Most of us think that the terms Wi-Fi and internet refer to the same thing. If the internet speed is fast at our friend’s house, we usually say that his Wi-Fi is amazing. We often use these words interchangeably, but is that right? To be precise, no. Wi-Fi and the internet are actually two different things.
Imagine the internet as Disneyland, the place that offers tons of entertainment, and Wi-Fi as the medium through which you reach that source of entertainment, which is a flight or a bus.
Internet is the Wide Area Network, which you can access through your broadband connection. And Wi-Fi allows you to enjoy the perks of the internet by connecting your devices, such as mobiles, iPads, and laptops to the web.
You might see that your device shows strong Wi-Fi signals, but still, you are unable to upload your files or videos. Why do you think that is? This is clearly because the speed of the internet is different from the signal of Wi-Fi. In this case, you might have run out of your limited data package or just have a poor broadband connection irrespective of your Wi-Fi’s availability. Let’s discuss the difference between Wi-Fi and the internet in detail below.
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Wi-Fi
In simple words, Wi-Fi can be described as a wireless data network. Before Wi-Fi, we had to rely on physical cables to connect our devices to the web. Wi-Fi delivered us from this inconvenience. At present, it enables internet access on all devices connected wirelessly via a router. Many internet service providers offer whole-home Wi-Fi along with their plans. If you want to know more, you can check this site to learn about a panoramic Wi-Fi experience that delivers wall-to-wall speeds over a vast range.
In these modern times, everyone has to remain connected to the internet to keep pace with the progressing world. Homes, offices, restaurants, and even universities now sport widespread Wi-Fi access. Public places also sponsor free Wi-Fi. According to a survey, customers prefer good Wi-Fi signals over a free breakfast in a hotel. Undoubtedly, Wi-Fi has become a dominating web gateway, used globally for communication purposes. The first cities in the United States that offered free Wi-Fi were Sunnyvale in California and St. Cloud in Florida. The United States allows high-powered wireless transmissions and thus, have stronger Wi-Fi signals than Europe.
How does Wi-Fi Work?
Like other wireless technologies, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies to transfer data across the network. But the radio frequency used by Wi-Fi is not similar to the one utilized by mobile phones or car stereos. While these devices transmit data over a frequency in kilohertz or megahertz, Wi-Fi has a frequency ranging from 2.4 gigahertz to 5 gigahertz. The frequency of 2.4 gigahertz overlaps with the microwave oven frequency; therefore, sometimes people encounter Wi-Fi signal issues when they are using microwave ovens.
Almost everyone has a Wi-Fi connection installed in their houses or offices. People name their Wi-Fi networks, add passwords, and set the restriction regarding the number of devices that can be connected to the router at one time. These wireless routers are linked to the internet cloud through Wide Area Network ports. The WAN enables network-ready devices to find quick and easy access to the web. Thus, Wi-Fi connects you to the internet over wireless frequencies.
Internet
The internet has penetrated our lives to such an extent that we can’t imagine being offline even for a few hours. Over eighty-five percent of the residents of the U.S. use the internet. But what actually is the internet? Internet is a language known as the internet protocol that allows communication among computers. This communication encompasses all the activities you do online. When you access a website, you reach a server that provides you with the information stored on it. Your device communicates with the server in bits or bytes. All such communication refers to the internet.
The internet has grown to envelop massive networks around the globe. Now many internet service providers have entered the competitive market, offering attractive data bundle plans at different prices to charm their customers.
Internet access has become one of the most significant factors to determine the advancement and progress of a country. The broadband dispensation is now considered an important economic indicator. So, in a word, the internet is the cloud that surrounds us and connects us. Wi-Fi is the stairway to that cloud.
Final Words
As discussed above, you can exercise control over your Wi-Fi network but your internet connection is free from such constraints. It is a technological landscape of communication, which you can only tap into via your Wi-Fi network. Moreover, strong Wi-Fi signals do not necessitate a good internet connection. The more devices you have connected to the internet, the slower its speed will become. In such circumstances, you need to purchase more data and more download power to enjoy fast internet. Furthermore, be careful while connecting with unknown Wi-Fi networks because the owner of that Wi-Fi network might access your personal information including user ids and passwords.