Wi-Fi revolutionized the way people use the Internet. Notebook computers, tablet computers, book readers and other devices download and consume content almost anywhere wirelessly with no physical connections. More than 100 million people use these devices to communicate at home, in airports, on buses and even at restaurants and coffee shops. Wi-Fi has evolved through several standards and, as the standards progressed, rated speeds increased to 600 Mbps. Usable bandwidth often drops to half the rated speed because of interference and overhead.
History
Around 1985, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission opened three unused radio frequency bands for consumer electronic products. Until then, most engineers considered these bands unusable because microwave ovens and other appliances created heavy interference. In the early 1990s, National Cash Register Corporation was searching for a way to communicate cash register data wirelessly and it stumbled upon these bands. Leveraging technologies from AT&T; and Lucent, NCR developed a wireless approach to networking that formed the basis of Wi-Fi.
Early Standards
Early versions of Wi-Fi began to appear around 1990 and were limited to speeds of around 5 MBPS. A Wi-Fi network used a single access point or base station and several adapters connected to notebook or desktop computers. The technology languished throughout the decade but got its first commercial boost when Apple Computers added a Wi-Fi adapter into its notebooks. By then, the standard solved many of the early interoperability issues and offered speeds of around 11 Mbps.
Current Standards
Current devices offer speeds up to 600 Mbps with multiple access points and downward compatibility back to 11 Mbps. Devices can roam much like cell phones from one access point to another providing coverage for hotels and airports. Security standards were also added to include several modes of encryption. Wi-Fi adapters can be found in notebook computers, cell phones, music players, book readers, tablets and many other devices.
Your Results may Vary
Although current devices can deliver 600 Mbps, half of the bandwidth is dedicated to network overhead. After losing some packets to interference and noise, the average bandwidth often drops to around 200 Mbps. Signal strength also decreases as devices move further from access points. Also, remember that Wi-Fi is only part of the network. Internet providers only deliver 2 to 40 Mbps into the home and wired connections run at 100 Mbps.
Find Internet Service Provider deals in your area:
privacy & security protectedReferences
- Wi-Fi Alliance: Home Page
- The Economist: CASE HISTORY: A brief history of Wi-Fi
- TMCNET: Apple iPad Wi-Fi Performance Issues Illustrate Ecosystem Complexity
