Difference Between Wimax and Wifi
WiMAX and Wi-Fi are the names of two wireless technologies. However while Wi-Fi has a very short range of operation- a maximum distance of 250 m, WiMAX has the liberty to be operated even from a long distance –about 30 Km. WiMAX comes with an option of both fixed and mobile version that can be used for quit5e a few number of applications having higher bandwidth of around 40 Mbps. Similar to the popularity of the DSL /Cable internet facility that is all too familiar in the cities, WiMAX is a potential substitute for the cable broadband in the countryside where most providers don’t even have a have copper network so that they can provide DSL services. Not to forget the amazing bandwidth of 40 Mbps- which is even faster than ADSL2+ the WIMAX seems to be the future. WiMAX is quite capable of supporting the operations of voice, video and data at the same time quite easily. WiMAX 802.16m which the latest version is expected to come up with a whopping 1 Gbps which is quite similar to the FIOS technology and it seems all set to handle the operations of remote offices or provider access stations.
WiMAX (IEEE 802.16)
WiMAX (802.16) or otherwise called Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access is a 4th Generation mobile access technology that can provide access to data and that too with a high speed. The current version of WiMAX can generate an actual speed of 40 Mbps and it is expected that the updated version will be capable of delivering a whopping 1Gbps in fixed endpoints.
WiMAX comes under the IEEE 802.16 family and the WiMAX 802.16e (expected wave 1, 1×2 SIMO) provides about 23 Mbps download speed and 4 Mbps upload speed. The 802.16e (expected wave 2, 2×2 MIMO (Multiple Input and Multiple Output) is capable of 46 Mbps download speed and 4 Mbps upload speed. The upcoming version 802.16m is expected to be generating a monster speed of 1Gbps in fixed endpoints.
While WiMAX comes with fixed version and mobile version, the fixed version of WiMAX (802.16d and 802.16e) is ideal for indoor broadband solutions and can be used for handle back office operations of remote offices or mobile stations. The mobile version of WiMAX (802.16m) is a potential substitute of GSM and CDMA technologies.
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family)
Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) is a wireless LAN technology with an effective short range. It’s the most common wireless technology that is used indoors, corporate internal wireless networks and Hotspots. This technology uses a frequency of 2.4GHz or 5GHz also called unallocated frequency band that are especially due for ISM – Industrial Scientific and Medical. There are various types of Wi-Fi (802.11) like the 802.11a, b, g, n. 802.11a, b, g uses a frequency of 2.4 GHz and has an actual range of 40-140 meters and 802.11n operates in a higher frequency of 5 GHz with OFDM modulation technology which gives it a higher speed of 40Mbps and ranged to 70-250 meters.
Using a wireless router a Wireless LAN (WLAN) can be easily set up at home. During the domestic Wi-Fi setup you have to restrict the access of any third party by enabling security features on it. Encryption or Secure Wireless, MAC address filter and changing the default wireless password are some of them.