Consumer Resources
What is Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n?
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n is your indication that a product has passed rigorous testing and can deliver the very best user experience with advanced Wi-Fi technology based on the 802.11n standard. In fact, as a group, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n devices can deliver five times or more speed and up to twice the range of older Wi-Fi standards.
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Key Benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n Technology:
Performance and Speed for Next-Generation Applications
- Plenty of throughput for content-rich and bandwidth-hungry applications, like music, gaming and video
- Network intelligence to help ensure your multimedia content looks and sounds great
Extended Reach Throughout Your Home
- Blanket the whole home in a strong Wi-Fi signal
- Dramatically reduce "dead spots"
Support for Many Users Without Sacrificing Signal Strength
- A "fat pipe" lets everyone connect at the same time and still enjoy things like digital music, streaming video, and online gaming
Tested. Trusted. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n.
Only products which have passed rigorous tests in an independent test laboratory can display the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo and name. Consumers should always look for the logo on product packaging and should always buy Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products to be sure their devices operate together seamlessly, include the latest security features, and are good neighbors to other Wi-Fi equipment.
Interoperability
Interoperability means that products from different manufacturers work well together, so users don't get locked into a single brand of Wi-Fi products.
Consumers should always check to make sure that the product they purchase operates in the frequency band they are using.
Backward Compatibility
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n products work with older Wi-Fi gear too, including 802.11 a/b/g and more than 700 products certified to the draft-n standard.
Security
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n products have the very latest generation of security protections on board. WPA2™ (Wi-Fi Protected Access®) security is standards-based and government-grade - plenty of protection for a home Wi-Fi network. Consumers should always turn on the security features in any Wi-Fi product.
Additional Labeling: Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n Streams
Typically, the more streams, or highway lanes, a network has, the more traffic it can handle. For example, if you are streaming video, downloading movies, or running high level gaming graphics, you should look for network products that contain two or more transmit and receive streams. But if you are simply sharing photos, updating email and Facebook pages, or running home finance update applications any Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n product may be more than sufficient to handle your needs.
The number of users on your network will also affect the number of streams you need to handle your network traffic. If multiple users in a household will want to access the network during the same time of the day, you may need more transmit and receive streams to let mom download recipes, the kids access homework assignments, and teenagers download their new favorite videos all at the same time. Your local retailer can assist you with matching your needs to the right network products.