners, digital cameras and even gaming devices.
• Multiple Devices Connectivity: Wi-Fi Direct allows you to connect one device to multiple devices simultaneously, making it possible to set up group activities such as file sharing, presentations etc…
• Easy Setup: Setting up a Wi-Fi Direct connection is pretty straightforward, simply enable this feature on the devices that are about to connect to each other and pairing it.

Pros and Cons Of W-Fi Direct

1. Pros

• Higher Data Transfer Speed: Suitable for transferring large files or streaming high-quality content
• Greater Distance: Allows smooth communication between separate devices
• More Stable Connection: Can overcome interference that may occur with Bluetooth connections.

2. Cons

• Power Consumption: It tends to use more power consumption than Bluetooth. This can be a little problem especially for portable devices as it can affect the battery’s service life and the battery’s overall performance.
• More Complicated Configurations: Although it is considered simple, compared to Bluetooth connection, Wi-Fi Direct has more complicated setup and configuration steps.

There you have it! All you need to know about WiFi Direct!