What's WiFi?

**Lyte** · 11-15-2005, 11:06 PM

Short for ‘wireless fidelity’.

WIFI is a wireless local area network allowing you access to the internet and/or email at locations such as airports, hotels, libraries, you're local Starbucks and many more! These locations are known as hotspots.

Do you WiFi? :p

allabout42 · 01-20-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyte

Short for ‘wireless fidelity’.

WIFI is a wireless local area network allowing you access to the internet and/or email at locations such as airports, hotels, libraries, you're local Starbucks and many more! These locations are known as hotspots.

Do you WiFi? :p

WiFi is the way to go! You also forgot to mention unsecured neighborhood connections. I have 2 unsecured networks where I live!

**Lyte** · 01-20-2006, 10:04 PM

Ohh... so you're the guy lurking around Nico's house! LOL :eek:

Lyte

joey · 01-20-2006, 10:09 PM

The only disadvantage of Wireless is it's (usually) slower than regular 10/100 ethernet.. though Wireless-G has crossed that barrier, I think wireless will always be slower than gigabit ethernet.

Kilojim · 01-21-2006, 08:53 AM

At last, someone that can actually explain to me what wireless is, I have been trying to find out for a while because I have bought a PSP and they use wifi to connect to the internet and play multiplayer. Thanks very much for that Lyte.

**Lyte** · 01-21-2006, 10:28 AM

You're very welcome!

There's another form of wireless called WIMAX which is essentially the same but WIMAX has a greater reach (distance) than WIFI. It's supposed to replace WIFI, eventually, but the jury's still out on that issue.

Lyte

Kilojim · 01-22-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyte

You're very welcome!

There's another form of wireless called WIMAX which is essentially the same but WIMAX has a greater reach (distance) than WIFI. It's supposed to replace WIFI, eventually, but the jury's still out on that issue.

Lyte

What sort of things will this be used for, would it be for similiar things or would it be used for something entirely different?

**Lyte** · 01-22-2006, 05:45 PM

Both do essetially the same thing, they are both "wireless broadband technologies." The difference lies (partly) in their reach and who's utilizing the technology.

Wi-Fi is intended for small hotspots with very short range (200 yards), and is used by individuals.

WiMAX is designed for long-distance (up to 10 miles), and is mainly used for wireless Internet service providers.

I found this cool diagram that displays how WiMax works.

Lyte