How Does Wi-Fi Work?
Converting digital packets into invisible electromagnetic radio waves and back across the airwaves.
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Step 11. Packet Serialization
Network layer prepares 802.11 MAC frame with payload.
Data from your browser is packaged with source MAC, destination MAC, sequence number, and CRC checksum.
Step 1 of 4How Does Wi-Fi Work?
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Wi-Fi is two-way radio communication using invisible electromagnetic waves to send 1s and 0s through the air.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Wi-Fi transmits data using radio frequencies (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz).
- ✓Your router and phone are both radio transmitters and receivers.
- ✓Digital data is encoded by modulating the shape and timing of the radio waves.
Invisible Conversations in the Air
When you stream a video or send a message without any cables attached, your device is speaking a high-speed radio language.1. Digital to Radio (Transmitter): Your phone translates video data (billions of 1s and 0s) into an electrical wave pattern on its micro-antenna. 2. Traveling Through the Air: The antenna converts this into an electromagnetic radio wave that travels in all directions at the speed of light. 3. Radio to Digital (Receiver / Router): The router's antenna picks up the tiny fluctuating electrical voltage from the wave and turns it back into digital packets.Interactive Challenge+25 XP