Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Difference between Bluetooth, WiFi, and 802.11x

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    587
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts

    Difference between Bluetooth, WiFi, and 802.11x

    Hey,

    I was wondering if someone could esplane' to me the difference between Bluetooth, WiFi, and 802.11x protocols.

    I have a laptop that has a Bluetooth icon in the system tray... does this mean that when it is connected to a wireless network (usually 802.11g), it is connected with Bluetooth? Or is that just for picking up any Bluetooth mice or something?

    Also, I bought 2 versions of the Logitech MX Duo: one was just "wireless", and the other was "Bluetooth". Did the "wireless" one use "WiFi"? I'm very interested in these types of things.

    Thanks,
    Matt

  2. #2
    Treasure Hunter extraordinaire herulach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    5,618
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked
    172 times in 159 posts
    • herulach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 MPower
      • CPU:
      • i7 4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB WD Blue + 250GB 840 EVo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2* Palit GTX 970 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 850W
      • Case:
      • CM HAF Stacker 935, 2*360 Rad WC Loop w/EK blocks.
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Crossover 290HD & LG L1980Q
      • Internet:
      • 120mb Virgin Media
    Bluetooth is a short range cable replacement protocol, i.e, short range communications between a pc and peripherals, phone and handsfree etc.

    WiFi is usually used to mean any of the 802.11x standards, which are designed for long range inter computer comms, basically to replace ethernet cables.

    Stuff that is just wireless will use a propretary protocol for communication. Although confusingly enough they all run at the same frequency of 2.4Ghz.

    Hope that helps

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    587
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    Oh thanks... I didn't know that "WiFi" meant the 802.11x stuff.

    My only other thought is: what's the difference between a "hotspot", a wireless router, and that city-wide broad-area wireless stuff that some citys say they are going to use?

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    320
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    a hot spot refers to somewhere that you can pick up a wireless network signal (types a/b/g, less commonly a)

    a wireless router is what you would wirelessly connect to on a wireless network/hotspot

    citywide wireless can use either lots of 802.11a/b/g access points to provide coverage, or they oculd use wimax, which is just coming out of development i believe

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    587
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    Thanks,

    I googled WiMAX and they said that it was 802.16 vs 802.11. I don't even know what 802.XX stands for, but does this mean that WiMAX won't be compatable with existing WiFi things?

  6. #6
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    5,051
    Thanks
    116
    Thanked
    67 times in 63 posts
    random...

  7. #7
    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Lytham St. Annes
    Posts
    17,297
    Thanks
    653
    Thanked
    1,580 times in 1,006 posts
    • MadduckUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450M Mortar
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 5 3600
      • Memory:
      • 32GB 3200 DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 1x480GB SSD, 1x 2TB Hybrid, 1x 3TB Rust Spinner
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon 5700XT
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX750w
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SJ55W, DELL S2409W
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet 80
    thats nice kumarg.

    no WiMAX isnt compatable with existing stuff.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
    Vodka

  8. #8
    Metier9
    Guest
    802.11 is an IEEE standard... and i dont remember what IEEE stands for lol. They are a body which details standards with relevant experts in a field and then every company (if they want it to work properly) comply to it.

    But with wireless freguencies, used in the G standard 2.412 or whatever you have to get the countries local body to agree to signal frequencies and assign channels, like EU has 13 channels and USA has 11 channels, they all reside in the 2.4 Ghz range, the same as a microwave.. but you wont get radioactive you know whats from it

    o and b,g are for UK
    and a, b, g are for USA in essence.

    Different antennas and types, plus the transmit power dictates the signal strength.. other things effect the noise ratio etc...

  9. #9
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    5,051
    Thanks
    116
    Thanked
    67 times in 63 posts
    this thread hasn't been updated in over a year...

  10. #10
    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Lytham St. Annes
    Posts
    17,297
    Thanks
    653
    Thanked
    1,580 times in 1,006 posts
    • MadduckUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450M Mortar
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 5 3600
      • Memory:
      • 32GB 3200 DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 1x480GB SSD, 1x 2TB Hybrid, 1x 3TB Rust Spinner
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon 5700XT
      • PSU:
      • Corsair TX750w
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SJ55W, DELL S2409W
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet 80
    oh yeah. i missed that... he's just spamming then i guess
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
    Vodka

  11. #11
    Metier9
    Guest
    son of a lol

    i keep replying to old threads that someone brings up from the dead.... mehhh "wo da si ni"
    Last edited by Metier9; 07-03-2007 at 04:39 PM.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •