Wi-Fi, also spelled Wif or WiFi, is a local area wireless technology that allows

an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet using 2.4

GHz HF and ! GHz "HF radio waves. #he na$e is a trade$ar% na$e, and is
a play on the audiophile ter$ Hi-Fi. #he Wi-Fi &lliance defnes Wi-Fi as any
'wireless local area networ% (W)&*+ products that are ,ased on the -nstitute
o. /lectrical and /lectronics /ngineers0 (-///+ 122.33 standards'.435 However,
since $ost $odern W)&*s are ,ased on these standards, the ter$ 'Wi-Fi' is
used in general /nglish as a synony$ .or 'W)&*'. 6nly Wi-Fi products that
co$plete Wi-Fi &lliance interopera,ility certifcation testing success.ully $ay
use the 'Wi-Fi 7/8#-F-/9' trade$ar%.
:any devices can use Wi-Fi, e.g., personal co$puters, video-ga$e consoles,
s$artphones, so$e digital ca$eras, ta,let co$puters and digital audio
players. #hese can connect to a networ% resource such as the -nternet via a
wireless networ% access point. "uch an access point (or hotspot+ has a range
o. a,out 22 $eters (;; .eet+ indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot
coverage can co$prise an area as s$all as a single roo$ with walls that
,loc% radio waves, or as large as $any s<uare %ilo$etres achieved ,y using
$ultiple overlapping access points.
9epiction o. a device sending in.or$ation wirelessly to another device, ,oth
connected to the local networ%, in order to print a docu$ent.
Wi-Fi can ,e less secure than wired connections (such as /thernet+ ,ecause
an intruder does not need a physical connection. We, pages that use "") are
secure ,ut unencrypted internet access can easily ,e detected ,y intruders.
=ecause o. this, Wi-Fi has adopted various encryption technologies. #he early
encryption W/>, proved easy to ,rea%. Higher <uality protocols (W>&, W>&2+
were added later. &n optional .eature added in 222?, called Wi-Fi >rotected
"etup (W>"+, had a serious @aw that allowed an attac%er to recover the
router0s password.425 #he Wi-Fi &lliance has since updated its test plan and
certifcation progra$ to ensure all newly certifed devices resist
attac%s.122.33 technology has its origins in a 3A1! ruling ,y the " Federal
7o$$unications 7o$$ission that released the -": ,and .or unlicensed use.
4B5 -n 3AA3, *78 7orporation with &#C# 7orporation invented the precursor to
122.33 intended .or use in cashier syste$s. #he frst wireless products were
under the na$e Wave)&*.
#he 122.33 standard uses a large nu$,er o. patents held ,y $any diDerent
organizations.445
"o$e have du,,ed 9utch engineer Eic Hayes the '.ather o. Wi-Fi' due to his
involve$ent in negotiating the initial standards within the -/// while chairing
the wor%group.4!54;5
#he &ustralian radio-astrono$er Fohn 60"ullivan developed a %ey patent used
in Wi-Fi as a ,y-product in a 7"-86 research proGect, 'a .ailed experi$ent to
detect exploding $ini ,lac% holes the size o. an ato$ic particle'.4?5 -n 3AA2
and 3AA;, &ustralian organization 7"-86 (the &ustralian 7o$$onwealth
"cientifc and -ndustrial 8esearch 6rganisation+ o,tained patents415 .or a
$ethod later used in Wi-Fi to 'uns$ear' the signal.4A5
-n 3AAA, the Wi-Fi &lliance .or$ed as a trade association to hold the Wi-Fi
trade$ar% under which $ost products are sold.4325
-n &pril 222A, 34 technology co$panies agreed to pay 7"-86 H2!2 $illion .or
in.ringe$ents on 7"-86 patents.4335 #his led to &ustralians la,elling Wi-Fi as
an &ustralian invention,4325 though this has ,een the su,Gect o. so$e
controversy.43B54345 7"-86 won a .urther H222 $illion settle$ent .or Wi-Fi
patent-in.ringe$ents in 2232 with glo,al fr$s in the nited "tates re<uired
to pay the 7"-86 licensing rights esti$ated to ,e worth an additional H3
,illion in royalties.433543!543;5
#he na$e4edit5
#he ter$ Wi-Fi, co$$ercially used at least as early as &ugust 2222,43?5 was
coined ,y a ,rand-consulting fr$ called -nter,rand 7orporation. #he Wi-Fi
&lliance had hired -nter,rand to deter$ine a na$e that was 'a little catchier
than 0-/// 122.33, 9irect "e<uence0'.431543A54225 >hil =elanger, a .ounding
$e$,er o. the Wi-Fi &lliance who presided over the selection o. the na$e
'Wi-Fi', also stated that -nter,rand invented Wi-Fi as a play on words with Hi-
Fi, and also created the Wi-Fi logo.
#he Wi-Fi &lliance used the 'nonsense' advertising slogan '#he "tandard .or
Wireless Fidelity' .or a short ti$e a.ter the ,rand na$e was invented, leading
to the $isconception that Wi-Fi was an a,,reviation o. 'Wireless Fidelity'4315
42354225
#he yin-yang Wi-Fi logo indicates the certifcation o. a product .or
interopera,ility.4235
*on-Wi-Fi technologies intended .or fxed points such as :otorola 7anopy are
usually descri,ed as fxed wireless. &lternative wireless technologies include
$o,ile phone standards such as 2G, BG 4G or )#/.
Wi-Fi certifcation4edit5
"ee alsoI Wi-Fi &lliance
#he -/// does not test e<uip$ent .or co$pliance with their standards. #he
non-proft Wi-Fi &lliance was .or$ed in 3AAA to fll this void J to esta,lish and
en.orce standards .or interopera,ility and ,ac%ward co$pati,ility, and to
pro$ote wireless local-area-networ% technology. &s o. 2232, the Wi-Fi &lliance
consisted o. $ore than B?! co$panies .ro$ around the world.42B54245 #he
Wi-Fi &lliance en.orces the use o. the Wi-Fi ,rand to technologies ,ased on
the -/// 122.33 standards .ro$ the -///. #his includes wireless local area
networ% (W)&*+ connections, device to device connectivity (such as Wi-Fi
>eer to >eer a%a Wi-Fi 9irect+, >ersonal area networ% (>&*+, local area
networ% ()&*+ and even so$e li$ited wide area networ% (W&*+ connections.
:anu.acturers with $e$,ership in the Wi-Fi &lliance, whose products pass
the certifcation process, gain the right to $ar% those products with the Wi-Fi
logo.
"pecifcally, the certifcation process re<uires con.or$ance to the -/// 122.33
radio standards, the W>& and W>&2 security standards, and the /&>
authentication standard. 7ertifcation $ay optionally include tests o. -///
122.33 dra.t standards, interaction with cellular-phone technology in
converged devices, and .eatures relating to security set-up, $ulti$edia, and
power-saving.42!5
*ot every Wi-Fi device is su,$itted .or certifcation. #he lac% o. Wi-Fi
certifcation does not necessarily i$ply that a device is inco$pati,le with
other Wi-Fi devices. -. it is co$pliant or partly co$pati,le, the Wi-Fi &lliance
$ay not o,Gect to its description as a Wi-Fi device4citation needed5 though
technically only certifed devices are approved. #he Wi-Fi &lliance $ay or $ay
not sanction derivative ter$s, such as "uper Wi-Fi, coined ,y the " Federal
7o$$unications 7o$$ission (F77+ to descri,e proposed networ%ing in the
HF #E ,and in the ".
ses4edit5
& stic%er indicating to the pu,lic that a location is within range o. a Wi-Fi
networ%. & dot with curved lines radiating .ro$ it is a co$$on sy$,ol .or Wi-
Fi, representing a point trans$itting a signal.42;5
#o connect to a Wi-Fi )&*, a co$puter has to ,e e<uipped with a wireless
networ% inter.ace controller. #he co$,ination o. co$puter and inter.ace
controller is called a station. &ll stations share a single radio .re<uency
co$$unication channel. #rans$issions on this channel are received ,y all
stations within range. #he hardware does not signal the user that the
trans$ission was delivered and is there.ore called a ,est-eDort delivery
$echanis$. & carrier wave is used to trans$it the data in pac%ets, re.erred to
as '/thernet .ra$es'. /ach station is constantly tuned in on the radio
.re<uency co$$unication channel to pic% up availa,le trans$issions.
-nternet access4edit5
& Wi-Fi-ena,led device can connect to the -nternet when within range o. a
wireless networ% which is confgured to per$it this. #he coverage o. one or
$ore (interconnected+ access pointsJcalled hotspotsJcan extend .ro$ an
area as s$all as a .ew roo$s to as large as $any s<uare %ilo$etres.
7overage in the larger area $ay re<uire a group o. access points with
overlapping coverage. 6utdoor pu,lic Wi-Fi technology has ,een used
success.ully in wireless $esh networ%s in )ondon, K.
Wi-Fi provides service in private ho$es, ,usinesses, as well as in pu,lic
spaces at Wi-Fi hotspots set up either .ree-o.-charge or co$$ercially, o.ten
using a captive portal we,page .or access. 6rganizations and ,usinesses,
such as airports, hotels, and restaurants, o.ten provide .ree-use hotspots to
attract custo$ers. /nthusiasts or authorities who wish to provide services or
even to pro$ote ,usiness in selected areas so$eti$es provide .ree Wi-Fi
access.
8outers that incorporate a digital su,scri,er line $ode$ or a ca,le $ode$
and a Wi-Fi access point, o.ten set up in ho$es and other ,uildings, provide
-nternet access and internetwor%ing to all devices connected to the$,
wirelessly or via ca,le.
"i$ilarly, there are ,attery-powered routers that include a cellular $o,ile
-nternet radio$ode$ and Wi-Fi access point. When su,scri,ed to a cellular
phone carrier, they allow near,y Wi-Fi stations to access the -nternet over 2G,
BG, or 4G networ%s. :any s$artphones have a ,uilt-in capa,ility o. this sort,
including those ,ased on &ndroid, =lac%=erry, =ada, i6" (i>hone+, Windows
>hone and "y$,ian, though carriers o.ten disa,le the .eature, or charge a
separate .ee to ena,le it, especially .or custo$ers with unli$ited data plans.
'-nternet pac%s' provide standalone .acilities o. this type as well, without use
o. a s$artphoneL exa$ples include the :iFi- and Wi=ro-,randed devices.
"o$e laptops that have a cellular $ode$ card can also act as $o,ile
-nternet Wi-Fi access points.
Wi-Fi also connects places that nor$ally don0t have networ% access, such as
%itchens and garden sheds.
7ity-wide Wi-Fi4edit5
Further in.or$ationI :unicipal wireless networ%
&n outdoor Wi-Fi access point
-n the early 2222s, $any cities around the world announced plans to
construct city-wide Wi-Fi networ%s. #here are $any success.ul exa$plesL in
2224, :ysore ,eca$e -ndia0s frst Wi-Fi-ena,led city. & co$pany called
WiFiy*et has set up hotspots in :ysore, covering the co$plete city and a .ew
near,y villages.42?5
-n 222!, "unnyvale, 7ali.ornia, ,eca$e the frst city in the nited "tates to
oDer city-wide .ree Wi-Fi.4215 :inneapolis has generated H3.2 $illion in proft
annually .or its provider.42A5
-n :ay 2232, )ondon, K, :ayor =oris Fohnson pledged to have )ondon-wide
Wi-Fi ,y 2232.4B25 "everal ,oroughs including West$inster and -slington4B35
4B25 already have extensive outdoor Wi-Fi coverage.
6Mcials in "outh Korea0s capital are $oving to provide .ree -nternet access at
$ore than 32,222 locations around the city, including outdoor pu,lic spaces,
$aGor streets and densely populated residential areas. "eoul will grant leases
to K#, )G #eleco$ and "K #eleco$. #he co$panies will invest H44 $illion in
the proGect, which will ,e co$pleted in 223!.4BB5
7a$pus-wide Wi-Fi4edit5
:any traditional college ca$puses in the nited "tates provide at least
partial wireless Wi-Fi -nternet coverage. 7arnegie :ellon niversity ,uilt the
frst ca$pus-wide wireless -nternet networ%, called Wireless &ndrew, at its
>itts,urgh ca$pus in 3AAB ,e.ore Wi-Fi ,randing originated.4B454B!54B;5 -n
/urope $any universities colla,orate in providing Wi-Fi access to students
and staD through the eduroa$ international authentication in.rastructure.
-n 2222, 9rexel niversity in >hiladelphia ,eca$e the nited "tates0 frst
$aGor university to oDer co$pletely wireless -nternet access across its entire
ca$pus.4B?5 #he Far /astern niversity in :anila is the frst university in the
>hilippines to i$ple$ent a ca$pus-wide Wi-Fi coverage.
9irect co$puter-to-co$puter co$$unications4edit5
Wi-Fi also allows co$$unications directly .ro$ one co$puter to another
without an access point inter$ediary. #his is called ad hoc Wi-Fi trans$ission.
#his wireless ad hoc networ% $ode has proven popular with $ultiplayer
handheld ga$e consoles, such as the *intendo 9", >lay"tation >orta,le,
digital ca$eras, and other consu$er electronics devices. "o$e devices can
also share their -nternet connection using ad hoc, ,eco$ing hotspots or
'virtual routers'.4B15
"i$ilarly, the Wi-Fi &lliance pro$otes a specifcation called Wi-Fi 9irect .or fle
trans.ers and $edia sharing through a new discovery- and security-
$ethodology.4BA5 Wi-Fi 9irect launched in 6cto,er 2232.4425
&dvantages and li$itations4edit5
& %eychain-size Wi-Fi detector
&dvantages4edit5
Wi-Fi allows cheaper deploy$ent o. local area networ%s ()&*s+. &lso spaces
where ca,les cannot ,e run, such as outdoor areas and historical ,uildings,
can host wireless )&*s.
:anu.acturers are ,uilding wireless networ% adapters into $ost laptops. #he
price o. chipsets .or Wi-Fi continues to drop, $a%ing it an econo$ical
networ%ing option included in even $ore devices.4citation needed5
9iDerent co$petitive ,rands o. access points and client networ%-inter.aces
can inter-operate at a ,asic level o. service. >roducts designated as 'Wi-Fi
7ertifed' ,y the Wi-Fi &lliance are ,ac%wards co$pati,le. nli%e $o,ile
phones, any standard Wi-Fi device will wor% anywhere in the world.
Wi-Fi >rotected &ccess encryption (W>&2+ is considered secure, provided a
strong passphrase is used. *ew protocols .or <uality-o.-service (W::+ $a%e
Wi-Fi $ore suita,le .or latency-sensitive applications (such as voice and
video+. >ower saving $echanis$s (W:: >ower "ave+ extend ,attery li.e.
)i$itations4edit5
"pectru$ assign$ents and operational li$itations are not consistent
worldwideI &ustralia and /urope allow .or an additional two channels ,eyond
those per$itted in the " .or the 2.4 GHz ,and (3N3B vs. 3N33+, while Fapan
has one $ore on top o. that (3N34+.
& Wi-Fi signal occupies fve channels in the 2.4 GHz ,and. &ny two channel
nu$,ers that diDer ,y fve or $ore, such as 2 and ?, do not overlap. #he o.t-
repeated adage that channels 3, ;, and 33 are the only non-overlapping
channels is, there.ore, not accurate. 7hannels 3, ;, and 33 are the only group
o. three non-overlapping channels in *orth &$erica and the nited Kingdo$.
-n /urope and Fapan using 7hannels 3, !, A, and 3B .or 122.33g and 122.33n
is reco$$ended.4citation needed5
/<uivalent isotropically radiated power (/-8>+ in the / is li$ited to 22 d=$
(322 $W+.
#he current 0.astest0 nor$, 122.33n, uses dou,le the radio
spectru$O,andwidth (42 :Hz+ co$pared to 122.33a or 122.33g (22 :Hz+.
4citation needed5 #his $eans there can ,e only one 122.33n networ% on the
2.4 GHz ,and at a given location, without inter.erence toO.ro$ other W)&*
traMc. 122.33n can also ,e set to use 22 :Hz ,andwidth only to prevent
inter.erence in dense co$$unity.4citation needed5
8ange4edit5
"ee alsoI )ong-range Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi networ%s have li$ited range. & typical wireless access point using
122.33, or 122.33g with a stoc% antenna $ight have a range o. B! $ (33! .t+
indoors and 322 $ (BB2 .t+ outdoors. -/// 122.33n, however, can $ore than
dou,le the range.4435 8ange also varies with .re<uency ,and. Wi-Fi in the 2.4
GHz .re<uency ,loc% has slightly ,etter range than Wi-Fi in the ! GHz
.re<uency ,loc% which is used ,y 122.33a and optionally ,y 122.33n. 6n
wireless routers with detacha,le antennas, it is possi,le to i$prove range ,y
ftting upgraded antennas which have higher gain in particular directions.
6utdoor ranges can ,e i$proved to $any %ilo$eters through the use o. high
gain directional antennas at the router and re$ote device(s+. -n general, the
$axi$u$ a$ount o. power that a Wi-Fi device can trans$it is li$ited ,y local
regulations, such as F77 >art 3! in the ".
9ue to reach re<uire$ents .or wireless )&* applications, Wi-Fi has .airly high
power consu$ption co$pared to so$e other standards. #echnologies such as
=luetooth (designed to support wireless >&* applications+ provide a $uch
shorter propagation range ,etween 3 and 322$4425 and so in general have a
lower power consu$ption. 6ther low-power technologies such as Pig=ee
have .airly long range, ,ut $uch lower data rate. #he high power
consu$ption o. Wi-Fi $a%es ,attery li.e in $o,ile devices a concern.
8esearchers have developed a nu$,er o. 'no new wires' technologies to
provide alternatives to Wi-Fi .or applications in which Wi-Fi0s indoor range is
not ade<uate and where installing new wires (such as 7&#-;+ is not possi,le
or cost-eDective. For exa$ple, the -#-# G.hn standard .or high speed )ocal
area networ%s uses existing ho$e wiring (coaxial ca,les, phone lines and
power lines+. &lthough G.hn does not provide so$e o. the advantages o. Wi-Fi
(such as $o,ility or outdoor use+, it0s designed .or applications (such as ->#E
distri,ution+ where indoor range is $ore i$portant than $o,ility.
9ue to the co$plex nature o. radio propagation at typical Wi-Fi .re<uencies,
particularly the eDects o. signal re@ection oD trees and ,uildings, algorith$s
can only approxi$ately predict Wi-Fi signal strength .or any given area in
relation to a trans$itter.44B5 #his eDect does not apply e<ually to long-range
Wi-Fi, since longer lin%s typically operate .ro$ towers that trans$it a,ove the
surrounding .oliage.
#he practical range o. Wi-Fi essentially confnes $o,ile use to such
applications as inventory-ta%ing $achines in warehouses or in retail spaces,
,arcode-reading devices at chec%-out stands, or receivingOshipping stations.
:o,ile use o. Wi-Fi over wider ranges is li$ited, .or instance, to uses such as
in an auto$o,ile $oving .ro$ one hotspot to another. 6ther wireless
technologies are $ore suita,le .or co$$unicating with $oving vehicles.
9ata security ris%s4edit5
#he $ost co$$on wireless encryption-standard, Wired /<uivalent >rivacy
(W/>+, has ,een shown to ,e easily ,rea%a,le even when correctly
confgured. Wi-Fi >rotected &ccess (W>& and W>&2+ encryption, which
,eca$e availa,le in devices in 222B, ai$ed to solve this pro,le$. Wi-Fi
access points typically de.ault to an encryption-.ree (open+ $ode. *ovice
users ,eneft .ro$ a zero-confguration device that wor%s out-o.-the-,ox, ,ut
this de.ault does not ena,le any wireless security, providing open wireless
access to a )&*. #o turn security on re<uires the user to confgure the device,
usually via a so.tware graphical user inter.ace (G-+. 6n unencrypted Wi-Fi
networ%s connecting devices can $onitor and record data (including personal
in.or$ation+. "uch networ%s can only ,e secured ,y using other $eans o.
protection, such as a E>* or secure Hypertext #rans.er >rotocol over
#ransport )ayer "ecurity (H##>"+.
-nter.erence4edit5
For $ore details on this topic, see /lectro$agnetic inter.erence at 2.4 GHz.
Wi-Fi connections can ,e disrupted or the internet speed lowered ,y having
other devices in the sa$e area. :any 2.4 GHz 122.33, and 122.33g access-
points de.ault to the sa$e channel on initial startup, contri,uting to
congestion on certain channels. Wi-Fi pollution, or an excessive nu$,er o.
access points in the area, especially on the neigh,oring channel, can prevent
access and inter.ere with other devices0 use o. other access points, caused ,y
overlapping channels in the 122.33gO, spectru$, as well as with decreased
signal-to-noise ratio ("*8+ ,etween access points. #his can ,eco$e a
pro,le$ in high-density areas, such as large apart$ent co$plexes or oMce
,uildings with $any Wi-Fi access points.
&dditionally, other devices use the 2.4 GHz ,andI $icrowave ovens, -": ,and
devices, security ca$eras, Pig=ee devices, =luetooth devices, video senders,
cordless phones, ,a,y $onitors, and (in so$e countries+ &$ateur radio all o.
which can cause signifcant additional inter.erence. -t is also an issue when
$unicipalities4445 or other large entities (such as universities+ see% to provide
large area coverage.
Hardware4edit5
"tandard devices4edit5
&n e$,edded 8outer=oard 332 with .F)-8":& pigtail and 8!2 $ini >7- Wi-Fi
card widely used ,y wireless -nternet service providers (W-">s+ in the 7zech
8epu,lic
6"=8i9G/ BG* N 122.33n &ccess >oint and :#"OG": Gateway in one device
&n &theros Wi-Fi * dra.t adaptor with ,uilt in =luetooth on a "ony Eaio /
series laptop
"= wireless adapter
& wireless access point (W&>+ connects a group o. wireless devices to an
adGacent wired )&*. &n access point rese$,les a networ% hu,, relaying data
,etween connected wireless devices in addition to a (usually+ single
connected wired device, $ost o.ten an /thernet hu, or switch, allowing
wireless devices to co$$unicate with other wired devices.
Wireless adapters allow devices to connect to a wireless networ%. #hese
adapters connect to devices using various external or internal interconnects
such as >7-, $ini>7-, "=, /xpress7ard, 7ard,us and >7 7ard. &s o. 2232,
$ost newer laptop co$puters co$e e<uipped with ,uilt in internal adapters.
Wireless routers integrate a Wireless &ccess >oint, /thernet switch, and
internal router fr$ware application that provides -> routing, *&#, and 9*"
.orwarding through an integrated W&*-inter.ace. & wireless router allows
wired and wireless /thernet )&* devices to connect to a (usually+ single W&*
device such as a ca,le $ode$ or a 9") $ode$. & wireless router allows all
three devices, $ainly the access point and router, to ,e confgured through
one central utility. #his utility is usually an integrated we, server that is
accessi,le to wired and wireless )&* clients and o.ten optionally to W&*
clients. #his utility $ay also ,e an application that is run on a co$puter, as is
the case with as &pple0s &ir>ort, which is $anaged with the &ir>ort tility on
:ac 6" Q and i6".44!5
Wireless networ% ,ridges connect a wired networ% to a wireless networ%. &
,ridge diDers .ro$ an access pointI an access point connects wireless devices
to a wired networ% at the data-lin% layer. #wo wireless ,ridges $ay ,e used to
connect two wired networ%s over a wireless lin%, use.ul in situations where a
wired connection $ay ,e unavaila,le, such as ,etween two separate ho$es.
Wireless range-extenders or wireless repeaters can extend the range o. an
existing wireless networ%. "trategically placed range-extenders can elongate
a signal area or allow .or the signal area to reach around ,arriers such as
those pertaining in )-shaped corridors. Wireless devices connected through
repeaters will suDer .ro$ an increased latency .or each hop, as well as .ro$ a
reduction in the $axi$u$ data throughput that is availa,le. -n addition, the
eDect o. additional users using a networ% e$ploying wireless range-
extenders is to consu$e the availa,le ,andwidth .aster than would ,e the
case where ,ut a single user $igrates around a networ% e$ploying
extenders. For this reason, wireless range-extenders wor% ,est in networ%s
supporting very low traMc throughput re<uire$ents, such as .or cases where
,ut a single user with a Wi-Fi e<uipped ta,let $igrates around the co$,ined
extended and non-extended portions o. the total connected networ%.
&dditionally, a wireless device connected to any o. the repeaters in the chain
will have a data throughput that is also li$ited ,y the 'wea%est lin%' existing
in the chain ,etween where the connection originates and where the
connection ends. *etwor%s e$ploying wireless extenders are also $ore prone
to degradation .ro$ inter.erence .ro$ neigh,oring access points that ,order
portions o. the extended networ% and that happen to occupy the sa$e
channel as the extended networ%.
#he security standard, Wi-Fi >rotected "etup, allows e$,edded devices with
li$ited graphical user inter.ace to connect to the -nternet with ease. Wi-Fi
>rotected "etup has 2 confgurationsI #he >ush =utton confguration and the
>-* confguration. #hese e$,edded devices are also called #he -nternet o.
#hings and are low-power, ,attery-operated e$,edded syste$s. & nu$,er o.
Wi-Fi $anu.acturers design chips and $odules .or e$,edded Wi-Fi, such as
Gain"pan.44;5
9istance records4edit5
9istance records (using non-standard devices+ include B12 %$ (2B? $i+ in
Fune 222?, held ,y /r$anno >ietrose$oli and /s)a8ed o. Eenezuela,
trans.erring a,out B := o. data ,etween the $ountain-tops o. /l Rguila and
>latillon.44?54415 #he "wedish "pace &gency trans.erred data 422 %$ (2;2
$i+, using ; watt a$plifers to reach an overhead stratospheric ,alloon.44A5
2d=i vs. !d=i vs. Ad=i 6$ni &ntennas4edit5
#o achieve greater distance coverage, the higher the d=i, the .urther the
distance it is a,le to proGect.
/$,edded syste$s4edit5
/$,edded serial-to-Wi-Fi $odule
-ncreasingly in the last .ew years (particularly as o. 222?+, e$,edded Wi-Fi
$odules have ,eco$e availa,le that incorporate a real-ti$e operating
syste$ and provide a si$ple $eans o. wirelessly ena,ling any device which
has and co$$unicates via a serial port.4!25 #his allows the design o. si$ple
$onitoring devices. &n exa$ple is a porta,le /7G device $onitoring a
patient at ho$e. #his Wi-Fi-ena,led device can co$$unicate via the -nternet.
4!35
#hese Wi-Fi $odules are designed ,y 6/:s so that i$ple$enters need only
$ini$al Wi-Fi %nowledge to provide Wi-Fi connectivity .or their products.
-n Fune o. 2234 #exas -nstru$ents introduced the frst &8: 7ortex-:4 with an
on,oard dedicated WiFi :7, the "i$ple)in%#$ 77B222. 9evelopers are now
a,le to design /$,edded syste$s to connect to the -nternet o. #hings (-o#+
using a single chip.
:ultiple access points4edit5
-ncreasing the nu$,er o. Wi-Fi access points provides networ% redundancy,
support .or .ast roa$ing and increased overall networ%-capacity ,y using
$ore channels or ,y defning s$aller cells. /xcept .or the s$allest
i$ple$entations (such as ho$e or s$all oMce networ%s+, Wi-Fi
i$ple$entations have $oved toward 'thin' access points, with $ore o. the
networ% intelligence housed in a centralized networ% appliance, relegating
individual access points to the role o. 'du$,' transceivers. 6utdoor
applications $ay use $esh topologies.
*etwor% security4edit5
:ain articleI Wireless security
#he $ain issue with wireless networ% security is its si$plifed access to the
networ% co$pared to traditional wired networ%s such as /thernet, with wired
networ%ing one $ust either gain access to a ,uilding (physically connecting
into the internal networ%+ or ,rea% through an external frewall. #o ena,le Wi-
Fi, one $erely needs to ,e within the wireless range o. the Wi-Fi networ%.
:ost ,usiness networ%s protect sensitive data and syste$s ,y atte$pting to
disallow external access. /na,ling wireless connectivity reduces security i.
the networ% uses inade<uate or no encryption.4!254!B54!45
&n attac%er who has gained access to a Wi-Fi networ% router can initiate a
9*" spoofng attac% against any other user o. the networ% ,y .orging a
response ,e.ore the <ueried 9*" server has a chance to reply.4!!5
"ecuring $ethods4edit5
& co$$on $easure to deter unauthorized users involves hiding the access
point0s na$e ,y disa,ling the ""-9 ,roadcast. While eDective against the
casual user, it is ineDective as a security $ethod ,ecause the ""-9 is
,roadcast in the clear in response to a client ""-9 <uery. &nother $ethod is
to only allow co$puters with %nown :&7 addresses to Goin the networ%,4!;5
,ut deter$ined eavesdroppers $ay ,e a,le to Goin the networ% ,y spoofng
an authorized address.
Wired /<uivalent >rivacy (W/>+ encryption was designed to protect against
casual snooping ,ut it is no longer considered secure. #ools such as &ir"nort
or &ircrac%-ng can <uic%ly recover W/> encryption %eys.4!?5 =ecause o.
W/>0s wea%ness the Wi-Fi &lliance approved Wi-Fi >rotected &ccess (W>&+
which uses #K->. W>& was specifcally designed to wor% with older e<uip$ent
usually through a fr$ware upgrade. #hough $ore secure than W/>, W>& has
%nown vulnera,ilities.
#he $ore secure W>&2 using &dvanced /ncryption "tandard was introduced
in 2224 and is supported ,y $ost new Wi-Fi devices. W>&2 is .ully co$pati,le
with W>&.4!15
& @aw in a .eature added to Wi-Fi in 222?, called Wi-Fi >rotected "etup, allows
W>& and W>&2 security to ,e ,ypassed and eDectively ,ro%en in $any
situations. #he only re$edy as o. late 2233 is to turn oD Wi-Fi >rotected
"etup,4!A5 which is not always possi,le.