Passive Wi-Fi: what it is and How it works

passive-wifi-13Wireless networks are increasingly present in our day to day. The rise of what is known as Internet of Things or IoT devices makes it necessary to have a Wi-Fi network. This type of device allows many devices to be interconnected and controlled remotely, for example. The problem is that one of the most important inconveniences is the battery. Connecting wirelessly to the router is a significant waste of resources. In this article we will explain what passive Wi-Fi is and how it can help to combat this problem.

What is passive Wi-Fi

As we mentioned wireless networks consume resources. If we connect our mobile to the router via Wi-Fi, it needs power to work. If we put the example of a laptop connected by Wi-Fi and an identical one connected by cable, in the first case the battery would be depleted before.

This is a major drawback especially for certain devices on the Internet of Things. In many cases they are very small and the battery, in case of carrying, will be very limited. That’s where the passive Wi-Fi comes into play, which serves to save energy and to connect the equipment to the network.

Basically passive Wi-Fi came up with the idea of reducing energy consumption . This way we can connect our devices wirelessly, but we won’t have to melt the battery constantly.

To explain what passive Wi-Fi is, it is best to compare it with classic Wi-Fi. The normal Wi-Fi that we know in our day to day, what it does is connect two devices wirelessly. Both devices send and receive a signal, so it is necessary that in both cases there is enough energy for it.

However passive Wi-Fi does not act the same. In this case it is only necessary for one device to send signals, since the other has passive sensors. This is achieved thanks to being able to separate the waves. In traditional Wi-Fi two types of waves are sent: a digital one, which is the one that transmits the data, and another analogue, which is responsible for transporting that data.

How passive Wi-Fi works

The device that we are going to use to connect is going to have a chip . The transmitter, which can be a router for example, will have special software capable of connecting to that sensor.

Logically this will also have limitations . The first thing is that the maximum distance at which it usually works is about 30 meters. There will also be limitations in terms of speed compared to traditional Wi-Fi. Also, keep in mind that at the moment there are not many devices that are compatible with this technology.

The main advantage is that it represents a very important energy saving . We will be able to connect devices longer without worrying about the battery. Also the ease of use and implementation once this technology is extended.

Redes Wi-Fi

More and more devices are connected

It is a reality that we live in a time when we have more and more devices connected to the Internet. IoT devices will increase considerably in the coming years. Its figure is expected to multiply in our homes and new ones will also appear.

We no longer speak only of having a computer or mobile connected, but there are many other devices. We speak for example of televisions, light bulbs, video players, etc. There are many types of devices that we have connected to the network and that are part of our day to day.

All this makes it necessary to have an adequate Wi-Fi network. It is vital to always maintain security, as well as having a correct configuration that takes full advantage of the available resources we have.