WiFi technology has revolutionized the way we connect to the internet. It allows us to access the internet wirelessly and eliminates the need for cumbersome cables. It was first developed in the 1990s and has since become a ubiquitous technology, with most modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices equipped with WiFi capabilities.

WiFi networks typically consist of a wireless router, which acts as the central hub for the network, and a number of devices that connect to the network wirelessly. The router communicates with the devices using radio waves, and data is transmitted back and forth between the router and the devices.

The technology uses a set of standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), known as the 802.11 standard. These standards define the technical specifications for how WiFi works. This includes the frequencies used, the data transfer rates, and the security protocols used to protect data.

So what should you look for when deciding to purchase a WiFi product? Read on for details about different types of WiFi technologies and securities.

Types of WiFi Technologies

802.11a: This standard uses the 5 GHz frequency band and provides faster data transfer rates but with a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz. It is ideal for high-bandwidth applications such as streaming video and online gaming.
802.11b: This standard uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and offers slower data transfer rates but longer range compared to 5 GHz. It is suitable for low-bandwidth applications such as email and web browsing.
802.11g: This standard also uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and offers faster data transfer rates than 802.11b but has a shorter range. It is ideal for medium-bandwidth applications such as file sharing and online conferencing.
802.11n: This standard operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and offers faster data transfer rates, improved range, and improved reliability compared to its predecessors. It is suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as video conferencing and cloud computing.
802.11ac (WiFi 5): This standard uses the 5 GHz frequency band and offers even faster data transfer rates than 802.11n. It is ideal for high-bandwidth applications such as streaming 4K videos and online gaming.
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E): This newer standard operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and offers faster data transfer rates, increased capacity, and improved performance in dense wireless environments. It is suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as virtual reality and smart homes.

WiFi 5 vs 6 vs 6E?

WiFi 5, WiFi 6, and WiFi 6E are different generations of WiFi technology. Each has its own set of features and capabilities. Here’s a comparison of the three:

WiFi 5 (802.11ac):

Uses the 5 GHz frequency band
Supports a maximum data transfer rate of up to 3.5 Gbps
Uses MIMO technology to increase the amount of data that can be transferred simultaneously
Supports wider channels up to 160 MHz and higher-order modulation up to 256-QAM
Can handle multiple devices simultaneously, but not as efficiently as WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E

WiFi 6 (802.11ax):

Uses both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands
Supports a maximum data transfer rate of up to 9.6 Gbps
Uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) technology to enable multiple devices to transmit data simultaneously on the same channel
Uses MU-MIMO technology to allow multiple devices to receive data simultaneously from the same access point
Includes improved security features such as WPA3 encryption and Target Wake Time (TWT).

WiFi 6E (802.11ax-6E):

Uses the 6 GHz frequency band, which is less congested and has more available channels than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands used by previous WiFi generations
Supports a maximum data transfer rate of up to 9.6 Gbps
Uses the same features as WiFi 6, such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO, but with the added benefits of operating in the less congested 6 GHz band
Provides better performance and capacity, especially in high-density environments with many connected devices

In summary, WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E offer significant improvements in speed, performance, and reliability over WiFi 5. WiFi 6E is the most advanced technology at this time. 6E uses the newest frequency band as well, but it requires compatible hardware and may not be widely available yet.

What About WiFi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 was only recently announced, but is going to use a new IEEE standard known as 802.11be. This provides a wider channel and utilizes the 6GHz spectrum to deliver peak rates of up to 46 Gbps, which is 4 times more than Wi-Fi 6E. It introduces multi-link options, including High-Band Simultaneous Multi-Link, which reduces latency and increases throughput. Wi-Fi 7 also standardizes 4K QAM modulation and Flexible Channel Utilization technology to increase throughput and capacity while avoiding interference.

Note that WiFi 7 is expected to be released next year. Currently, there is a limited number of devices which have support for the technology. Interested in learning more about WiFi 7? Check out this page on WiFi 7 from TP-Link.

WiFi security types

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP): This is an outdated security protocol that is easily cracked and no longer considered secure. It uses a shared key encryption method that can be easily intercepted by hackers.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): This security protocol uses a pre-shared key (PSK) for authentication and encryption. It offers better security than WEP but is still vulnerable to attacks such as brute-force attacks.
WPA2: This is an improved version of WPA that uses stronger encryption methods such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). It is currently the most widely used WiFi security protocol and offers better security than its predecessors.
WPA3: This is the latest and most secure WiFi security protocol that uses even stronger encryption methods such as Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) and Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE). It provides better protection against attacks such as dictionary attacks and offers enhanced security for public WiFi networks.

Understanding different types of WiFi technologies and WiFi security types is essential for ensuring a secure and reliable wireless connection. Users should choose WiFi technology based on their bandwidth requirements. It’s also important to pick an appropriate security protocol to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized access.

If you need assistance selecting an appropriate WiFi solution for your application, contact the experts at 5Gstore.