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What is WiFi?
To help explain the difference between WiFi and internet, this section explains WiFi and its features.
Wi-Fi is a short name for Wireless Fidelity. It is what you use to connect your smartphone or computer to a computer network without needing a cable.
A computer network is a connection of many computers so they can communicate with each other.
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- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
The reason you may use WiFi and internet as the same term is because your WiFi connects you (your devices) wirelessly (without a cable) to the computer network of your internet service provider (ISP).
Your ISP’s computer network then connects you to the internet.
In essence, the WiFi on your device (smartphone or computer) connects to a device called a router – this is usually supplied to you by your ISP (internet provider).
As an example, if AT&T provides internet to you when they installed your internet, they would have provided a little box. This box is called a router (or Wi-Fi router).
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- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
- Advanced Security with WPA3 - The latest Wi-Fi security protocol, WPA3, brings new capabilities to improve cybersecurity in personal networks
It is this router that your smartphone or computer connects to (via your device’s Wi-Fi). This router then connects you to the AT&T network that connects you to the internet.
What is Internet?
To further explain the the difference between WiFi and internet, this section explains internet and its features.
The internet is a gigantic network of billions of interconnected computers that communicate with each other.
In the last section, I mentioned that the Wi-Fi on your device connects you to your ISP’s network (via the supplied Wi-Fi router). Your ISP’s computer network is made up of multiple computers and devices that communicate with each other, and with other computers outside your ISP’s network (the internet or other WAN).
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- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
The internet is made up of millions of such smaller networks – like your ISP’s network. Devices connected to these smaller networks (known as Local Area Network, LAN) communicate with each other. However, if the LAN is connected to the internet, the devices within it may also be connected to the internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers some common questions about the difference between WiFi and internet.
I have WiFi signal on my phone or computer, but I cannot browse. Why?
If your phone shows that it is connected to a WiFi, the phone may not have internet. The reason is because, as I explained in the last 2 sections, the WiFi device on your phone or computer is connected to (the router), may not be connected to the internet.
The router need to be connected to your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP’s) network to be able to access the internet. However, the router may be connected to the ISP’s network but you may still not be able to browse.
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- 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕 - Designed with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, featuring Multi-Link Operation (MLO), Multi-RUs, and 4K-QAM. Achieve optimized performance on latest WiFi 7 laptops and devices, like the iPhone 16 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- 𝟔-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟔.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐡 - Achieve full speeds of up to 5764 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band with 6 streams. Enjoy seamless 4K/8K streaming, AR/VR gaming, and incredibly fast downloads/uploads.
- 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Get up to 2,400 sq. ft. max coverage for up to 90 devices at a time. 6x high performance antennas and Beamforming technology, ensures reliable connections for remote workers, gamers, students, and more.
- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
There are multiple reason for this: 1, if you are on Pay As You Go, you may need to top up your account with your ISP. However, if you are on monthly subscription, you may have missed your payment and your account may have been suspended. 2, the internet for your ISP is down. This could be another reason your router may be connected but you cannot browse.
My Phone or Computer is saying “unable to connect to the device”. Why?
Sometimes when you try to connect to the Wi-Fi device (the router) that connects you to the internet, your phone or computer may display the error “unable to connect to the device”. Most time, this may be a temporal problem.
The first step is to try connecting again. If you still receive the error, restart the device you are trying to connect with (your phone or computer). Then, try again. If you still receive the error, restart the router and try again. In the rare instance that the problem persists, contact your internet provider.
Can I extend My Wi-Fi?
Yes. If you live in a big house (or work in a large office space), you may not have strong Wi-Fi signal in some parts of the house or office. The reason is because the farther you are from router, the more difficult it is for your phone or computer to reach it.
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- Dual band router upgrades to 1200 Mbps high speed internet (300mbps for 2.4GHz plus 900Mbps for 5GHz), reducing buffering and ideal for 4K stream
- Full Gigabit Ports - Gigabit Router with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, ideal for any internet plan and allow you to directly connect your wired devices
- Boosted Coverage - Four external antennas equipped with Beamforming technology extend and concentrate the Wi-Fi signals
- MU-MIMO technology - (5GHz band) allows high speeds for multiple devices simultaneously
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
One way to make the router Wi-Fi signal strong in all parts of the house (or even office) is to buy a Wi-Fi extender. It is just another router that connects to your original router and extends the signal to locations close to the extender.
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I hope this Itechguide successfully explained the difference between WiFi and internet. I also hope that you found it helpful.
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Finally, for more Internet tech Itechguides, visit our Domains, Internet Technology Explained page. You may also find our Work from Home page very helpful.
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