What is the difference between WiFi & Internet?
Since the moment when we started using smartphones, Wi-Fi and internet are words that we use every day on different occasions. However, are you one of those who use both terms interchangeably?
If the answer is yes, do not worry because there is a lot of confusion about this topic. They are two separate things that work better together, and in this article, we will show what you need to understand once and for all the meaning of Wi-Fi and Internet.
Continue reading and learn more about this topic:
If I have internet do I have Wi-Fi?
Raise your hand if you frequently use Wi-Fi and Internet. Now, keep your hand up if you have no idea what the difference is between the two words. Do not worry! Lower your hand that next, we will tell you everything you need to know about this.
Most people around the world tend to use both words as if they were the same, but the truth is that they are different things. Knowing the difference between the internet and Wi-Fi can help you in solving connection problems.
The answer to the main question is no. If you have internet you do not (necessarily) have Wi-Fi. They are related but not directly connected. Let’s know first the definition of both terms to understand better how different they are.
The internet is a network that connects computers all around the world. If you have internet on a computer or cell phone, then you can access any kind of information online. You can communicate; download apps, files, watch movies, videos, search for information, and much more.
To have internet at home, first, you need to look for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to get an internet subscription. After that, you need to get a modem, which is a device that converts data into a digital signal. It has to be compatible with your ISP.
If you connect the modem to a cable outlet, to an electrical outlet, and to your computer, you will have an internet connection on that computer.
And what happens with the Wi-Fi?
Remember that Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that makes computers, cell phones, and other devices have internet access. This is possible by using a wireless router.
You need to connect your modem to the router using an Ethernet cord, and the router to an electrical outlet. After that, you will be able to connect your devices to the internet connection. You can set up a password so only the devices that have it can have access to the Wi-Fi connection.
Knowing all this information, we can assure you that you can have internet and Wi-Fi at the same time just if both modem and router work properly. It could be possible that you have internet but no Wi-Fi connection, if your router has performance problems.
If you only use a computer, and you do not need to have internet on other devices, you would not need a router. The only thing you need is to have your modem connected to your computer using the Ethernet cord.
Can you have internet without Wi-Fi?
As we said before, internet and Wi-Fi are different things; however, they usually work together. The answer to the question is yes, it is possible to have internet without Wi-Fi.
If you use both modem and router and you do not have Wi-Fi, it could be that you have a problem with your router and it is not sending the wireless signal. The first thing that you need to check is that the corresponding lights in your router are on. If some of them are not on, we recommend that you turn it off and unplug the router, and then reconnect it. If you do this a couple of times and you still have no Wi-Fi signal, the router may have a malfunction.
Of course, you can do without Wi-Fi if you do not need it. For this, you would have to connect the modem to the smart device to which you want to have internet access. It could be a desktop computer, a laptop, or even a smart TV.
So… What is the difference?
Did you already find out what the difference is? Let’s try with this example.
Think that the internet is a language and that Wi-Fi translates the language so many people can understand it.
It is not useful to have Wi-Fi but no internet, because you will not have anything to translate. If you have internet but no Wi-Fi, then you will be more limited, because you cannot send or share the language with other people. In the end, the best thing is to have both, so the information can be shared on a network for multiple devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Wi-Fi work?
The router is the device that translates the signal received by a modem into data that can be used through a wireless connection by a smart device (computer, laptop, cell phone).
What can I do if I do not have internet connection on my computer?
You need to check first if your modem and router are working properly. For this, you just need to see if the corresponding lights are on. If they are on, then your smart device could have a problem with its antenna, or you could be out of coverage range. If they are off, try turning off and on the router and modem.
Why is my internet slow?
Several factors influence what we consider to be connection speed. First of all, you need to know the speed of downloading and uploading provided by our ISP.
It also depends on the signal strength emitted by the router and the number of devices connected to the Wi-Fi network. These influencing factors are not dependent on each other.
Now that you know more about the terms internet and Wi-Fi, it will be easier for you to identify solve internet-related problems. If you have a connection problem, always check first that your Wi-Fi is working properly!
