About Wi-Fi

What is Wi-Fi anyway?

Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity.  It basically defines a wireless local area network (WLAN) which is of type 802.11.  Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies to transmit and receive data.  There are different bands of 802.11.  The most popular are 802.11b (11.0 Mbps standard) and 802.11g (54.0 Mbps standard).  These both are on the 2.4Ghz radio frequency.  802.11a is a newer standard and operates on the 5Ghz spectrum, which gives it less radio interference than the b or g versions.  Webopedia has a list of wireless LAN standards that has some more info.

Wi-Fi is simply Internet access without wires.  That means that you can take your notebook computer into your kitchen or on your back patio and surf the web or check your e-mail.  It is also the freedom to connect to the Internet at coffee shops, bookstores, Airports, or maybe even throughout your entire neighborhood.

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