Wi-Fi is the most dominant client connectivity option on the market today. The growth of ubiquitous computing has only happened because of the mass deployment of Wi-Fi. However, Wi-Fi isn’t the only wireless solution and isn’t always the best way to connect devices. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Lee Badman, Troy Martin, and Ron Westfall as they discuss what other options exist and what workflows they can improve.
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WiFi isn’t Always the Best Solution
Wi-Fi is the most dominant client connectivity option on the market today. The growth of ubiquitous computing has only happened because of the mass deployment of Wi-Fi. However, Wi-Fi isn’t the only wireless solution and isn’t always the best way to connect devices. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Lee Badman, Troy Martin, and Ron Westfall as they discuss what other options exist and what workflows they can improve.
Wi-Fi is everywhere and the most popular way for users to get on the Internet. However, there are a lot of devices that operate today that don’t interact directly with users. These could be sensor networks or other IoT devices. You could also have areas that don’t work well with Wi-Fi, such as a large public venue. Wi-Fi has certain requirements for things like power and bandwidth that may not play well with your particular application.
There are a lot of alternative wireless technologies that aren’t Wi-Fi. LoRaWAN, Private 5G, Wi-Fi HaLw, CBRS, Zigbee, and many others offer their own unique solutions for a given use case. This could be lower power consumption or even longer range for isolated devices. Given that most IoT devices don’t need to transmit large amounts of data frequently you can see why solutions like those listed above may be better alternatives.
Another thing to consider is that Wi-Fi alternatives don’t need to be used exclusively. You can configured your sensor network to operate over LoRaWAN, your warehouse scanners to use CBRS, and your client tablets to use Wi-Fi 6. This would use your spectrum efficiently and ensure your devices are getting what they need to perform properly.
There is always the risk that these competing standards could cause the wireless space to fracture into different camps much like the wired networking space did many years ago. However, with the vastly different kinds of devices out there that have unique requirements it is more likely that individual companies will develop those competing protocols for their own needs and leave Wi-Fi as the common denominator for everyone.
Podcast Information:
Tom Hollingsworth is the Networking Analyst for The Futurum Group and Event Lead for Tech Field Day. You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn and X/Twitter. Find out more on his blog or on the Tech Field Day website.
Ron Westfall is The Research Director at The Futurum Group specializing in Digital Transformation, 5G, AI, Security, Cloud Computing, IoT and Data Center as well as the host of 5G Factor Webcast. You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn and on X/Twitter and see his work on The Futurum Group’s website.
Troy Martin is founder and director at Trogen Consulting, specializing in mobile and wireless technologies. You can connect with Troy on X/Twitter and on LinkedIn. Learn more about Troy on his website.
Lee Badman is a network architect and independent analyst specializing in wireless and mobility. You can connect with Lee on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter. Learn more on his website.
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