What is WiFi and How It Works: The Back-to-Basics Guide

WiFi is a wireless networking protocol that devices utilize to communicate without direct cable connections. It is an industry term that represents a type of wireless local area network or LAN protocol on the basis of the 802.11 IEEE network standard.

Talking from users’ perspective, WiFi is internet access on a wireless-supported device such as a laptop, phone, or tablet. Most latest devices provide support for WiFi so that devices can join a network to gain internet access and share network resources. WiFi is a trademark of WiFi Alliance that is an international association of companies involved with wireless LAN products and technologies.

How WiFi Works?

One of the easiest ways to understand WiFi is to consider an average home or workplace. In order to use WiFi, you must need a device that transmits or receives a wireless signal, generally a router but at times, a phone or PC.

However, some users also use a Netgear WiFi extender to get uninterrupted internet access in their home or workplace. For instance, most users opt for Netgear EX2700 setup to get WiFi everywhere in their house.

The extender basically takes WiFi signals from the existing router and then broadcasts them to reach even the darkest corners of your home. Most houses own one extender and multiple devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs that receive internet connection via WiFi from that extender.

In some scenarios, users without an extender or router can set up a phone or PC as a WiFi hotspot so it can share the wired or wireless internet connection with other devices, similar to the way an extender works.

Regardless of how WiFi is used or its source of connection, the outcome is always the same – a WiFi signal allowing other devices to connect to the main transmitter for voice messages, file transfers, entertainment, communication, or other data transmission.

Is WiFi Free?

There are dozens of places to get free WiFi access like in hotels and restaurants but WiFi is not free in all cases. The reason being, for WiFi to work, the extender or other devices broadcasting the signal must have an internet connection that is not free.

For instance, in case you have internet service at your home, you need to pay a monthly fee to keep it coming. On the off chance if you use WiFi to connect your smart TV and iPhone to the Netgear extender’s network Netgear_Ext SSID, you don’t need to pay for the internet for those devices individually. The internet line coming to your home router will cost whether you use WiFi or not.

Set up WiFi Access

In order to set up WiFi at home, all you need is a wireless router and access to its web admin panel to manage settings like WiFi channel, network name, or WiFi band.

However, if you want to enhance the existing WiFi coverage and range, you can set up a Netgear WiFi range extender in your home. Just access mywifiext.local web admin panel and follow the on-screen steps to make your Netgear extender up and running in no time.

Benefits of Using WiFi

In this ever-evolving internet era, most PCs and smartphones are equipped with wireless features, including WiFi. Here are the advantages of using WiFi over a wired connection:

• Convenience – WiFi makes it extremely easy for devices to connect to internet wherever they locate a WiFi signal.
• Mobility – Now, users are not glued to their home or workplace to fulfill their communication requirements.
• Expandability – Bought another tablet? Not an issue! Head over to Settings, turn on WiFi, and it is good to go.
• Productivity – WiFi can keep employees in near-constant contact with the workplace and one another.