Wi-Fi & Internet Speed FAQs You Should Check Out Right Now

We've come a long way since 'dial-up' internet, yet there's a lot we don't know about our connections today. Read on as we dig into some of the most frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi, internet speeds, latency, and more.

• 1 What is Wi-Fi?

  This wireless networking technology enables you to connect devices to the Internet without the use of any cables. To access Wi-Fi, you need a router. Your device transmits data through a radio signal, which is picked up by the router. It then decodes the signal, sends it to the Internet and communicates back to the connected device with its own radio signal. This is how your internet connection is established. You can either connect to public Wi-Fi or set up Wi-Fi in your home.

• 2 How Do I Choose a Wireless Router?

  There are two types of wireless routers available on the market. 802.11n is the prevailing standard. This transmits on two frequencies- 2.4 and 5 GHz. However, most users find the 5GHz band more efficient since it is less crowded. These routers can transmit much more data by using multiple antennas than their predecessors. The 802.11ac routers are also available. These are faster, but are more expensive. They use multiple antennas, where each one can support nearly more than double the Mbps of an antenna when compared to the 802.11n router. Based on your needs and budget, you can choose the best router for you.

• 3 How Can I Protect My Wi-Fi Network?

  With any device that connects to the Internet, security is a prime concern. Although a wireless router comes with in-built security features, you need to know how to use them. Your router either has a WPA or WEP encryption. If you have a choice, WPA is superior. By regularly changing keys, it is difficult to hack into your Wi-Fi network with WPA encryption. These encryption features are generally turned off for shipping. Ensure that you enable this encryption. For added security, run a firewall on computers that are connected to your Wi-Fi.

• 4 How Do I Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi?

  Although public Wi-Fi is very useful, it opens you up to a world of new security risks. If you use public Wi-Fi, protective software and a firewall are essential. Using a virtual private network (VPN) is the safest way to use a public internet connection. A VPN is used to encrypt your data and create a secure tunnel which can be used for data transmission. This allows you to use any public connection securely.

• 5 What are some of the things that affect upload and download speeds?

  Your internet speeds are a result of several different things. Some of these include the kind of device you are using or the type of connection you have. The number of devices on one connection also matters. Network congestion is another factor, which can significantly slow down your internet speed.

• 6 What's an acceptable ping rate for online gaming?

  The world of online gaming is one of the critical places where lightning-fast ping rates allow you the advantage over other players with slow connections. A good rule of thumb to remember is the best rate remains between 0-59ms. But if you see a latency of 200+ ms, it's more than likely it's 'game over' before you've even assessed the playing field.

• 7 How do speed tests work?

  A speed test works by checking the speed between your tablet, desktop computer, smartphone, or other devices and the internet. Usually, you can run a test through your network, a wired broadband connection, or even your home Wi-Fi.
  Finally, remember that speed tests can give you varying results because they only measure the amount of data being transferred over your Internet connection at that time. Since many factors affect your speeds all the time, you can have different results.