The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Will WiMax replace WiFi

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by sreenadh, Jul 5, 2006.

  1. sreenadh

    sreenadh Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    From what i know, WiMax is the superset of WiFi. So, will WiMax replace WiFi?
    I am planning to buy a new laptop and i want to get this part cleared.
     
    sreenadh, Jul 5, 2006
    #1
  2. bombledmonk

    bombledmonk Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    WiFi is for local area type networks. WiMax is generally used more as the term for the up and comming standard for wireless internet access. So if you have more than one computer that you would like to link directly to, my guess is that no, WiMax won't be replacing Wifi.
     
    bombledmonk, Jul 5, 2006
    #2
  3. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    543
    Messages:
    2,871
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I don't think so.. it will probably a couple of years till that acctually comes; if it do comes; i think the service provider company will use that as a wireless broadband plan.. your main concern probably the next version of wifi; 802.11n; which feature MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out); the main advantage this had over the current 802.11g is: extended range, higher transfer rate, higher connection stability; regardless of surrounding; eg. walls. The new 802.11n final, will comes out H1 next year.
     
    wobble987, Jul 5, 2006
    #3
  4. camsimple

    camsimple Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    595
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I know that my family's ISP is a WiMax provider out of Michigan. We just keep a reciever next to the window facing where the nearest tower is. The speeds are a bit slower than Charter Cable but by no means is it slow. I would say that WiMax would be the way to go, especially for cities that want to connect their city to the world wide web, but so many cities are still planning out how to do it with WiFi. One thing about WiMax is that a city can be compleleted connected using less towers which reach a greater area than WiFi towers. I personally hope WiMax gets up and going providing a cheaper alternative to the cable companies. Also by placing these towers in connection with preexisting cell phone towers many rural areas could also be connected at a much cheaper price than satelite.
    http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=133345

    Another good article about WiMax
    http://speednetllc.com/CrainsDetBus5Sept05.pdf
     
    camsimple, Jul 9, 2006
    #4
  5. duud

    duud Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    WiMAX will replace Wifi only if it will be developed for "license free frequencies" - currently WiMAX is developed only for "commercial frequencies"
     
    duud, Jan 29, 2007
    #5
  6. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    906
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    The 2 don't even cross each other.

    WiMAX is a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Max

    Wi-Fi is wireless local area (less than a mile) networking.

    So, I'd have to say no.
     
    WackyT, Jan 29, 2007
    #6
  7. duud

    duud Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    It may be used as an alternative to cable and DSL if used commercially. But if it is free - why do we need Wi-FI if WiMAX is more powerful ?
     
    duud, Jan 29, 2007
    #7
  8. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    906
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    So you're saying people will buy a thousand dollar + box to replace a hundred dollar box because it can do the same thing with no speed increase?
     
    WackyT, Jan 29, 2007
    #8
  9. BigV

    BigV Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    137
    Messages:
    890
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    they are totally different applications.

    802.11 (WiFi) is a radio wave replacement for ethernet (LAN) and 802.16 (WiMAX) is basically a radio replacement for your cable or DSL connection. Also, the only WiMAX implementations I've seen require you to plug the modem in to an AC plug.
     
    BigV, Jan 29, 2007
    #9