How does a Wi-Fi router work. Intel's new WiDi wireless technology

The essence and principle of Wi-Fi

Literally, this combination of letters means "wireless precision Internet network". At the initial stage of its development, this communication mechanism was available only for wireless local-type networks (the so-called wireless LAN). A few years later, Wi-Fi became available not only for local networks.

The main feature of this technology is that it is convenient to use for large networks, within which it is impractical to deploy a huge amount of cable. From the presence of support for wireless communication, the quality and speed of information transfer do not suffer. In modern wireless networks, the speed of information transfer via Wi-Fi is even several times higher than the speed of systems with a similar amount of data that do not use Wi-Fi.

Thanks to a well-organized data handling system, a user who switches between different access points of the same system is able to stay connected to the network.

With the advent of wireless internet networks, our lives have changed. Almost every home, store, transport or shopping center has at least one or more Wi-Fi access points. By the end of 2015, many transport companies throughout the CIS promise to equip every metro and tram car with an Internet router. The exponentially growing Wi-Fi coverage network is capable of supporting a large number of users. Operating in hundreds of terabytes of data a day, Wi-Fi technology makes life easier for us, giving access to an uninterrupted stream of information on the global Internet.

In 2014, the international organization for the development of world information technologies developed and approved the most recent standard for using Wi-Fi. Its code is IEEE 8-2.11ac. At the moment, routers that work according to the latest standard are not widespread in mass production, however, the continuous process of their introduction into our lives is just beginning. The standard is capable of operating at a frequency of over 5 Gigahertz, such a frequency contributes to the fact that signal interference becomes almost imperceptible.

The following illustration will help to explain in more detail what wi-fi is. It shows that any Wi-Fi router has its own territory of influence, within which users, using their devices that have Wi-Fi support, can access the WWW.

The main advantages and disadvantages of Wi-Fi technology

Among the advantages of Wi-Fi are the following points:

1. The possibility of organizing a network without using an Internet cable, thus, the cost of this network is reduced several times.
2. Mobile use. The technology allows users to connect to existing access points as quickly as possible and provides fast data transfer between client and server.
3. All devices (personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices) that are connected to the same network can interact with each other, exchanging content and information.

1. The maximum territorial coverage of one Wi-Fi access point is one hundred kilometers. This specification depends on the technical capabilities of the wireless network.
2. Wi Fi routers are very easy to install. They do not require dismantling if you suddenly need to change the location of the network or change your place of residence.
3. Wi-Fi is very convenient for use in places where it is unacceptable to lay a large amount of Internet cable. For example, it can be various kinds of museums, exhibition centers or exhibitions. All organizations of this type require a competent organization of their work and it is the wi-fi technologies that can provide them with such an opportunity.

Among the main disadvantages are the following:

1. At the initial stage of organizing a Wi-Fi system, you should pay attention to all the architectural features of the selected building or a specific room. Wi-Fi coverage must be available in all parts of the building. Who need it. Incorrect placement of routers can lead to the fact that some areas of the room are not equipped with Wi-Fi.
2. All data encryption algorithms available today that are transmitted via Wi-Fi are susceptible to hacking. Passwords can be easily cracked by a hacker by a banal brute-force attack on passwords (the so-called brute force). It will take a powerful hacking system from several days to a maximum of a month to find even the most complex password.
3. The use of wireless access technology and the Internet significantly reduces the life of one gadget charge. When transferring or downloading large amounts of data, the device can become very hot, which can damage the battery, processor and power supply.

The spread of Wi-Fi in everyday life

Over the past twenty years, the Internet has become an integral part of people around the world. On the Internet, we spend most of our time socializing, having fun and working. It is thanks to the use of Wi-Fi coverage that the mobility of using the Internet has increased significantly: it became possible to access the global network from absolutely anywhere.

By installing Wi-Fi in your home, you save a lot, because before, in order to connect all your gadgets to the Internet, you had to run several Internet cables into the house. Now, for example, you can buy one Wi-Fi router and connect an Internet cable to it. Thus, all gadgets that support a connection to a Wi-Fi network have access to the Internet.

Small firms and large corporations use Wi-Fi coverage in their work. This technology is becoming available in almost every place: in cafes and restaurants, clinics, public transport, shopping centers, private apartments and houses. With Wi-Fi technology, networked games from all over the world can instantly connect to the same server and play as quickly as possible, with virtually no data loss on both sides.

Influence of Wi-Fi networks on the human body

There is a theory that the waves emitted by Wi-Fi coverage have a detrimental effect on the nervous system and the human body as a whole. The opinions of experts on this theory are divided: some argue that radiation can cause changes in the body at the cellular level, while others believe that Wi-Fi is not harmful.

The most accurate study on the effects of Wi-Fi on our body has shown that radiation affects us 10,000 times less than the radiation that a conventional microwave oven itself emits. Exposure from 25 routers at the same time is equivalent to exposure from one smartphone.

A person can receive more intense radiation from a computer monitor. These examples indicate that Wi-Fi carries a certain amount of radiation, but it is much less than that of other devices that we use every day. However, do not neglect the basic safety rules: do not put the Wi-Fi router close to where you sleep and turn it off at night, if possible.

Articles and Life Hacks

The designation "Wi-Fi" appeared for a reason, initially such a name was presented as a result of some kind of game in order to attract the interest of users. This name served as a consonance with another designation for "Hi-Fi" - High Fidelity. Apparently, the decision was successful, so it stuck. If in the beginning they tried to decipher Wi-Fi as "Wireless Fidelity", today it is not disclosed in any way. Almost most smartphones have a Wi-Fi function, but not all phone owners can use this function. They just have no idea how to use wifi on their phone.

Instructions - how to use wifi on your phone

Typically, a standard Wi-Fi scheme uses two or more access points and serves multiple clients. To be able to work on this network, you need to know how to use wifi on your phone. By the way, the minimum data transfer rate in a Wi-Fi network is 0.1 Mbps. In addition, Wi-Fi provides users with not only high speed, but also the freedom to choose the connection criteria. The user can work on the network almost anywhere and without laying a cable. This service also allows users to access the mobile device's network. When using the Wi-Fi service, full compatibility of several equipment is guaranteed. However, Wi-Fi also has some disadvantages. In addition to Wi-Fi, other devices, such as devices with Bluetooth functionality, operate in the 2.4 GHz range, which leads to a deterioration in electromagnetic compatibility. It is known that in Russia any wireless access point, if it exceeds the range of 100 mW, must undergo mandatory registration, and this condition "scares off" communication providers. Using Wi-Fi is quite simple - you first need to turn on the Wi-Fi module in the phone settings. This allows the machine to find a nearby point and then you can connect.

How to use wifi on your phone correctly

The owner of the phone will have to select the desired point or access from the list of found networks, which is not protected by a special password. After connecting to the desired point, it will be possible to launch an Internet browser and work using Wi-Fi on the Web, without which it is impossible to imagine the life of a modern person these days. On the smartphone market, devices with Adnroid support are now most sold, and setting up Wi-Fi in such devices is not such a difficult process, not harder than yourself. You just need to make sure this feature is enabled on your smartphone. You will need to go to the "Settings" - "Wireless networks" sections, and then make sure that there is a special icon next to the "Wi-Fi" option. If everything is done correctly, then using a wireless connection will not be difficult.

A wireless router is a device used to connect a computer to a network without running cables from the computer to the router. It allows you to use one Internet connection on different devices without paying a subscription fee for using the Internet for each individual user. This may sound daunting at first, but actually understanding how a router works is not hard. So check out our explanation for all the technologies and conditions you need to know about this vital home device!

Wi-Fi, or wireless networking, is a technology that is actually much older than many people think. The world's first wireless data transmission was first done with the HAM radio in 1971, although the technology it worked with is considered rather primitive today.

By 1997, the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) agreed to the 802.11 standard, which at the time was in use in relation to what we know today as 802.11b. Since then, several more leaps have been made in increasing the speed and volume of transmission. Each leap has generated new technologies. For example, the "b" standard was the first to provide a data transfer rate of about 11 Mbps. By comparison, the most recent, modern 802.11ad standard is capable of transferring a whopping 7 Gbps.

802.11 networking standards will differ slightly depending on user needs.

Wireless routers. What it is?

In simple terms, a wireless router is a piece of networking equipment that receives a terrestrial Internet signal from your ISP and is "broadcast" by waves that travel through the air using a number of different antennas. This signal is then recognized by Wi-Fi-enabled devices - smartphones, laptops, and the like - which converts the code they receive into visible text, images, and multimedia content.

The difference between a wireless router or router and a modem is that the first is only designed to broadcast the signal it receives from the modem, which is actually responsible for decoding that signal. A modem is a piece of equipment that you get from your internet service provider. Many ISPs now offer leasing for modems that come with their own wireless routers inside.

How does a router work?

Using radio waves transmitted over the 802.11 spectrum, wireless routers receive the binary signal provided by your ISP and send it over the air to a compatible receiving device. The router creates individual IP addresses for each new device that is added to the network.

In theory, most home routers can support up to 250 connections at a time. But no one can guarantee that the bandwidth of the connection will not suffer. This is very controversial, the fact is that the router today is much more advanced than their predecessors. The new routers take one internet signal and split it across dozens of directions or more, and protect users with several additional extensions such as parental controls and firewalls.

Finally, speaking of security, wireless routers use what is known as WPA, or "Wi-Fi Protected Access," to protect your connection from outside threats that might try to break into your network to hack you. The principle of its operation is not so simple, although the average user does not need to go into these details. However, always choose WPA2-PSK, which is the strongest in the consumer market today.

Video - What is a Wi-Fi router and how it works

How to set up a router

Step 1... Choose a suitable location. Find a good place to start setting up your router, such as a desk.

Step 2. Turn it on. Connect the router to a power source and turn it on.

Step 3. Connect one computer. Connect this first computer to the router using a special cable.

Note! Using a wireless router for the initial setup is not recommended because its Wi-Fi settings have not yet been set.

Step 4. Open the router's management console. First of all, open a web browser and enter the address of the router to access the settings. Many routers are available at their web addresses:

• http://192.168.1.1;
• http://192.168.0.1.

Note! You do not need a working internet connection for this step.

On the router home page, you will be prompted. You can find them in your router's documentation or on the back.

In the Internet section, enter the ones you should have received from your ISP.

Step 6. Check your local network connection. Open your web browser and try different sites. The Internet should work. Now the matter is small - all that remains is to connect the rest of the devices to a wireless connection.

Step 7. Set up your wireless connection by creating a password. It is he who will be used when connecting other devices.

Video - How to connect and configure TP LINK router

(2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.)

(2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.)

Wi-Fi (pronounced as [wi-fi], short for Wireless Fidelity - a standard for broadband radio communication equipment designed for organizing local wireless networks Wireless LAN. The installation of such networks is recommended where the deployment of a cable system is impossible or economically impractical. handover function, users can move between access points across the Wi-Fi coverage area without breaking the connection Developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance consortium based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

Mobility

Mobile devices (PDAs and laptops) equipped with client Wi-Fi transmitting and receiving devices can connect to a local network and access the Internet through so-called access points or hotspots.

First Wi-fi

Wi-Fi was established in 1991 by NCR Corporation / AT&T (later Lucent and Agere Systems) in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. Products originally intended for checkout systems were marketed under the WaveLAN brand and provided data transfer rates from 1 to 2 Mbps. Vic Hayes, the creator of Wi-Fi, has been called the "father of Wi-Fi" and was on a team that helped develop standards such as IEEE 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g. In 2003, Vic left Agere Systems. Agere Systems could not compete on an equal footing in difficult market conditions, despite the fact that its products occupied the niche of cheap Wi-Fi solutions. Agere's 802.11abg all-in-one chipset (codename: WARP) sold poorly, and Agere Systems decided to withdraw from the Wi-Fi market in late 2004.

Wireless-Fidelity - literally "Wireless Reliability".

Wi-Fi: How It Works
Typically, a Wi-Fi network scheme contains at least one access point (AP, from the English access point) and at least one client. The access point broadcasts its SSID (Service Set IDentifier, Network name) using special packets called signaling packets, transmitted every 100 ms. Signaling packets are transmitted at 1 Mbit / s and are small in size, so they do not affect the performance of the network. Since 1 Mbit / s is the lowest data transfer rate for Wi-Fi, a client receiving signal packets can be sure that it will be able to connect at a speed of at least 1 Mbit / s. Knowing the network parameters (that is, the SSID), the client can find out if it is possible to connect to this access point. The program built into the client's Wi-Fi card can also affect the connection. When two access points with identical SSIDs come into range, the program can choose between them based on the signal strength data. The Wi-Fi standard gives the client complete freedom in choosing criteria for connection and roaming. This is the advantage of Wi-Fi, although it means that one adapter can do this much better than the other. Recent versions of operating systems contain a feature called zero configuration that shows the user all available networks and allows them to switch between them on the fly. This means that roaming will be completely controlled by the operating system. Wi-Fi transmits data over the air, so it has properties similar to nonswitched ethernet, and can experience the same problems as when working with nonswitched ethernet networks.

Wi-Fi and Cell Phones

Some believe that Wi-Fi and similar technologies may eventually replace cellular networks such as GSM. The obstacles to this development in the near future are the lack of roaming and authentication capabilities (see 802.1x, SIM cards and RADIUS), limited frequency range and severely limited Wi-Fi range. It seems more correct to compare Wi-Fi with other cellular network standards such as GSM, UMTS or CDMA. However, Wi-Fi is ideal for using VoIP in corporate networks or SOHO environments. The first samples of equipment were already available in the early 90s, but did not enter commercial operation until 2005. Then the companies Zyxel, UT Starcomm, Samsung, Hitachi and many others presented to the market of VoIP Wi-Fi phones at “reasonable” prices. In 2005 ADSL ISPs started to provide VoIP services to their customers (eg German ISP XS4All). When VoIP calls became very cheap and often free, VoIP providers were able to open up a new market for VoIP services. GSM phones with integrated support for Wi-Fi and VoIP capabilities have begun to enter the market and have the potential to replace wired phones. Direct comparisons between Wi-Fi and cellular networks are currently impractical. Phones using only Wi-Fi have a very limited range, so deploying such networks is very expensive. However, deploying such networks may be the best solution for local use such as corporate networks. However, devices supporting multiple standards can gain significant market share.

Commercial use of Wi-Fi

Commercial access to Wi-Fi-based services is available in places such as Internet cafes, airports, and cafes around the world (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi cafes), but coverage can be considered sparse compared to cellular networks:. Ozone and OzoneParis In France. In September 2003, Ozone began rolling out the OzoneParis network through The City of Lights. The ultimate goal is to create a centralized Wi-Fi network that completely covers Paris. The basic tenet of the Ozone Pervasive Network is that it is a nationwide network. ... WiSE Technologies provides commercial access to airports, universities, and independent cafes throughout the United States; ... T-Mobile powers Starbucks hotspots in the US and UK, as well as over 7,500 hotspots in Germany; ... Pacific Century Cyberworks provides access to Pacific Coffee stores in Hong Kong; ... Columbia Rural Electric Association Seeks To Deploy 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi In A 9,500 Km Site Between Walla Walla and Columbia Counties in Washington State and Yumatilla, Oregon; Other major networks in the US also include: Boingo, Wayport and iPass; ... Sify, an Indian Internet Service Provider, has installed 120 hotspots in Bangalore, hotels, galleries and government offices. ... Vex has a large hotspot network located throughout Brazil. Telefonica Speedy WiFi has launched its services on a new growing network that has expanded to the state of Sao Paulo. ... BT Openzone owns many UK hotspots operating at McDonald's and has roaming agreements with T-Mobile UK and ReadyToSurf. Their clients also have access to The Cloud hotspots. ... Netstop provides access in New Zealand. ... Golden Telecom supports the city Wi-Fi network in Moscow, and also provides its own communication channels for the implementation of the Yandex.Wi-Fi () project. ... EarthLink plans to fully connect Philadelphia, USA, to the wireless Internet in the third quarter of 2007. It will be the first US metropolitan area to be fully Wi-Fi covered. The cost will be in the range of $ 20-22 per month with a connection speed of 1 Mbps. For low-income residents of Philadelphia, the cost will be $ 12-15 per month. Currently, the city center and surrounding areas are already connected. Other areas will be connected as the transmitters are installed.

Wireless technologies in industry

For industrial use, Wi-Fi technologies are still offered by a limited number of suppliers. For example, Siemens Automation & Drives offers Wi-Fi solutions for its SIMATIC controllers in accordance with the IEEE 802.11b standard in the free ISM 2.4 GHz band and providing a maximum transmission rate of 11 Mbps. These technologies are used mainly for the control of moving objects and in warehouse logistics, as well as in cases where, for any reason, it is impossible to lay wired Ethernet networks.

International projects

Another business model is to connect existing networks into new ones. The idea is that users will share their frequency range through personal wireless routers equipped with special software. For example FON is a young Spanish company formed in November 2005. It intends to become the largest hotspot network in the world by the end of 2006 with 30,000 access points. Users are divided into three categories: linus, which provide free Internet access; bills selling their frequency range; and aliens using bills access. Thus, the system is similar to peer-to-peer services. While FON is receiving financial backing from companies like Google and Skype, it will only be clear over time whether this idea will actually work. There are three main problems with this service right now. The first is that more attention from the public and the media is required to move the project from the initial stage to the main stage. You should also take into account the fact that the provision of access to your Internet channel to others may be limited by your agreement with the Internet provider. Therefore, ISPs will try to protect their interests. Likewise, record companies who oppose the free distribution of MP3s are likely to do the same. And thirdly, the FON software is still in beta testing, and it remains only to wait for the security issue to be resolved.

Free Wi-Fi

While commercial services try to leverage existing business models for Wi-Fi, many groups, communities, cities, and individuals are building free Wi-Fi networks, often using a shared peer-to-peer agreement so that networks can communicate freely with each other. Free wireless networks are usually seen as the future of the Internet. Many municipalities are teaming up with local communities to expand free Wi-Fi networks. Some groups are building their Wi-Fi networks entirely based on volunteers and donations. For more information, see the Shared Wireless Networks section, where you can also find a list of free Wi-Fi networks located around the world (see also Free Wi-Fi hotspots in Moscow). OLSR is one of the protocols used to create free networks. Some networks use static routing, while others rely entirely on OSPF. Wireless Leiden has developed its own routing software called LVrouteD for interconnecting Wi-Fi networks that are built on a fully wireless basis. Most of the networks are built on the basis of open source software, or publish their scheme under an open source license. Some smaller countries and municipalities already provide free Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi Internet access in the community for everyone. For example, the Kingdom of Tonga or Estonia, which have a large number of free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country. In Paris, OzoneParis provides free Internet access without limit to all those who contribute to the development of the Pervasive Network, providing the roof of their homes for the installation of a Wi-Fi network. Unwire Jerusalem is a project to install free Wi-Fi hotspots in major shopping malls in Jerusalem. Many universities provide free Wi-Fi Internet access to their students, visitors, and anyone on campus. Some commercial organizations, such as Panera Bread, provide free Wi-Fi access to loyal customers. McDonald's Corporation also provides Wi-Fi access under the McInternet brand. The service was launched at a restaurant in Oak Brook, Illinois; it is also available in many restaurants in London. However, there is a third subcategory of networks created by communities and organizations such as universities, where free access is provided to members of the community, and those who are not part of it are paid access. An example of such a service is the Sparknet network in Finland. Sparknet also supports OpenSparknet, a project in which people can make their own hotspots part of the Sparknet network for some benefit. Recently, commercial Wi-Fi providers have been building free Wi-Fi hotspots and hot zones. They believe that free Wi-Fi will attract new customers and return on investment.

Benefits of Wi-Fi

Allows you to deploy a network without laying a cable, can reduce the cost of deploying and expanding the network. Locations where cable cannot be installed, such as outdoors and in buildings of historical value, can be served by wireless networks. ... Wi-Fi devices are widespread in the market. And devices from different manufacturers can interact at a basic service level. ... Wi-Fi networks support roaming, so the client station can move in space, moving from one access point to another. ... Wi-Fi is a set of global standards. Unlike cell phones, Wi-Fi equipment can work in different countries around the world.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi

The frequency range and operating limits vary from country to country; in many European countries, two additional channels are allowed, which are prohibited in the United States; Japan has another channel at the top of the range, while other countries such as Spain prohibit the use of low frequency channels. Moreover, some countries, such as Italy, require registration of all outdoor Wi-Fi networks, or require registration of a Wi-Fi operator. ... Quite high power consumption compared to other standards, which reduces battery life and increases device temperature. ... The most popular encryption standard, Wired Equivalent Privacy or WEP, can be hacked relatively easily even with the correct configuration (due to weak key strengths). Although newer devices support the more advanced Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocol, many older access points do not support it and need to be replaced. The adoption of the 802.11i (WPA2) standard in June 2004 makes available a more secure scheme that is available in new hardware. Both schemes require a stronger password than those typically assigned by users. Many organizations use additional encryption (such as VPN) to protect against intrusion. ... Wi-Fi has a limited range. A typical 802.11b or 802.11g home Wi-Fi router has a range of 45m indoors and 90m outdoors. Distance also depends on frequency. Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz band works farther than Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band and has a smaller range than Wi-Fi (and pre-Wi-Fi) at 900 MHz. ... Overlapping signals from a closed or encrypted access point and an open access point operating on the same or adjacent channels can prevent access to an open access point. This problem can arise with a high density of hotspots, for example, in large apartment buildings, where many residents set up their own Wi-Fi hotspots. ... Incomplete interoperability between devices from different manufacturers or incomplete standard compliance may result in limited connectivity or slower speeds.

Wi-Fi gaming

Wi-Fi is compatible with game consoles and PDAs and allows you to play networked games through any access point. ... Iwata, President of Nintendo, announced a Wi-Fi compatible Nintendo Wii, also saying games like Super Smash Brothers will be available. The Nintendo DS game console is also Wi-Fi compatible. ... The Sony PSP has one-button wireless networking support to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots or other wireless connections.

Wi-Fi and free software

BSD OS (FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD) can work with most adapters since 1998. Drivers for Atheros, Prism, Harris / Intersil and Aironet chips (from the respective Wi-Fi device manufacturers) are usually included in BSD OS version 3. Darwin and Mac OS X, despite overlapping with FreeBSD, have their own unique implementation ... In OpenBSD 3.7, more drivers for wireless chips were included, including RealTek RTL8180L, Ralink RT25x0, Atmel AT76C50x, and Intel 2100 and 2200BG / 2225BG / 2915ABG. This partially resolved the problem of lack of open wireless chip drivers for OpenBSD. It is possible that some drivers implemented for other BSD systems can be ported if they have not been created yet. Ndiswrapper is also available for FreeBSD. ... Linux: Starting with version 2.6, support for some Wi-Fi devices appeared directly in the Linux kernel. Support for Orinoco, Prism, Aironet and Atmel chips is included in the mainline kernel, ADMtek and Realtek RTL8180L chips are supported by both proprietary vendor drivers and open source drivers written by the community. Intel Calexico is supported by open source drivers available from Sourceforge. Atheros and Ralink RT2x00 are supported through open source projects. Support for other wireless devices is available using the open source ndiswrapper driver, which allows Linux systems running on Intel x86 computers to wrap the manufacturer's Windows drivers for direct use. At least one commercial implementation of this idea is known. FSF has compiled a list of recommended adapters, more information can be found on the Linux wireless site.

Wireless Standards

There are currently four main Wi-Fi standards - these are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11i. Two of them are used in Russia: 802.11b and 802.11g. In 2006, 802.11i should appear in Russia. By 2007, it is planned to start introducing another standard - 802.11n.

This is the first wireless standard that appeared in Russia and is still used everywhere. The transmission speed is rather slow, and the security is quite low. If desired, an attacker can take less than an hour to decrypt the network key and infiltrate your local network. For protection, the WEP protocol is used, which did not characterize itself well and was hacked several years ago. We recommend that you do not use this standard not at home, let alone in corporate computer networks. An exception may be those cases when the equipment does not support another, more secure standard.

- Speed: 11 Mbps
- Radius: 50 m
- Security protocols: WEP
- Security level: low

This is a more advanced standard that replaced 802.11b. The data transfer rate has been increased by almost 5 times, and now it is 54 Mbps. When using equipment supporting superG * or True MIMO * technology, the maximum speed limit is 125 Mpbs. The level of protection has also increased: if all the necessary conditions are met with the correct settings, it can be assessed as high. This standard is compatible with the new WPA and WPA2 * encryption protocols. They provide a higher level of security than WEP. Cases of WPA2 * protocol hacking are not known yet.

* - Not supported by all hardware

- 54 Mbps, up to 125 * Mbps
- Radius: 50 m
*

This is a new standard, the implementation of which is just beginning. In this case, support for the most modern technologies, such as True MIMO and WPA2, is built directly into the standard itself. Therefore, the need for a more careful selection of equipment is eliminated. It is planned that this standard will replace 802.11g and nullify all hacking attempts.

- Speed: 125 Mbps
- Radius: 50 m
- Security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2
- Security level: High

A future standard that is currently being developed. This standard should provide long distance wireless coverage and higher speeds, up to 540 Mbps.

- Speed: 540 Mbps
- Radius: unknown m
- Security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2
- Security level: High

Keep in mind, however, that improper configuration of equipment that supports even the most advanced security technologies will not provide the proper level of security for your network. Each standard has additional technologies and settings to increase the level of security. Therefore, we recommend that you only entrust the configuration of Wi-Fi equipment to professionals.

Wireless Security

Special attention should be paid to the security of wireless networks. After all, wi-fi is a wireless network and, moreover, with a long range. Accordingly, an attacker can intercept information or attack your network from a safe distance. Fortunately, there are many different ways to protect yourself today, and if configured correctly, you can be confident that the level of security you need is adequate.

An encryption protocol that uses a rather weak RC4 algorithm on a static key. There are 64-, 128-, 256- and 512-bit wep encryption. The more bits are used to store the key, the more possible key combinations, and, accordingly, the higher the network's resistance to cracking. The part of the wep key is static (40 bits in the case of 64-bit encryption), and the other part (24 bits) is dynamic (initialization vector), that is, it changes during the network operation. The main vulnerability of the wep protocol is that the initialization vectors are repeated after a certain period of time and the cracker only needs to collect these repeats and calculate the static part of the key from them. To increase the level of security, in addition to wep encryption, you can use the 802.1x standard or VPN.

Stronger encryption protocol than wep, although the same RC4 algorithm is used. A higher level of security is achieved through the use of the TKIP and MIC protocols.

- TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol). A dynamic network key protocol that changes frequently. In this case, each device is also assigned a key, which also changes.
- MIC (Message Integrity Check). Packet integrity check protocol. Protects against packet sniffing and redirection.

It is also possible to use 802.1x and VPN, as is the case with wep.

There are two types of WPA:

- WPA-PSK (Pre-shared key). A passphrase is used to generate network keys and to log on to the network. Ideal for a home or small office network.
- WPA-802.1x. The network is logged on through the authentication server. Optimal for a large company network.

Improvement of the WPA protocol. Unlike WPA, the stronger AES encryption algorithm is used. Similar to WPA, WPA2 is also divided into two types: WPA2-PSK and WPA2-802.1x.

A security standard that includes several protocols:

- EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol). Extended Authentication Protocol. Used in conjunction with a RADIUS server in large networks.
- TLS (Transport Layer Security). A protocol that ensures the integrity and encryption of transmitted data between the server and the client, their mutual authentication, preventing interception and spoofing of messages.
- RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Server). Server for user authentication by login and password.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) - Virtual private network. This protocol was originally created to securely connect clients to the network over public Internet channels. The principle of VPN operation is the creation of so-called secure "tunnels" from the user to the access point or server. Although VPN was not originally created for WI-Fi, it can be used on any type of network. VPNs most often use IPSec to encrypt traffic. It provides almost one hundred percent safety. There are no known cases of VPN hacking at the moment. We recommend using this technology for corporate networks.

Additional protection methods

- Filtering by MAC address.

MAC address is a unique identifier of a device (network adapter), "hardwired" into it by the manufacturer. On some equipment, it is possible to enable this function and allow access to the network to the necessary addresses. This will create an additional obstacle to the attacker, although not very serious - the MAC address can be spoofed.

- Hide SSID.

SSID is the identifier for your wireless network. Most of the equipment allows you to hide it, so when scanning wi-fi networks, your network will not be visible. But again, this is not too much of a barrier if the attacker uses a more advanced network scanner than the standard Windows utility.

- Denying access to the settings of an access point or router via a wireless network.

By activating this function, you can deny access to the settings of the access point through the Wi-fi network, but this will not protect you from traffic interception or from penetration into your network.

Remember that improperly configured hardware that supports even the most advanced security technologies will not provide the proper level of security for your network. Each standard has additional technologies and settings to increase the level of security. Therefore, we recommend that you only entrust the configuration of Wi-Fi equipment to professionals.

The article is taken from open sources.
http://ra4a.narod.ru/Spravka5/Wi-Fi.htm

Today, many families have several different types of computer equipment: a computer, laptop and others, which are often used. All devices need internet and they love it to be a wi-fi connection. And for this you need a Wi-Fi router in order to provide the Internet for all equipment via Wi-Fi.

Let's start with what is a Wi-Fi router?

Wi-Fi router (router) is a device for wirelessly connecting users to the Internet.

A router in English is a router. And in Russian this word is translated as a router. Therefore, a router and a router are one and the same.

Any cafe and any office can hardly be imagined without wi-fi. In order to combine all these devices, you need a wi-fi router or router. And without it it will be simply unprofitable or impossible to provide all this equipment with Internet access.

What is a wi-fi router for?

A Wi-Fi router, or in another way it is called a router, is a device that helps to build a common network between different types of computer equipment (computer, smartphone, printer, etc.) and connect them to the Internet.

New models of routers differ in that they can restrict access to some sites with a high probability of danger. They can also encrypt traffic, also in order to ensure information security.

A home router usually comes with an antenna, hardware unit, cord and power supply.

The router, by its principle, receives certain signals from the Internet and transmits them to computers, printers, even refrigerators and other "smart" electronic devices.

In simple terms, a wireless router (Wi-Fi router) connects a mini-server connected to the Internet with user devices.

All devices individually receive their own IP addresses. At the same time, thanks to the amplified signal, several connected devices can use the Internet at the same time. For example, some of the latest routers have the ability to connect up to 100 different devices.

Transferring information to a computer, wi-fi routers also work in the other direction, that is, they send certain information back to the Internet. For security, all signals are encrypted using WPA protection.

I recommend my free course ““. To go through it, follow the link above, enter your e-mail in the subscription form and confirm your subscription. If you haven't received a confirmation email, check your Spam folder. After confirming your subscription, you will immediately receive the first letter of the course. Questions you have asked in the comments to any article are welcome, I will answer within a maximum of 48 hours.

What are the routers

Routers are top, middle and bottom, if we consider the area of ​​their application. The first type includes high-performance models that connect networks of enterprises, firms and organizations.

Each device designed to work in local (indoors, apartment, house, office) and global networks (connection to the "external" Internet, to an external network through one provider or several providers) may have about 50 ports.

Medium type is suitable for small networks. In such routers for a local network, there can be up to 8 ports and up to 3 - for a global network.

And the lower type of routers is used for home use and a local network of a very small office, which can have up to 2 ports of the global network, and a local network - up to 4 ports.

As for the connection method, the router can be

• as wireless,
• and wired.

In our apartments, it is still quite often used wired routers.

The wire from such a router is connected separately to each computer. The inconvenience is that the wires must somehow be led from the router to the location of the computer or several computers. Each computer needs a separate wire from the router.

Wireless wi-fi router can be used

• like wirelessly using radio signal transmission,
• and with wires, as in a wired router.

Many consumer devices, with the exception of desktop computers, can support two types of connectivity:

1. wired via LAN connector and
2. wireless via wi-fi.

For example, some laptops can support both types of connections. Probably, the wired connection is already disappearing into oblivion and the wireless one is confidently coming to the fore.

About local network

A wi-fi router has great possibilities in combining many devices into a large network with an Internet connection or even without an Internet connection. Between devices or appliances, you can establish communication inside an apartment, house or office using a router.

Wireless connection within a local network allows information exchange without wiring, which is often very convenient.

About connecting a Wi-Fi router

Practice has shown that a modern router is a durable and very reliable device. If you buy it and make the correct connection, then after that it can work for a long time without interruptions. It will not need to be reconfigured or performed in any other way. As they say, I turned it on once and forgot for a long time!

Setting up a router is not difficult, and this procedure takes about 15-20 minutes. This can be done both by the provider's representative and by the user himself using a disk with detailed instructions, or using the usual paper instructions that can be attached to the router.

Some useful instructions for setting up the router and connecting to the router can also be placed directly on the router body in the form of stickers.

Sometimes they ask me something like this: send step-by-step instructions on how to connect a Wi-Fi router on a laptop with Windows 10. In this regard, I want to draw your attention to a couple of points.

Rebooting the router is easy - you just need to disconnect it from the power supply, wait a few seconds (preferably a few minutes), and then turn it on again.

Turn off the Wi-Fi router

Sometimes they ask whether it is worth turning off the router, for example, at night, and in general, how often it needs to be turned off.

The router does not need to be turned off, it can work constantly, that is, it can be constantly connected to the 220V network. If you wish, you can turn off the router, for example, at night, if this makes you sleep stronger, say, if the nice winking of the lights on the router's panel interferes.

To turn off the Wi-Fi router, you just need to disconnect it from the 220V power supply.

The electronics are designed in such a way that they do not like frequent switching on and off, so switching the router off and on often (for example, several times a day) is not very cool. The router should either not be turned off at all, or turned off rarely.

Leaving for a long time - on vacation, to the dacha, on a business trip, it is better to always turn off the router. Because the router, included in 220V, your Internet provider sees as a working device, that is, from the point of view of the provider, you continue to use the Internet. And from this it follows that upon returning, you will most likely have to pay for the service according to the provider's tariffs, although in fact you did not use the Internet.

About choosing a Wi-Fi router

When choosing a router, you need to determine for yourself what purposes it will be intended for, and take into account the capabilities of the device. It is not worth buying a complex high-performance device for the home, which, say, is designed to serve a large office.

For home use, simple and cheap models are quite suitable. You just need to carefully monitor that the router has the possibility of both a wired connection (if needed) and a connection via wi-fi (again, if it is necessary to connect computers and gadgets to the Internet via wi-fi).

Quite often, providers, offering you Internet connection services, simultaneously offer certain models of routers, and this is a good offer, consistent with the capabilities of the provider. Providers do not even always sell such routers, and sometimes they simply rent them out for money or even free of charge, if only you would become their customers.

You also need to take into account the features of various devices that are planned to be connected to the Internet through a router. For example, older PCs or printers only have a single LAN port for a wired Internet connection, which means you need a router with wired connectivity.

And laptops and tablets can be connected wirelessly using Wi-Fi, which means that in this case you can use a router that distributes the Internet via wi-fi.

Outcomes

The router does not increase the Internet speed provided by the ISP. In the best case, the router will keep its previous speed. If a router divides the Internet between several devices, then for each of the devices the speed may be even lower than the speed provided (declared) by the provider.

Modern models of routers support high Internet speeds, about 100 Mbps. For many, this speed is more than enough to conveniently and quickly surf the Internet.

There are routers that have tremendous capabilities in terms of speed and functionality. Despite this, they work easier than other switches, such as telephone modems.

But if a lot of devices (computers, laptops, gadgets) work in the office network, then it may be necessary to constantly monitor specialists in order for the work of routers to be synchronized. Basically, users who install routers at home do not have such problems.

At the moment, routers are quite common, and therefore a large number of manufacturers are starting to create entry-level devices that will replace the complex upper-class routers in the future. And life will become even easier, the Internet will be more accessible.

Get the latest computer literacy articles straight to your inbox.
Already more 3.000 subscribers

Important: you must confirm your subscription! In your mail, open the activation letter and click on the link indicated there. If there is no message, check your Spam folder.

Comments: 15 to “What is a wi-fi router, what is it for and how to use it”

The provider said that the speed according to my tariff plan is up to 100 Mbit / s and they cannot give more. This prefix "to" 100Mbps is how many 50, 60, 99 ...

• Up to 100Mbit means from zero to ... Much depends on the provider's equipment, on the routing (signal flow) from the provider to your apartment, on who else is connected “on the route” and how these users use the Internet.
  I would still, before experimenting with an additional router or with the settings of an existing router, swap the TVs in order to make sure that the second (old) TV lacks just the Wi-Fi signal strength. Otherwise, everything else may turn out to be meaningless.
  And if the signal strength for the second TV is not enough, then I would first adjust the TV to receive a lower quality signal. From experience with video and TV, freezes are eliminated primarily by reducing the quality of the transmitted picture.
  Manipulations with a router are unlikely to give anything. Although you can try, why not ?! The main thing is that in which case you can return to the previous settings of the router.
  Also, if you go into the settings of the router, keenetic may offer to update its software. We must be mentally prepared for this. I agreed twice with the installation of updates (at different times). And everything went well. Although for the second time at some point, at the very end of the installation of updates, the router was disconnected altogether: both from the Internet and from the computer (from which I installed the updates). I had to turn off the router, and then turn it on again after a short pause. Everything worked out this time, and the router worked with the updated software.
  Keenetic updates that are installed do not affect the speed of the Internet and the strength of the Wi-Fi signal ...

Thank you Nadezhda for your reply. Can delve into the settings of the router. For example, raise its signal transmission power to 100% or try to start up the signal only on the 5GHz channel. It is interesting to receive a distant TV signal on this channel.

• A laptop and 3 phones will not slow down keenetic much, if, again, you do not watch videos on them online. The second router will be connected to the first, as I understand it. This means that on the second router the speed will be slower at the input than at the input of the first router. Yes, the Wi-Fi signal from the second router will be stronger, since it will stand, as they say, next to it. But I'm not sure that the Internet speed at the input of the second router will be enough. You can, of course, try ...
  The second router will strengthen the Wi-Fi signal, but it is not able to raise, increase the speed of the Internet from the provider. On the contrary, each additional router, router, slows down the speed, because they (routers) divide it (speed) among themselves. It is precisely they divide, not multiply, decrease, and not increase. Although, if the problem of the second TV is only in the strength of the Wi-Fi signal (this can be assumed, since the second TV alone works with brakes), then the second router will really strengthen the Wi-Fi signal (but it will not add speed, but decrease it!).
  Taking into account how you describe the problem - the speed is sufficient on the second TV and it just seems that there is not enough Wi-Fi signal strength - you can try to connect the second router to the first. But only if the second router is connected to the first router via a wire, via the LAN interface. And this is a wire through the apartment! Special wire, plus "stripping" the ends of the wire and installation on the ends of special connectors. In general, an engineering challenge.
  Perhaps, before pulling the wires around the apartment, it would be better first to rearrange the second TV closer to the only router, for example, to the room next to it. And check its work as the only TV and together with a new TV. If the work in the next room goes without freezing, then you can try a combination of 2 routers.
  ... The second TV still hangs, as it seems to me, because of the lack of Internet speed. You are measuring instantaneous speed, the speed at the moment of measurement. And the second TV hangs at the moment when the speed for some reason drops, even if for a moment ...
  Internet speed is not constant. It can change arbitrarily, and, as luck would have it, more often for the worse, downward. For watching TV and video, the constancy of the Internet speed is a critical parameter. A drop in speed, even for a moment, can cause a freeze. A configuration where 2 TVs simultaneously receive a signal from a router can easily lead to an instant decrease in speed, for a very short moment. The new TV, apparently, is better adapted to work in unstable conditions, and the old one likes more stability. So it freezes.
  By the way, you can swap TVs for the purity of the experiment. Put the old TV near the router, and put the new one 3 walls away from it. Check which one will hang. If the old TV freezes again, the version with an unstable speed will be confirmed. If a new TV starts to freeze, then the situation can probably be “saved” by the second router, as you suggest. But again, only when connecting a second router using a wire, and then without a special guarantee, because in this way we do not increase the speed of the Internet from the provider. Only the provider itself can increase the speed.

Good afternoon. This is the problem. I live in a panel apartment building. Purchased WiFi router zylex keenetic air. Internet provider Wifire. On New Year's Eve, we bought a new Samsung TV and put it in the hall where there is a router. And the LG TV, which used to stand in this place, was moved to another room. The router was left in place, the Internet was connected to it, and the provider's box was taken to LG. Both TVs are smart and have the Wifire TV app installed on both TVs. Question: On the second LG TV, the picture freezes from time to time. What to do. The distance from the router is about 6m through three walls. Speed ​​on LG 26-32 Mb / s.

• Hello. 6 meters from the router to the TV is not much. A keenetic router usually “breaks” through the main wall normally. If there are 2 main walls on the way, then I don’t know, I haven’t tried it, there may be a problem with the signal transmission.
  The problem of freezing the picture, most likely, does not arise due to the distance from the router to the TV. Just before buying a new TV, the signal from your router went only to 1 TV, and now it goes to 2 TVs. The signal and its speed are now halved. If both TVs work at the same time, then the Internet speed from the provider may not be enough. More often the TV that is far away will react to the lack of speed.
  Try not using your new TV and see how your old TV behaves. If the freeze on the old TV stops, then the problem is that there is not enough router power or Internet speed from the provider to service 2 TVs at the same time. TV is a serious burden on the Internet. And 2 TVs are even more serious. Most likely, after all, there is not enough speed from the provider, and not the power of the router, keenetic and not that can pull.
  For 2 TVs, it is better if an optical fiber goes from the provider to the apartment, and not a wire. I don’t know about you. If a wire comes from a provider, then, I repeat, there may not be enough speed (power) for 2 TVs. The transmission capacity of a wire is much less than that of an optical fiber.
  If the problem is in the speed of the Internet from the provider, then you can try to change the tariff to the one with a higher speed, even on the wire (but it will be more expensive).
  Or you can try to adjust the quality on the second TV remote from the router - lower the picture quality if the TV settings allow it. Then the volume of Internet traffic consumed by the second TV set may decrease, and freezes may stop (there will be no need to change the tariff and no need to pay more). At least on a computer, if you watch TV on it, lowering the picture quality helps to eliminate freezing of TV programs.

  Wired connections are always faster than radio connections. Fiber-optic connections are even faster. This has to do with how signals are transmitted. By radio - this is one way, by wire - another way, by fiber - the third way. The connection gets faster and faster every time.
  Wireless signal strength matters, of course. But not everything depends on the signal strength. There may be a strong signal, and at the same time a bad connection, for example, if a lot of users simultaneously connected to the radio channel and actively "download" information, for example, watch a video. Or the signal is strong, but on the other end the provider has, say, problems with the server for connecting to the Internet, and again a strong signal will help little.