What exactly is WiFi? Why does accessing the internet on my phone without WiFi cost me data while being on WiFi doesn’t?
In: Technology
WiFi is connecting to the computer network for the building where you are, without using a cable. Whoever owns the building has to pay for internet access for their computers, and are letting you connect to the internet through their systems for free, as a courtesy.
Wireless Internet is connecting to the internet via the cellular (cell phone) antennas that are all over the city. You have to pay your own subscription / have a data plan for this.
Wifi is a wireless way for computers and other devices to communicate with each other. You basically have one computer that broadcasts and receives data, and other computers or devices can connect to it. It’s generally used to grant access to the Internet.
Normally, when you access the Internet on your phone, your phone connects to a Satellite run by your phone company, who sends you the information you are asking for. They count that as “Data” and limit how much you can do.
But, you can instead access the Internet by connecting to a local computer that has its own Internet feed, using WiFi. So instead of connecting to a Satellite run by your phone company, you can connect to another computer and use their Internet access instead!
Wi-Fi is a wireless radio connection between a device and a local wireless router. Being connected to Wi-Fi doesn’t automatically connect you to the internet – the router itself has to be connected to the internet, which requires some sort of internet subscription, usually through some landline connection such as DSL or cable. Places that offer “free Wi-Fi” actually mean that they provide a public Wi-Fi that is connected to the internet.
Accessing the internet through your phone (without wifi) requires an internet connection through your cellular service provider.
Both of these require paying for the internet connection, but a landline connection tends to be cheaper than a cellular connection.
> Why does accessing the internet on my phone without WiFi cost me data while being on WiFi doesn’t?
when you’re on wifi, you’re not using your cellular network hence it doesn’t cost you data.
4G/LTE (aka, “not on wifi”) is communication between your phone and the nearest cell tower. this can be miles away.
wifi is in the same building you’re in and is paid to the internet service provider (ISP) that the wifi access point (AP) is connected to. the vast majority of ISPs do not meter the connection and charge/limit your data usage.
you can use wifi on your phone even if you’re not paying for a cellphone plan.
Good answers here. One interesting fact: WiFi doesn’t actually stand for anything. It just sounded catchy
There are two ways to get water: buy bottles (expensive), or drink from a drinking fountain (free). Both satisfy your thirst the same way, but drinking fountains are only in buildings, while you can take bottled water with you anywhere.
WiFi and “Data” are two ways to get access to Internet. One is expensive, another is cheap. WiFi is only available in buildings, Cellular data is available almost anywhere.
Bottles are expensive b/c you need to make them, ship them, have space to store and display them, etc. Drinking fountain is a lot cheaper since its almost zero maintenance once installed, and water bills are tiny, so most places offer them for free.
Both WiFi and Cellular data carry your internet “over the air” using radio waves. WiFi signal between your phone and router goes at most 30 feet (less if walls are in the way). Cellular signal can go several miles, so cell tower that sends and receives radio waves from your phone needs to be a lot more powerful and complicated than WiFi router.
Because you’ve made a deal with your telephone company that puts a limit on the data you get through your 4G connection (=wireless communication with some huge antenna nearby, which is owned by the tele company) . If you want more, you have to pay extra. There are actually plans that give you unlimited data just like wifi, they’re just hella expensive and uninteresting for most.
Wifi is also a wireless communication with some antenna nearby, only a much smaller one. Both antennas are connected to internet cables. Twenty years ago, data through a cable from your house was also limited, and if Wifi had been around then, it wouldn’t have been without data limit either.
Wifi antennas are cheap with a short range, so they only service a few people at a time. 4G antennas a bigger, more expensive and have a long range, so they are used by many people at the same time. With unlimited data, it would probably be too much for the antenna to handle. Also, its the latest thing, so people just accept the high fees. When we get 5G, things will probably change.
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