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What is wi-fi and how does it work?
What is Wi-Fi and how does it work?
Wireless Fidelity or “Wi-Fi” begins when your internet provider sends an internet signal to your home, where your activated modem receives it and turns it into usable internet service. You can connect to the internet directly from the modem using a wired Ethernet connection or you can plug a wireless router into the modem for Wi-Fi usability. You can also plug in an Ethernet cord to the router for both a wired and wireless experience around your home.
The next step involves the internet router converting internet service from the modem into signals Wi-Fi devices use to connect to the internet. It’s not as fast or secure as a wired connection, but Wi-Fi is a super convenient way to get the internet on multiple devices around your home. You can interact with the internet signal within certain Wi-Fi ranges imposed by your router. Some will use more long-range routers to increase their span of wireless internet.
Over the past two decades, Wi-Fi has become an essential part of how we use the internet. As we have come to rely more heavily on Wi-Fi the technology behind it has continued to improve, and most if not all internet providers have integrated Wi-Fi capabilities into their service. Learn more about Wi-Fi providers, products, and features with our guide.
What equipment do I need for Wi-Fi?
As magical as Wi-Fi seems, it doesn’t just happen on its own. In addition to your internet connection, you’ll need at the very least a modem and router to enjoy Wi-Fi.
Modem
This device receives the internet connection from your provider and uses Ethernet cables to connect with other devices.
Router
This device takes the connection from your modem and sends the signal to devices like laptops, cellphones and smart TVs.
Wireless network adapter
This device connects your desktop PC to a Wi-Fi network. This is not required for newer PCs, laptops and smart devices as they have built-in Wi-Fi receivers.
Wi-Fi extenders (optional)
These devices can help boost your Wi-Fi signal so you get a stronger signal throughout your home.
Everything you need is likely available from your provider
Like the cable boxes from your TV provider, modems and routers are commonly available from the provider and are specific to their service. Many providers offer a “gateway” device, which serves as the modem and router in a single unit.
Wi-Fi equipment fees, functionality and add-ons such as Wi-Fi extenders will vary by provider. Examples of provider-specific devices are listed below.
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What’s a good Wi-Fi plan speed?
One thing to note about Wi-Fi is that it is inherently slower than a wired connection, by up to 50% or more. So if your internet plan comes with speeds up to 100 Mbps, you can expect speeds of 50 Mbps or lower when using Wi-Fi.
If you’re currently using a Wi-Fi connection, take our speed test to see how your speeds compare to your plan’s advertised speeds. Once you have an idea of what speeds you are getting over Wi-Fi, check our recommendations of what you can do with those speeds below.
Low Wi-Fi speeds – 3-24 Mbps
- Basic web and social media browsing
- Streaming video in standard definition on one device
- Casual web browsing
Mid-range Wi-Fi speeds – 25-100 Mbps
- Online shopping on three or more devices
- Streaming video in high definition on multiple devices
- Online gaming with one to two devices
- Large file downloads
Fast Wi-Fi speeds – 100+ Mbps
- Streaming video in 4K Ultra HD on multiple devices
- Working from home
- Families with multiple connected devices
- Downloading large files and HD movies
- Video chatting and screen sharing
How can I get a faster home Wi-Fi connection?
- Move closer to the router – Routers have a limited range of how far they can extend Wi-Fi signals, so the further you are from the router, the weaker your connection is likely to be.
- Disconnect bandwidth hogs – The average household has more than 10 connected devices and each one eats into available bandwidth. If you need a faster connection, try disconnecting some of the devices that are not currently in use.
- Reset the router – Sometimes turning the router off and back on is all you need to do to restore the connection.
