I do not under stand what wifi is

From the acronym finder: Wi-Fi

Wireless Fidelity

Generally you see it used for "wireless hotspots" or "free WI-FI".

It basically uses the 802.11b/g/n or whatever standard they come up with next. It is the same standard used to implement typical wireless networking with a wireless router.

Other wireless technologies exist such as bluetooth, cellular cards, but it's not lumped into the WIFI category.

To keep it simple. It's wireless internet. Like keepitsimple said, generally used to refer to hotspots (places you can get wirless free).

Rick


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

This link will explain a little more about Wi-Fi in depth!

To put it in the terms of someone technically-challanged:
It's the internet that goes through the air!

A router/modem can get you hooked up through wifi, most come with onscreen instructions. Then, set a password, and your laptop/other wireless device will be ready to go.

In other words, you don't have to be plugged in to an outlet somewhere in order to get onto the Internet.

Wi-Fi is actually wireless ETHERNET. It allows a device to connect to a network through radio signals. That network most often is then used to connect to the Internet but it doesn't have to.

So Ethernet takes us where besides the Internet?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

So Ethernet takes us where besides the Internet?

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Ethernet is the seed tandard for connecting devices in a network to share resources. Before the Internet became so much a part of our lives, networks were used to share files, printers, etc.

Routers are used to connect LANs with the Internet. But one doesn't need to connect to the Net to use Ethernet to create a LAN.

So three computers on a router here at home are a LAN. The computers at work are on a router and are a LAN. Computers hooked up through a college network are a LAN.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

So three computers on a router here at home are a LAN. The computers at work are on a router and are a LAN. Computers hooked up through a college network are a LAN.

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Almost, a wireless broadband router that one uses to create a home network is actually 3 devices in one. It's a router which is used to connect the LAN to the carrier's LAN. Its an access point to allow wireless devices to connect to the LAN (that's the WiFi) and it's a switch that connects wired devices to the LAN. One can have a switch that create a LAN without connecting the LAN to the Internet or to another LAN. So you could get a 5 port switch, connect 3 PCs and a printer to it and you have a LAN. When the LAN is connected to a larger LAN through a Router, then you have a WAN (Wide Area Network). The Internet is the ultimate WAN.

So what are we talking about here. Wi-Fi or what is a LAN? LOL

Since I think we've settled the WiFi topic, lets move on to the LAN.
A LAN doesn't have to connect to the internet. It does not have to connect to another LAN that connects to the internet. It's simply PC's that are connected sharing resources, whether the internet is invloved or not is superfluous.

Rick