When wi-fi was invented

Many people can connect to the Internet at the same time, all they need to know is the right password. The quality of connection remains the same.

Wi-Fi – what is it, how it works, how to use it, all about wi-fi

Wi-Fi… oh how much is in that sound! And how many of these sounds have created myths among the people, it's scary to imagine. Hi all! Today will be on our wireless technology portal, the central article about Wi-Fi itself. But without any special wisdom, in simple words, you understand) Let's go!

Running down the street, when asked what Wi-Fi is, people have different answers. I'll leave a few choices below, giving the meanings themselves rather than verbatim statements:

• Internet – well, in terms of wi-fi – this is the Internet itself, in which one looks sites, favorite vkontakticheski and utubchik
• Router/Router – the device itself.
• Wireless transmission of information – in the sense of technology.
• Connecting a smartphone/notebook – as one of the functions of the devices.

Some people just "hesitated", apparently thinking that the answer is either stupid, or at the wrong time they were asked that) Well, never mind. Everyone has heard about the Wi-Fi. But what is it really? Do you have the right answer?

By the way, I always have the comments open. If you have a question, ask it below and we'll figure it out)

Definition, or what is it?

So, the correct answer and the only clever term here:

Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network technology with devices based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

The bottom line for dummies is WIRELESS data transmission TECHNOLOGY.

Exactly the technology itself, and exactly without wires. Other well-known technologies in the same spirit are Bluetooth, Infrared transmission (TV remote control, IR port on old phones), radio, cellular operator technologies. And so somewhere among them and ran Wi-Fi, and the features of its technology is just described in the standard from the definition of IEEE 802.11. Who wants – look for yourself.

A common sign of Wi-Fi

History

A 1985 Federal Communications Commission ruling released a portion of the ISM bands for unlicensed communications use. These bands are 2.4 GHz bands that are used by equipment such as microwave ovens, and they are susceptible to interference.

A prototype testbed for a wireless local area network (WLAN) was developed in 1992 by researchers at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Radio Physics Division in Australia. [3]

In 1991, in the Netherlands, NCR Corporation, together with AT&T Corporation, invented a precursor to the 802.11 standard for use in cash register systems. It was called WaveLAN. NCR manager Vic Hayes, who led the 802.11 IEEA for 10 years, along with Bell Labs engineer Bruce Tuch, applied to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). After that, they were both inducted into the NOW Wi-Fi Hall of Fame.

• In 1999, not only Wi-Fi, but the two protocols 802.11b and 802.11a are created. [4]
• In 2000, the first 802.11b devices went on sale.
• In 2002, the WiFi Alliance membership was expanded to 100 member companies.
• In 2003 the 802.11g standard was released, combining the benefits of the previous two versions.
• 2005 – WPA2, the best security protocol, is released.
• Beginning in 2005, wireless technology is already being used on some game consoles and digital cameras.
• A year later the testing of 802.11n would begin;
• 2009 – the release of devices with the 802.11n version, which can transmit data in two bands (2.4 and 5 GHz). [5]
• The active use of wireless communication in devices has begun.
• In 2014, the 802.11ac standard was launched.
• 2016 – versions of 802.11ah, 802.11ai appear [6] .
• In 2018, 802.11aj, 802.11aq, 802.11ay protocols are released.
• 2020 – creation of 802.11ax version.

Terminology

Illustration of a Wi-Fi network in infrastructure mode. A device sends information wirelessly to a printer, both connected to a LAN.

WDS

WDS (Wireless Distribution System) – is a technology that allows access points to work simultaneously with wireless clients and other user access points in wireless bridge mode. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) – is the oldest wireless security standard based on RC4 (shared secret key) encryption. There are variants with key length of 64, 128 or 256 bits. Using WEP to protect networks is not a reliable way to ensure security. The problem is the implementation of initialization vector selection as a pseudo-random sequence for data encryption. [7]

A router in a WDS network is a base, remote, or relay-relay station. The devices are usually connected by wire. Typically, remote routers are needed to connect clients over a WiFi network and relay stations are needed to communicate between two other stations. Its job is to relay and amplify the signal.

WLAN

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is a wireless local area network, i.e. a computer network which covers a small area. WLAN is the term for home wireless networks based on an access point or wireless router.

WPA

WPA – Wi-Fi Protected Access is one of the security protocols that are used for wireless network security. A new protocol, which was designed to replace the obsolete WEP protocol, has been created. This protocol is based on TKIP , which effectively fights the problem of reusing encryption keys.

Wireless Bridge

Wireless Bridge is a network device used for wireless communication between local area networks.

History of wi-fi

Who invented Wi-Fi? The original prototype for today's project was a wireless connection that was developed in Holland by a team of Vic Hayes. It was needed to improve the operation of cash registers from supermarkets. The data transfer rate at the time was 2 Mbit/sec.

The wireless protocol for data transfer was invented by John O'Sullivan in 1991. Later, in 1997, a common data transmission standard was adopted, and in 1999 the speed reached 11 Mbit/sec.

A woman, Hollywood movie star Hedy Lamarr, played a huge role in the creation of wi-fi. She came up with the principle of wireless transmission of information. Hayes later used her idea. Moreover, the creator of Wi-Fi offered to use this project as a tool for remote control over missiles. At the same time, improve the guidance system.

The inventor of the network Hedy Lamarr is an actress of Jewish origin, she is known for her role in a popular at the time movie "Ecstasy", where she starred in an erotic scene. Subsequently, the picture was forbidden to show in many countries due to the fact that the woman appeared on the screen naked.

During her career, Lamarr starred in a number of films and earned about $30 million. However, she didn't use them for herself personally. At that time Europe was suffering from the oppression of fascism, and the girl with Jewish roots sought to help her country.

In 1940, the founder of Wi-Fi, taking as a basis the data on the weapons obtained during her marriage, created a technology resistant to interference radio transmission of signals, working on the principle of random frequency change.

She patented her invention, but it was not appreciated at the time. It was remembered by the 90s, when they began to develop local networks.

Although today Hedy Lamarr is still known as the founder of the wireless network, because her discovery had a direct impact on the development of Internet technology and GSM-network. It is interesting that at the moment of presenting her project, Hedy herself had no profile education in the field of radio engineering or engineering.

The evolution of Wi-Fi: from its origins to our time

After finding out who invented Wi-Fi, we should trace the evolution of its development. The roots of the technology are hidden in 1985, the time when the Federal Communications Agency in the U.S. allowed the population to privately use certain frequencies from the radio spectrum.

This decision was supported by representatives of the authorities of other countries. As a consequence, companies began to develop a special device capable of supporting wireless networks. This is how the history of wi-fi began.

The technology for the wireless transmission of information was presented for the first time by the NCR Corporation with AT&T 6 years later. The joint product of the tandem was named WaveLAN, it optimized the work of the cash registers.

After the Dutch, other companies also presented their inventions. In the absence of a universal standard for the new communication, their products were ineffective in practice due to low compatibility.

A unified standard for wireless transmission was introduced six years later, when the leading companies agreed with each other. In 1997 it was 802.11, approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Two years later, the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organization, was created and registered the wi-fi technology.

The name "Wi-Fi", known to all, stands for the short version: "Wireless Fidelity". The term was first used in August 2000.

Stages of the network development

The team who invented Wi-Fi soon began working on improving the 802.11 protocol which had shown to have poor bandwidth. In addition the cost of equipment was still high.

A long process of technological advancement began which led to the creation of wi-fi as it is known today.

• 1999 – The Wi-Fi Alliance was formed and 802.11b and 802.11a prototypes were released.
• 2000 – The first 802.11b devices went on sale, providing 11 Mbps and a frequency range of 2.4 GHz.
• 2002 – The Wi-Fi Alliance grew to over 100 member companies. Products with 802.11a, a 54 Mbps, 5 GHz standard, are introduced to the market.
• 2003 – The next version of 802.11 is released, combining the best features of its predecessors. Supporting devices could transmit information at 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. In the same year, a new program for wireless communication devices, WPA, appeared. It guaranteed data security with strict access control.
• The year 2004 – WPA is replaced by the more modern protocol WPA2, the certification of Wi-Fi devices continues to develop. The logo of Wi-Fi Multimedia appears on some devices, guaranteeing a high quality of transmission of images and audio. At the same time, Wi-Fi TV is launched.
• 2005 – support for gaming platforms and digital cameras.
• 2007 – Testing of a new version of the 802.11n data standard begins, ushering in the era of popular technology.
• 2009 – devices based on 802.11n appear on the market, providing data transfer speeds of 600 Mbit/s, at 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands.
• 2010 – introduction of Wi-Fi Direct features – software protocols that help to exchange data without routers or access points, directly.
• 2011 – more than 1 million access points in the world.
• 2012 – the alliance tries to simplify the process of connecting wi-fi with access points. Wi-Fi Miracast appears. A technology that provides seamless HD-quality video streaming between connected devices.

Hedy Lamarr and her contribution to the development of wireless networks

It turns out that the Hollywood movie star did play an important role in the emergence of modern wireless networks.

Hedy Lamarr invented the principle of wireless data transfer itself, and Hayes and O'Sullivan used her discovery in their work on protocols.

In doing so, Lammar created and proposed the principle of wireless networking for remote control of torpedoes and to improve the guidance system.

Hedy Lamarr's invention was the basis of "frequency hopping," a technology that resists interference by targeting radio transmissions of only the necessary signal.

Hollywood story of a great invention

Hedy Lammar was a German actress of Jewish descent who starred in a scandalous erotic scene in the then-popular film Ecstasy. The film was banned from many countries of the world because the actress appeared completely naked in one of the scenes.

The actress' first husband was Fritz Meindl, an Austrian millionaire who owned arms factories. He was associated with fascism, and the relationship between the couple did not work out, as there was a lot of jealousy and control by Meindl.

Lamarr eventually decides to run away from her husband in the United States and successfully carries out her plan, slipping sleeping pills into the drink of the maid assigned to her and changing into her clothes, remembering to take her jewel box with her.

Lamarr was successfully accepted in Hollywood and starred in many films, earning a total of about $30 million. At the time, however, fascism was rampant in Europe, and the girl, who had Jewish roots, wanted with all her heart to help her country defeat it.

In 1940, Hedy Lamarr used her knowledge of weapons technology from her marriage to develop and patent a technology to jam radio transmissions by constantly changing frequencies at random.

At the time, the invention was not appreciated. It was only remembered in the 1990s, when they began to develop local networks.

Nowadays Hedy Lamarr is known as the actress who invented wi-fi. And her invention directly influenced not only the development of wi-fi network, but also the general principle of GSM-networks.

History of the invention

The progenitor of Wi-Fi was Hedy Lamarr, an American actress and inventor. During World War II it created technology that made the torpedo impossible to track or jam. For this purpose she used technology with pseudo-random frequency change (transmission channel). The musician George Antheil helped her to realize her idea. They developed the "jumping waves" together.

Before that, data could only be sent on one frequency, which could lead to interception of the torpedo control. This system was declassified in 1980. This made the knowledge that allowed Wi-Fi to be invented public.

The more familiar format of Wi-Fi was given by John O'Sullivan, a scientist and radio astronomer from Australia. During the experiments on the study of the black hole, the need to transfer data wirelessly arose. That's when Hedy Lamarr's developments were remembered and a semblance of modern Wi-Fi was created. Data transfer speed of the first invention did not exceed 2 Mbit/s.

Wi-Fi Internet connectivity now takes place over IEEE 802.11 radio links. IEEE is an acronym for IInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This association was founded in New York City in 1963 and has been actively developing industry standards which they still adhere to today.

Improvements in Wi-Fi connectivity are continually being made. As of May 2021, there are six generations of Wi-Fi.

1996

The first IEEE standard, IEEE 802.11, was established in 1996, initially with a design that specified radio data rates of up to 1 Mbps and 2.4 GHz. It was used to configure special tools. Over time, the speed was increased to 2 Mbps. But that was the maximum and there was a pressing need for more bandwidth.

1999

In 1999, a non-profit organization called the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (renamed the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2002) first entered the market. In that year, two standards were developed: Wi-Fi 1 and Wi-Fi 2.

Wi-Fi 1 with the 802.11a protocol differed from the original with a frequency of 5 GHz and a maximum speed of 54 Mbps. The problem was that it was not compatible with the previous 2.4 GHz protocol. To make both frequencies work, a dual transceiver had to be installed.

That same year saw the introduction of 802.11b which was later renamed Wi-Fi 2. The developers decided to go back to the 2.4 GHz frequency. Because of this, the data transfer rate also suffered. Now the maximum that could be achieved was 11 Mbit/s, but there was no need for an extra transmitter.

Technology-enabled devices began to appear. One of the first was the Nokia E65 slider phone which was used until 2003. Nevertheless, modern gadgets will be able to connect to a router of this generation and work without problems, though with lower speed.

2003

The 802.11g protocol, aka Wi-Fi 3, came out. The engineers managed to keep the same frequency, but increased the maximum speed to 54 Mbps. But this speed was not necessary for phones. Most of them were limited to a built-in memory of 50 MB. And web pages were designed for a full monitor screen.

The 802.11h standard allows dynamic frequency selection and transmission power control. If satellite TV or radar interference is detected, the router can now switch to 5 GHz.

Sixth Generation

Two years ago, the WiFi Alliance approved the 802.11ax standard, called WiFi 6. It includes a host of improvements that will increase data transfer speeds, offload wireless networks, and save the charge of connected devices.

WiFi 6 routers will provide 10-bit signal encoding (previously it was 8-bit). This innovation alone will increase the data density per wavelength by 25%, both in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

The physical speed limit with the new standard has reached 9.6 Gbps, but in practice it will not be possible to achieve this value – the current infrastructure simply will not provide the proper bandwidth. So it is worthwhile for ISPs to upgrade to unlock the technology's potential.

At the same time, WiFi 6 will reduce the power consumption of client devices. The router will set an interval after which the WiFi receiver goes to sleep in the absence of another data packet.

The standard also improves performance with multiple clients. OFDMA technology divides the transmission channel into subchannels and dynamically distributes them between consumers. This eliminates consumer competition for the channel – you can connect up to 74 gadgets, and they will all receive data in parallel.

They did not forget about the problem of crosstalk. WiFi 6 has learned to distinguish packets in its own network from packets from the neighbor's network using the BSS Coloring feature: now each data packet comes with a digital signature of the specific network. This will avoid a situation where a router is waiting for a channel to free up, even if it is not loaded on its own network.

However, there is a more fundamental improvement designed to offload wireless networks. It's even been put into a separate standard that will open up new possibilities for users and engineers.

New Era.

The number of WiFi networks, the data transmitted over them, and the connected client devices is growing rapidly. New industries like the Internet of Things have only accelerated this process, and soon the 5 GHz band will not be enough for comfortable operation – the networks will be loaded to the limit.

The need to increase the number of channels again arises, and WiFi 6E was developed for this purpose. Its main difference is the support for the 6 GHz band, which accommodates up to 59 communication channels of 20 MHz width each.

All legacy technologies for network load sharing are supported: MU-MIMO, OFDMA and BSS Color. This will ensure the smooth and parallel operation of dozens of devices, from smartphones and laptops to smart light bulbs and refrigerators.

Leading research firm 650Group estimates that WiFi 6E will spread rapidly around the world in the next couple of years. More than 350 million 6GHz devices are projected to hit the market as early as 2022. The 650 Group expects enterprise WiFi 6E access point deployments to increase by more than 200% in 2022. The new Aruba WiFi 6E solutions are part of Aruba ESP (EdgeServices Platform), the industry's first cloud-based, artificial intelligence platform designed to automate, connect and secure Edge systems.

The WiFi 6E technology stack comes in handy not only in a smart home, but also in an office with a large number of employees. Resource-intensive applications, such as cloud computing, will also benefit from it.

The only thing left to do is to wait until there are enough devices on the market that support the new standard. Considering its openness, it should be no problem for the manufacturers. The first commercial solutions are available now, and their number should only grow.

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