What does WiFi stand for & How does it work?

For many people, WiFi may be synonymous with “the internet” since WiFi is so popular these days, right? But to be accurate, WiFi is a wireless internet connection standard. 

In this post, Geeks Nation wants to give you more details about WiFi meanings, what it is, and what the term “WiFi” stands for. Of course, there will be a quick comparison between Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections (in terms of speed and stability).  

Let’s take a look now!

What is WiFi & How does it work?

Wi-Fi is simply wireless technology. It’s used to connect PCs, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other devices to the internet.

To be more specific, WiFi is the radio signal that a wireless router sends to nearby WiFi-enable devices, which translate radio signals into data we can see and use. Then, these devices also transmit radio signals back to the WiFi router, which communicates to the internet via cable or wire.

That’s what WiFi is and how it works. But the question here is what WiFi stands for. Let’s move to the next part of this writing to learn the answer to this question.

What does WiFi stand for?

You may have heard somewhere the explanation that “WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity.” But, to be exact, the term “WiFi” stands for … nothing. WiFi doesn’t mean Wireless Fidelity at all. 

Once again, it’s worth noting that Wi-Fi is often referred to as wi fi, wifi, WiFi, wi-fi, but it isn’t short for Wireless Fidelity. In fact, according to verizon.com, “WiFi”, the term itself was first created by a marketing firm (since the wireless industry at that time was seeking a user-friendly name for IEEE 802.11 technology- a kind of not-so-user-friendly name).

WiFi vs. Ethernet: Which is faster?

Undoubtedly, WiFi is more convenient and flexible to use than Ethernet connection. But what about speed and stability? Is it faster and more stable than Ethernet? Well, the answer might surprise you a bit; keep reading on to the answer now!

Speed: Which is faster?

When it comes to speed, it appears that the Ethernet or wired connection is more advantageous than the wireless one. 

As per businessinsider.com, Ethernet’s speed is almost always faster than WiFi from the same router. Indeed, radio signals are so fast; however, an Ethernet cable even lets our devices receive and send data almost instantly. This is especially true speaking of fiber-optic connections.

Well, that means the distance between your devices and the router doesn’t affect the speed of the connection. You will find just a little or no loss in speed at all as long as you connect to the internet network via Ethernet cables.

Stability: Which is more stable?

Not only is Ethernet faster than WiFi, but it is also more stable.

As mentioned above, WiFi is radio signals sent from the router to nearby devices, it’s prone to things like distance (from the router to device), wireless interference, and physical obstructions. 

Unlike the wireless connection, an Ethernet connection transmits your data electronically via cables. Thanks to that fact, the data is all sent and received quickly and less likely to get lost along the way. Connecting to the internet via Ethernet cables means you don’t have to worry if the signals get slowed down or even blocked by obstacles or nearby electronics. 

As you can see, both WiFi and Ethernet connections have unique advantages and disadvantages. Though Ethernet is faster, it is much less convenient than WiFi. And though WiFi is not as fast as Ethernet (from the same router), there are simple ways that we can use to speed it up. 

Tips to boost WiFi internet speed

Here are some quick tips on how to imporve WiFi internet speed that almost every internet user may want to know. They are all easy and simple to apply.

Get closer to the router

The distance between your device and the router significantly matters when it comes to how fast your connection is.

To improve the connection speed, simply move closer to the router and make sure no big obstacle is between you and the router. The shorter the distance, the faster the WiFi speed is likely to be.

Reboot your router

If it’s been a while since the last time you gave your router a reboot, then that might be the reason behind a slow WiFi connection. So, reboot your router and see if this can help. 

Besides, your device may also be the cause. If you haven’t restarted it for a long time, now can be a good time to do so. Try this tip and see if the WiFi speed on your device improves or not.

Move your router to a better spot

WiFi signals can easily get interrupted or blocked by things like floors, walls, furniture, ceilings, appliances, and more. So, if your router is currently placed at a non-optimal place, it’s no surprise if you have issues with WiFi speed. 

It’s recommended to place a WiFi router in a central and elevated location, near where you (and other users in your household) use the internet most often. Places like a basement or closet are never ideal to place your router.

Other tips

Along with these 03 quick tips, there are, of course, many other practices that you can try to boost the WiFi speeds. As long as you figure out the real reasons behind slow speeds, you will know what to do to have a faster WiFi connection.

Other ways to speed up the wireless internet connection may include:

• Consider upgrading your internet plan if the current one is not providing enough bandwidth.
• If possible, disconnect other devices from your network.
• Consider adding an internet extender.
• Use the internet during non-peak hours.
• Close all the necessary apps and programs running in the background of your device.
• Consider upgrading your router if it’s too old.
• …

Bottom lines

Thank you for reading. Is this post useful to you? Well, if you find it helpful, please share it with your friends. Don’t forget to browse this site to explore other great posts from Geeks Nation.

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