There’s a widespread misunderstanding that the internet and Wi-Fi are one and the same. Often, Wi-Fi is used interchangeably to refer to your home fiber connection. However, it’s important to recognize that Wi-Fi and the internet are distinct entities, and understanding this difference can be crucial for troubleshooting issues at home and selecting the right equipment.
Internet
The internet is a vast global network of computers, facilitated by transmission lines provided by internet service providers like Loretto Telecom. These transmission lines deliver a constant flow of data to a modem in your home or business. This data stream is what allows you to access websites, services like Netflix or social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as other web-based software services.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, operates independently of the internet and enables devices within a network to communicate and share data wirelessly. It acts as a bridge between your internet signal and your wireless devices.
How They Work Together
In essence, your internet signal travels through a wired connection to your modem. The modem then translates this signal, making it accessible to your computer or other devices. Next, the modem sends the translated signal to your router, which converts it into radio waves. These waves can then be accessed and interpreted wirelessly by devices connected to your Wi-Fi network.
While Wi-Fi and the internet serve different functions, they are interdependent. It’s possible to have a strong Wi-Fi signal but still experience issues like buffering or slow upload and download speeds if your internet bandwidth is insufficient for your needs. The speed of your devices is ultimately limited by the speed of your internet connection.
Factors such as distance from the router and obstacles like dense walls or metal objects can weaken Wi-Fi signal strength. Additionally, as more devices connect to a Wi-Fi network, the available bandwidth is distributed among them. If there are too many connected devices, the remaining bandwidth may not be adequate for additional connections.
Understanding the distinction between Wi-Fi and the internet empowers you to optimize your home network setup and troubleshoot connectivity issues effectively.
With Loretto Telecom, you can count on reliable and fast internet connectivity to keep your home or business running at the speed of life.
