Most of us use a handheld device, phone, tablet, or laptop no matter where we roam. At Baptist, patients and team members alike think nothing of using their devices remotely all the time, both for work and personal reasons.
We also know the frustration of not getting a connection or watching little circles endlessly rotate while waiting for something to stream or download. While many of us carry the technology, do many of us really understand how Wi-Fi works and how Baptist supports it, or are we endlessly blaming the wrong reasons for perceived slowness?
Thanks to our friendly Baptist IT team, we’ve gathered a few facts behind Wi-Fi to grow our knowledge, instead of frustration, with technology.
What’s the difference between Wi-Fi and Cellular networks?
Wi-Fi and Cellular mean two different things, both in specific terms and in the world at large. This is a key concept to understand.
Cellular means a licensed service provided outside of Baptist’s control with familiar market names like AT&T, Verizon, CSpire, and Sprint.
Cellular services are meant to provide fast speeds like a Wi-Fi system that wholly depends on the device. For example: A new Corvette moves faster than a 2-year old pick-up truck. Two different devices and all day long they move at different speeds.
Cost is another major difference between Cellular and Wi-Fi access. While Cellular signal strength can extend miles, it’s more expensive to operate. Whereas, Wi-Fi has a lower operation cost, but its signal strength is weaker.
When talking about Wi-Fi, it’s important to know that nothing is truly wireless, end to end, in the world. Buildings, hospitals, hotels — all have wires that you’re “tapping” into via a wireless connection.
Do different devices really affect my connection to a network?
Devices are the most important factor in your Wi-Fi or Cellular connection. Knowing what your phone says will help you understand what system you’re using.
Can you read your phone? Can you tell what network your phone is using?
Generally, phones have universal symbols like 3G, LTE, bars, or dots — whether it’s an iPhone or Android. If you see what’s described as an ice cream cone or layered, curved lines, that tells you you’re connected to a Wi-Fi system. Other symbols like 3G indicate you’re on a cellular network.
Can Wi-Fi signals reach through walls?
Wi-Fi does not reach through walls as well as Cellular signals.
That being said when buildings like Baptist Memphis were built, Wi-Fi or Cellular wasn’t even a thought. It’s not a wireless-friendly structure. Even today, Cellular signals must be extended through the building via a DAS (distributed antenna system), which simply means there are clusters of antennas to strengthen signals in particular areas.
Do Cellular networks provide more information security than Wi-Fi?
Security is completely relative. So, how secure is my connection? “Nothing is 100% secure. We can just make it more difficult to obtain information,” says Chris Monk, an engineer with Baptist Technology Services/ Corporate Information Technology.
While Cellular networks don’t ask for consent or authorization, Wi-Fi networks will have a screen asking for consent, authorization, or an acknowledgement of some type that you’re about to be “on their wires.”
In short, many factors influence a Wi-Fi connection. The better we can all understand the larger wired landscape, services, and locations, the more likely we are to respect the technology—and its limits.