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Why Wi-Fi Almost Didn’t Connect At All

It’s hard to imagine a time or place when you couldn’t quickly check your emails or have a scroll through Instagram. Isn’t it the most frustrating thing when you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot? No connection, nothing, no matter how many times you reload the page. We are so accustomed to working remotely (I’m actually looking out at the solent whilst typing this!) and taking the internet with you wherever you go, it’s very difficult to contemplate a life without Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity.  

Did you know that Wi-Fi very nearly didn’t happen in the first place? Wi-Fi almost hit its very own deadspot – And wouldn’t that have changed our lives as we know it! So how did Wi-Fi come about?

When was Wi-Fi officially launched?

On the 25th September 1999, coming up to 25 years ago, Wi-Fi was officially launched. If you think about the fuss that’s made over a new product launch from Apple, then you might have expected the launch of Wi-Fi itself to be a rather flashy affair. 

In reality, it was a bit Big Bang Theory-esque – A convention centre in Atlanta housing 8 technophiles ready to open their jackets to reveal polo shirts emblazoned with the made-up word Wi-Fi. And all in front of a crowd of just 60 people. 

Some of the biggest tech companies, and some smaller ones too, backed the launch enthusiastically. Even the likes of Apple, Dell and Nokia could never have imagined that they were backing such a huge global phenomenon with incredible economic, social and cultural impact across the world. 

It was the summer of ‘99

Think back to the summer of 1999, if you can. The working world was mostly using wired networks via Ethernet cable. LAN’s (Local Area Networks) connected desktop computers at a rate of 10 Mbps. 

Meanwhile, those trying to send emails from home did so to the sound of a modem trying to connect to another modem via repurposed telephone infrastructure. Dial-up internet and 56 Kbps dial up modems clanked and clanged their way online. Arguments were had over who needed to use the computer and who needed to use the telephone. 

There were products for WLAN’s (Wireless Local Area Networks) but these were predominantly just for businesses. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) official wireless standard specification for these wireless products was 802.11. Not only were these products expensive, they were also 5 times slower than their wired equivalent. 

Despite there being a specified wireless standard, this unfortunately didn’t mean that one standards compliant wireless product would be compatible with another. This was largely due to the fact that there were different ways of interpreting the specification. 

These weaknesses meant that some companies looked elsewhere and chose to support other rival technology alliances – Each with their own aim of becoming the actual standard. 

Wi-Fi’s rival – HomeRF

One of these rival specifications was developed by a consortium of other technology giants – Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Microsoft. Their WLAN ‘HomeRF’ was aimed at consumers (rather than businesses) and was backed by over 80 other companies. In comparison to the other standard, the HomeRF products were not only cheaper but could also communicate with each other. 

With a name like HomeRF (short for Home Radio Frequency) it arguably had a catchier name than IEEE 802.11. They didn’t just have their eyes on the consumer market – They also had big plans for expansion and higher speeds for the business market. 

Despite all of this, the second generation of the IEEE standard, 802.11b was heading steadily for its final approval at the end of September. By the end of the year, there were products due to ship from company 3Com (later acquired by HP along with Compaq). Their products were based on the newer, faster standard and set for release before 1999 ended. 

At the time, networking firm 3Com formed WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) bringing together 5 strong advocates for IEEE. Their aim was to make sure that any products using the pending second generation standard would all be compatible with each other. 

Originally tipped to be named ‘FlankSpeed’, connectivity as we know it today was trademarked as Wi-Fi. There began the establishment of the rules by which wireless products could be deemed ‘Wi-Fi Certified.’

What if Wi-Fi had not won out against HomeRF?

Wi-Fi won the wireless standard race, but what if HomeRF had in fact taken the lead? There are ways that all might not have worked out as it has. 

If the second generation standard 802.11b had been delayed, then HomeRF may have been able to sneak ahead. It was only due to a compromise between WLAN industry pioneers (and foes) Lucent Technologies and Harris Semiconductor that meant there was no delay. 

What if FlankSpeed was only available at work?

So what if WECA had decided only to focus on business connectivity? That was a discussed possibility. ‘Go anywhere’ connectivity almost wasn’t on the table. And what if ‘FlankSpeed’ had been chosen over ‘Wi-Fi’? 

A big chunk of today’s workforce rely on being able to bring work home with them. And not just home – What about coffee shops, airports, on the daily commute sitting on the train, the beach even? Nowadays we tend to take work with us wherever we go. 

Had we been using FlankSpeed at the office and HomeRF at home, this would have made things very difficult for anyone working from home. And you can forget about coffee-shop-working and catching up on emails waiting for a plane – It’s possible neither of these public access options would exist. Zones that were not home or the office would have been a no-go (or NoHO (Not Home, Not Office) for working online. Spaces that were neither office nor home would have been a connectivity no man’s land. 

And if you’re wondering about FlankSpeed and Smartphones – That would have been a no as well. The mobile world of online connectivity disappears into the mist, out of grasp. Can you imagine? No, we can’t either. 

Would it have been beneficial to have more than just one wireless standard? 

The benefits of having a singular focus on just the one standard meant that there was more scope for innovation and cost reduction. 

Even if FlankSpeed or HomeRF had gone forth alongside Wi-Fi, it couldn’t have ever become as cheap to run or prevalent and globally penetrating as Wi-Fi. 

Having a universal standard means that retail stores, public spaces and anywhere where we would now expect to be able to connect, could roll it out uninhibited. Had this not been the case, the ability to stream video whilst sipping a coffee or connect to emails whilst sitting on the train may not be available. 

Thinking on a global level, those living in emerging market countries like Nigeria, rely on free Wi-Fi hotspots to be able to connect to the rest of the world. Remote islands like the Bahamas also rely on Wi-Fi to get support following adverse weather conditions like hurricanes. In this way, Wi-Fi provides critical connections all over the world.  

HomeRF folded in 2003 – So how did Wi-Fi succeed so quickly? 

As with all well-laid plans, it’s all in the preparation and timing. With the announcement of the name Wi-Fi and the promise of certified interoperability from WECA, companies investing in this new wireless standard had the assurance that their products would all work together. 

In 2000, 86% of Wi-Fi devices were used for business. Wireless connection in businesses was big business in itself, with chipmakers and PC companies quickly hopping off the fence to support and join Wi-Fi. This led tech giants Microsoft and Intel to jump ship from HomeRF to Wi-Fi. Wireless for business soared in popularity ahead of in the home, which gave Wi-Fi chip volume a boost. This in turn led to closing the cost gap between that and HomeRF, leading it to fold in 2003. 

Since then, over the past 2 decades the Wi-Fi Alliance and IEEE have worked together to represent, guide and oversee Wi-Fi and its subsequent standards. 

The IEEE committee continues to roll-out new standards, and the WI-Fi Alliance makes sure that certified products can communicate with each other. 

So the next time you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot, or find that the Wi-Fi is down in your favourite coffee shop – Stop and breathe. Count your blessings that you can take your work with you wherever you go (mostly) and that you can largely connect via Wi-Fi wherever you need it. 

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Ethernet Ethernet Cables Fibre Broadband Media Converter Network WLAN
Do You Need a Media Converter for Your Network?

 Networking and Media Converters have gone hand in hand right from the start. They play a vital role when it comes to solving interconnection problems in networks. 

If you oversee a business network (or one in a large home) then you probably already use this handy device. But are you using the media converter correctly? 

What is a media converter?

A media converter is a networking device that allows you to connect one type of communication protocol cable to another different type of cable. For example, connecting a twisted pair to fibre optic cable. 

By connecting two different media, like Ethernet copper and Ethernet fibre, they can typically connect devices that are beyond 100 metres from the nearest available switch. 

The reach of the copper port can be extended with a copper to fibre converter by connecting a copper port on an Ethernet switch to the fibre that connects the device in the remote location.

The ability to do this provides great flexibility when building and connecting networks, easily connecting fibre and copper cables.

A media converter is usually a two-port device equipped with a copper interface on one side and a fibre interface on the other side.

Another key building block within a network are Switches. They enable you to connect multiple devices, such as computers, wireless access points, printers, and servers;  All on the same network within a building or campus. A switch enables connected devices to share information and talk to each other.

Switches are mostly made up of LAN ports which are usually copper Ethernet with a few fibre-based uplink ports. They are also often SFP-based (small form-factor pluggable used for data communication). The copper ports are used to connect devices within a short-range (up to 100 metres) while the SFP uplinks can connect devices that are further away (which would be useful for other switches and/or servers).

The goal for any well-designed network is to use all the available uplinks. This maximises throughput. Oftentimes, spare LAN ports are kept in order to be able to easily connect new devices in the future. However this only works well if the device is within 100 metres from the switch. It can also cause problems if it is in a ‘noisy’ environment – A copper cable can be susceptible to electromagnetic interference. 

In what sort of situation could we see these issues arise?

  • A computer placed in a remote location
  • An access point in an outdoor area
  • A video surveillance camera
  • An access control system far from the last switch, 

For instances where the LAN must be extended over 100 metres, you will require a network extender, and a media converter would be the ideal solution. 

To extend a network to a distant location, you would use a fibre connection from the switch and a media converter to connect to the device.

The remote device problem is solved with the Ethernet link providing a very long reach thus extending the connection. It also saves you from having to add other switches to the network. 

How Does a Media Converter Work?

Media converters can be split into two main groups. 

The first type of media converter can only convert physical media. For example,copper to fibre, or fibre to copper, without adjusting the speed of the link. This type of device is most commonly used when latency is a critical factor, in other words, when a time delay when transmitting the traffic is unacceptable during conversion. 

The second type of media converters are often called switch converters or rate converters. These are a standard Ethernet switch equipped with two ports. These devices can adjust both the media and the link speed so that it is possible to connect a 10/100/1000T port to a 100FX port. For time-sensitive applications, this type is unsuitable as the switch adds a small amount of latency to the connection.

Do media converters work in both directions?

Yes, they can work in both directions. Media converters work with bidirectional links, so the same model can be used to convert copper to fibre but also fibre to copper. 

If you use these devices in pairs, you can use the same model for both ends since they work both ways.

What Are the Different Types of Media Converters?

There are different types of media converter, including:

  • One that connects fibre and copper cables (the most common)
  • One that can convert Ethernet to VDSL 
  • One that can inject Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Typically, media converters are small standalone unmanaged devices. However, they can also form managed and unmanaged chassis solutions to integrate multiple devices within your network in a 19″ standard rack. For deployments in harsher environments, industrial media converters can be mounted in DIN cabinets to protect the electrical components.  

What is the most common model of media converter? 

As we mentioned above, the most common model of media converter is one which connects copper to fibre with one RJ45 port and one fibre port or SFP bay. To allow another converter or a switch equipped with the appropriate interface to be connected easily, the transport protocol is always Ethernet. 

What about legacy infrastructure?

It’s not always possible to use a fibre link due to legacy infrastructure, for example twisted-pair phone cables or co-ax cables. If these are already in use, replacing with new fibre is not practical. Media converters that convert Ethernet to co-ax or Ethernet to twisted-pair allow the use of legacy infrastructure. 

These devices can reach long distances over legacy cables due to using VDSL (Very high Data rate Subscription Line) technology.

As mentioned above, another type of converter can provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) on the copper Ethernet port to power remote devices. This is particularly useful for things like CCTV cameras or access control gates, and helps to simplify deployment of physical security solutions.

Covering the most commonly used interfaces today, media converter port speeds include Fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit. Transceivers through an SFP port are able to operate on fibres from just a few metres in length up to 120km, satisfying a wide range of distances and speeds.

Media converters are useful for desktops too

Did you know that media converters can be used on the desktop too? 

The USB to fibre Ethernet media converter acts as a Network Interface Card for your desktop or laptop – Quickly deploying a Fibre To The Desk (FTTD) solution for security-sensitive applications, or those more than 100 metres from the switch.

What Are the Features of a Media Converter?

The majority of media converters are not smart devices, however there are some media converters that have smart features that can help to simplify the management of large networks. 

‘Have you turned it off and then on again?’

We’ve all heard that old IT joke. But actually there’s a reason why IT guru’s and network engineers say those notorious words. One of the most common ways to solve computer-related issues is to ‘power-cycle’ the device – Often, simply turning it off and then on again makes the problem disappear. 

For PoE (Power over Ethernet) powered devices, disconnecting the power on the switch port connected to the device having issues will automatically reset it. 

However, most media converters are not managed remotely and thus any that are on a remote site cannot simply turn the power off. In this case, a network engineer (or other person) would have to physically go to the remote site and disconnect and then reconnect the PoE cable. 

Some configurable PoE Media converters enable PoE power to be reset whenever the fibre connection is turned off and on. This ‘smart’ feature would prevent the need for a physical remote site visit by enabling you to control the PoE power via the fibre connection on the switch, resetting the remote device. 

Has all this talk of fibre cables and Ethernet ports got you in a tizz?

Call the experts! Here at Geekabit, our experienced Wi-Fi engineers can help at any stage of network deployment – From site surveys to design to installation. 

We’re only a phone call away, and can help get your business or large home properly connected. 

Thinking you’re too rural? We’ve got 4G for that! Our mobile and satellite broadband options could be just the thing you’re looking for. 

Get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today.

by admin
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Enterprise Wi-Fi Enterprise WLAN IDC Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wireless Network WLAN
Strong Growth of Enterprise WLAN Market in 2023 Q1 

The International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wireless LAN Tracker has reported that between the first quarter of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, the Enterprise Wi-Fi market has grown by 43%. 

What’s Behind the Growth of the Enterprise WLAN Market?

The driving force behind the Enterprise WLAN market growth is in part down to the easing of component shortages. 

There has also been a significant demand for the upgrades and expansions that come with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

You can find further details on this in IDC’s latest market report. 

Wi-Fi Market Back With a Vengeance

Previously, the right business to be in might have been as a service provider or consumer Wi-Fi. But we’ve come a long way since 2020, and from just last year even. The IDC reports that the consumer Wi-Fi segment has decreased by 8.8% for the quarter year-on-year.

The enterprise Wi-Fi market however is back and booming and showing itself to continue to grow year-on-year. 

The IDC’s recent report showed that the Enterprise Wi-Fi market grew by 43% in Q1 for 2023 (year on year). This sector is worth a huge 2.8 billion dollars. 

Is the Growth of Enterprise WLAN Market Down to Wi-Fi 6?

Of the Enterprise WLAN sector revenue, Wi-Fi 6 made up 78.6%. 

In addition to that, the adoption of Wi-Fi 6E is up by 14% from that last quarter of 2022. This continued growth has taken a 10.4% share of the AP market in Q1 of 2023. 

Cisco Expands Market Dominance

At the end of the first quarter of 2023, Cisco continued to take their Enterprise Wi-Fi market share with 47.1%. Their revenue has risen 62.7% year on year – Their Enterprise Wi-Fi revenue for this quarter was 1.3 billion US dollars. 

Also doing well in the Enterprise Wi-Fi market is HPE_Aruba (Aruba Networks). They have grown by 39.5% year on year for Q1 of 2023. The IDC reports they have a market share of 16%. 

You can check out how other vendors are doing by heading to the IDC website here. 

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Radio Frequency RF WLAN
Myth Buster: WLAN’s and Radio Frequency

Have you ever wondered about certain myths about radio frequency that seem to pervade the WLAN world? Then this could be the blog for you. We certainly come across a lot of people who have a particular mindset when it comes to wireless networks and how they work. 

In this blog we’re going to take a look at some of the common beliefs people hold about radio frequency and dispel the myths. 

Do higher frequencies travel as far as lower frequencies? 

Yes. A common misconception is that higher frequencies don’t travel as far as lower frequencies, but this is not the case. Regardless of frequency, RF signals travel the same distance. The confusion comes from it seeming at a surface level that lower frequencies travel further.

But actually it’s due to attenuation. In space, a high frequency gamma ray with a frequency of approximately 1020 Hz (1 nanometer wavelength) can travel billions of miles, even lightyears, from neutron stars here to us on earth. Regardless of frequency, there is no attenuation of the radio wave so it travels an equal distance.

Here on earth, the distance RF goes (or is heard) is determined by how much is absorbed or attenuated. We need to take into account what the radio waves have to go through.

So when we’re thinking about longer wavelengths (lower frequency):
– There are less wavelengths to get through an object
– Less wavelengths are therefore absorbed
– The signal is less degraded

For these reasons, lower frequencies appear to go further.

Just to confuse things a bit further – Here’s an inconsistency with the above. In terms of 2-way radio, it’s a commonly known fact that UHF frequencies (450-470MHz) work better in an indoor environment than VHF (150MHz). But didn’t we just say that lower frequencies appear to travel further because less are absorbed? Yet here we are saying this type of higher frequency works better indoors.

In terms of size, the wavelength for VHF frequencies are about 6 feet and the wavelength of UHF frequencies are about 2 feet.

In an indoor environment, things like windows and doors are generally larger than the UHF wavelength and smaller than the VHF wavelength. This means that the attenuation for UHF is less.

What’s interesting is that if you increase the frequency, for example to 900MHz, the even shorter wavelength begins to have an increase in attenuation from things that are not windows and doors attenuating the signal more than the smaller frequency.

The UHF at 450MHz is the optimum frequency for an indoor environment.

For the tech geeks out there that are thinking – Hang on, what about UHF radios having higher gain antennas than VHF? Whilst that is indeed true, the dB gain difference isn’t enough to explain why the UHF does so much better indoors.

So let’s go back to where we started. It is a misconception to say that lower frequencies travel further than higher frequencies. However, it is true that higher frequencies (smaller wavelengths) are attenuated more than lower frequencies. It is also true that designing antenna systems that can receive higher frequencies at a greater distance is somewhat more challenging.

Does Free-Space Path Loss Increase with Frequency?


Not necessarily, despite common beliefs. If you are using a Free-Space Path Loss (or FSPL) calculator, it will assume that you are maintaining the same wavelength proportionally sized antenna as you lower the frequency. In other words, you are changing only the frequency so just one variable. You are not changing the antenna size.

When you lower the frequency, you aren’t seeing that the antenna is also getting bigger at the same time.

Decreasing the frequency whilst not increasing the size of the antenna would mean that the dB gain would decrease accordingly and the overall system gain would remain the same.

If you adjust both the frequency and the antenna size correctly then the FSPL stays the same.

However, there are scenarios where FSPL can increase with frequency. In the real world, buildings and other structures in free space will absorb more energy for higher frequencies as we’ve said above. Higher frequencies have smaller wavelengths and more attenuation. When buildings are in the path, path loss can increase with frequency.

Can increasing output power be a solution?


Many people think that increasing output power can never be a solution and that you must match your AP to client power.

Actually, an AP’s receiver us usually better than a client device. In addition to this, the MRC (maximal ratio combining) means that you should be able to allow for at least 3dB better radio receiver which can also mean 3dB more AP radio transmitter to balance things out.

Did you know that it’s actually okay to have asymmetrical MCS rates with downstream being higher than upstream? (the Modulation Coding Scheme helps us engineers to understand data rates and evaluate RF environments).

In a typical WLAN, users will be doing more downloading than uploading. Having a higher average MCS rate for users, they will be quicker to get on and off the wireless network, which increases the overall performance.

In most cases, it’s okay to have AP power at 15-17dBm.

In terms of Point-to-Point links, you could find that turning up the power is an easy way to boost performance. In addition, Mesh backhaul links between AP’s could benefit from higher power by increasing the average MCS rates between them. 

What is this not going to solve? Poor design and holes in coverage. You also need to bear in mind potential co-channel interference and being a good neighbour. We’re not saying turn up the power to crazy levels, but generally turning up the power by a few decibels could help your network. 

Does Wi-Fi 6E have more frequency space (1200MHz) than other unlicensed bands?

Let’s talk about the 60GHz band. One 802.11ad / 802.11ay channel has more RF bandwidth than combining all of the 900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, Wi-Fi 6E and 24GHz bands.

If you double the RF bandwidth will it double the throughput?

This is not always the case. You might find that the physical baseband layer (PHY) doubles but the actual throughput is less likely to do so. 

If you narrow the channel by half, then the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) increases by 3dB – Possibly even more if there are other sources of interference. An improvement of 3dB in SNR generally means an increase of 1 to 2 MCS rates.

It’s also true in reverse. If you double the RF bandwidth the SNR will be reduced by 3dB, generally reducing the MCS rate by 1 or 2. 

So, doubling the RF bandwidth doesn’t automatically mean you double the throughput but likely somewhere in-between. 

Throughput will only be doubled if full MCS rates are maintained either way and:

  • The link is strong
  • There is extra SNR beyond what is needed for the maximum MCS rate

Imagine an outdoor Point-to-Point scenario where the RF bandwidth was reduced from 40MHz down to 20MHz. By narrowing the RF bandwidth, the SNR increased and interference was reduced. The MCS rate increased which made up for the throughput that was lost from narrowing the RF bandwidth – In essence, increasing the throughput by reducing the RF bandwidth. Interesting!

by admin
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