Nowadays, we would like to benefit from the opportunities offered by Wi-Fi technologies rather than face-to-face communication in order to communicate. In connection with this, the most basic thing we need is an internet connection. In the information age we live in, we can reach most of the information we want to learn in a very short time. We provide this convenience with an internet connection in the way of communicating and getting information.
What are Wi-Fi technologies and the Differences in Between?
Since our introduction to the Internet, there have been constant innovations in connection methods. Connections, which were initially made with cables the width of the rooms, can now be made using no or very few cables. Today, Wi-Fi technologies are used to establish an internet connection or to connect smart devices such as phones, computers, tablets, smart televisions. Wi-Fi technology has also evolved and changed over time. At this point, people who are curious about Wi-Fi think of the distinctions about Wi-Fi technologies and their differences.
The word Wi-Fi emerged from the abbreviation of Wireless Fidelity. When Wi-Fi technology was first created, it used IEEE 802.11 standards. Later, over time, Wi-Fi technologies and differences emerged with the standards. In this article, we will talk about the changes in the standards of the relevant technology. The organization that sets the relevant standards; The basic building blocks are the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE in abbreviated form, which are formed by world-famous inventors such as Thomas Alva Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. Wi-Fi technologies and standards that determine their differences can be listed as:
- IEEE 802.11
- IEEE 802.11a
- IEEE 802.11b
- IEEE 802.11g
- IEEE 802.11n
IETT 802.11, as we mentioned at the top of our article, is the first Wi-Fi technology standard to be revealed. The IETT 802.11 standard worked in the 2.4-2.5 GHz band. In this standard, the transfer rate was 1 Mbit/s and 2/Mbit/s. There were incompatibilities among the technological products using the IETT 802.11 standard, due to the fact that it was the first version. Today, products using this standard are no longer produced.
The IEEE 802.11a standard was created in 1999. In this standard, the transfer rate is 54 Mbit/s. The IEEE 802.11a standard operates at a frequency of 5 GHz. The data transfer rate is high and the transmission path is reliable. However; It is sensitive to walls and some objects, which greatly reduces the shooting area.
IEEE 802.11b is a standard operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The maximum speed limit is 11 Mbit/s. At the time of its emergence, it pioneered the advancement of Wi-Fi technologies. The IEEE 802.11g standard provides operation at the 2.4 GHz frequency. The maximum transfer rate is 54Mbit/s. It is the most widely used Wi-Fi standard technology today.
IEEE 802.11n is the standard introduced in 2009. It is a standard that can reach up to 600 Mbit/s. This standard can work in harmony with many recently produced smart devices.
Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac), created in 2014, and Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax), released in 2019, are two important technologies. There are differences between the two technologies in many aspects, especially in speed. We can list them as follows:
- Although the connection speed is 3.5 Gbps with networks with W-Fi 5 technology, we can experience that this limit is increased up to 9.6 Gbps in Wi-Fi 6 technology.
- While the standard on which Wi-Fi 5 is processed is IEEE 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 technology was created for the IEEE 802.11ax standard.
- Wi-Fi 6 has four times the bandwidth of Wi-Fi 5. Thus, even if many more devices are connected to the internet over the network, there will be no slowdown problems in Wi-Fi 6 compared to the ones experienced in Wi-Fi 5 technology.
- Wi-Fi 6 technology is at a better point in energy consumption than W-Fi 5. In this way, users using Wi-Fi 6 technology will have a longer charging life with less electrical energy consumption.
Here is a Wi-Fi router by Xiaomi as an example with IEEE 802.11ax as known as Wi-Fi 6 technology if you are interested: A Revolutionary New Router: Xiaomi Router CR6608 with Wi-Fi 6 support.
