Today, Wi-Fi is one of the most popular and widely used technologies in our everyday lives. It is employed in telephones, laptops, tablets, and other devices to facilitate access to the Internet. Nevertheless, there is a belief that Wi-Fi offers the Internet by itself while only connecting to networks. In this blog, we will be able to know if Wi-Fi comes with internet and if other services are required.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is the technology that enables devices to connect to the internet and other devices using radio waves. The basic and most typical Wireless Fidelity protocols include 802. 11b, 802. 11a, 802. 11g, 802. 11n and the recently developed 802. 11ac. Any Wi-Fi-enabled device that is in the vicinity of a wireless network can access the internet. The general transmission distance for consumer Wi-Fi devices is usually between 100 to 150 feet for indoor use.
Key Components of Wi-Fi
There are several key components needed for Wi-Fi connectivity:
- Wi-Fi Router: The hub forms the wireless network and transmits the signal. It communicates data to and from the internet as well as the other devices that are connected to it.
- Internet Connection: This is made available in the home or office through cable, DSL, fiber optic, or satellite connection. The router requires this active broadband internet service.
- Wireless Devices: Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets are manufactured with Wi-Fi capability to scan for wireless signals transmitted by routers. If they are within range then they can be able to pick up the signal.
The Relationship between Wi-Fi and the Internet
In general, wireless includes radio transmission, while Wi-Fi denotes wireless connectivity only. It is what enables your devices to connect to the router by receiving the wireless signal that the router sends out. This signal transmission is done through the use of waves such as the radio frequency rather than wires.
However, Wi-Fi itself does not mean that you have an Internet connection. You require connectivity or access to the World Wide Web which is provided to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This internet connection is then transmitted wirelessly with your Wi-Fi router for your devices to connect to.
So in a nutshell, Wi-Fi is how you access the internet without the use of any wires. It is not the Internet itself. Internet connection must be separately connected through cable, DSL, or fiber optic cables.
How To Get Wi-Fi Without Internet Connection?
This is because a Wi-Fi router only transmits a wireless signal, and it is thus legally possible to install a router without an internet connection being connected to it. Wirelessly you could connect to the router and all the settings that you may require. However, you would not be able to go online, which means no Internet access.
Some common situations when you can still use Wi-Fi without a separate internet connection are:
File and Printer Sharing – allow devices within the same workgroup to connect wirelessly and share files, photos, printers, and so on even without the service of the internet.
Networked Entertainment – movies, shows, music, and more can be accessed from storage devices that are connected to the router. DLNA or Plex to make it easier to transfer files across the devices.
Smart Home Device Control – Pair and manage smart home gadgets such as wireless security cameras, thermostats, lights, and others through the local wireless network. This can work even when there is no internet connection to the router since the communication is local between devices.
However, these capabilities exist, Wi-Fi is useless without Internet access through the local network, for example. Almost all apps such as video streaming, internet browsing, instant messaging, and many more will not function properly without the Internet.
Summary
Thus, Wi-Fi is just a wireless networking standard that allows for convenient connections between devices. But Wi-Fi does not come prearranged or enclosed in a tangible internet connection. Well, to start using your Wi-Fi router and get connected to the internet, you have to be subscribed to a broadband internet service from an ISP. Only then can your wireless devices take advantage of this Internet connection after associating with the Wi-Fi network being broadcasted by the router. No, Wi-Fi does not come with internet access even though Wi-Fi is commonly associated with wireless Internet.