what is wifi vs bluetooth

Wi-Fi is used for creating wireless local area networks, linking devices within about 100 meters of a central wireless access point. Bluetooth has a much smaller range and is used to create personal area networks of devices that are within about 10 meters of each other.

How Is Bluetooth Technology Different From Wi-Fi Technology?

Related Articles1Is Bluetooth Technology Harmful?2How to Fix Bluetooth & Wi Fi Interference3The Advantages of Using Bluetooth From Existing Technology4Bluetooth Technology on Computers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both wireless networking technologies.

They transmit information via radio signals broadcast through the air rather than over wires, allowing devices to communicate with each other and share information. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi usually operate on the unregulated 2.4 Ghz radio frequency, although one seldom-used Wi-Fi standard uses 5 Ghz.

The 2.4 Ghz frequency is also used by things like your Wii remote, your kid's radio-controlled helicopter and your kitchen microwave. Although Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have much in common, their differences make them suitable for distinct networking solutions. Range Over a Wi-Fi network, much more power is used to connect devices over a much greater range.

Bluetooth excels at connecting computers to tablets or phones to headsets, replacing wires that you would otherwise have to string between devices. Network Type

The type of networks each standard creates is different as well. Bluetooth has no hub. Any two devices with Bluetooth adapters can connect to each other. A single Bluetooth-enabled device can connect to up to seven devices and each of those devices can connect to up to seven other devices. A Wi-Fi enabled network relies on a hub. All devices on a Wi-Fi network ultimately connect through a single wireless access point, also called a wireless router.

IEEE 802.11 working group standards like 802.11h and 802.11j are extensions or offshoots of Wi-Fi technology that each serve a very specific purpose. Bluetooth is an alternative wireless network technology that followed a different development path than the 802.11 family.

Wireless Standards 802.11a, 802.11b/g/n, and 802.11ac

How To ›Internet & Network Wireless Standards 802.11a, 802.11b/g/n, and 802.11ac The 802.11 family explained Share Pin Email Print Compassionate Eye Foundation/Jamie Gril/Digital Vision/Getty Imagesby Bradley Mitchell Updated April 10, 2018Home and business owners looking to buy networking gear face an array of choices.

Many products conform to the 802.11a, 802.11b/g/n, and/or 802.11ac wireless standards collectively known as Wi-Fi technologies. Bluetooth and various other wireless (but not Wi-Fi) technologies also exist, each designed for specific networking applications.

This article describes the Wi-Fi standards and related technologies, comparing and contrasting them to help you better understand the evolution of Wi-Fi technology and make educated network planning and equipment buying decisions.802.11In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN standard.

They called it 802.11 after the name of the group formed to oversee its development. Unfortunately, 802.11 only supported a maximum network bandwidth of 2 Mbps – too slow for most applications. For this reason, ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer manufactured.802.11b IEEE expanded on the original 802.11 standard in July 1999, creating the 802.11b specification.

802.11b supports bandwidth up to 11 Mbps, comparable to traditional Ethernet.802.11b uses the same unregulated radio signaling frequency (2.4 GHz) as the original 802.11 standard. Vendors often prefer using these frequencies to lower their production costs. Being unregulated, 802.11b gear can incur interference from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and other appliances using the same 2.4 GHz range. However, by installing 802.11b gear a reasonable distance from other appliances, interference can easily be avoided.

Pros of 802.11b - Lowest cost; signal range is good and not easily obstructed Cons of 802.11b - Slowest maximum speed; home appliances may interfere on the unregulated frequency band802.11a While 802.11b was in development, IEEE created a second extension to the original 802.11 standard called 802.11a. Because 802.11b gained in popularity much faster than did 802.11a, some folks believe that 802.11a was created after 802.11b.

In fact, 802.11a was created at the same time. Due to its higher cost, 802.11a is usually found on business networks whereas 802.11b better serves the home market.802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated frequency spectrum around 5 GHz. This higher frequency compared to 802.11b shortens the range of 802.11a networks. The higher frequency also means 802.11a signals have more difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions.

Because 802.11a and 802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two technologies are incompatible with each other. Some vendors offer hybrid 802.11a/b network gear, but these products merely implement the two standards side by side (each connected devices must use one or the other). Pros of 802.11a - Fast maximum speed; regulated frequencies prevent signal interference from other devices.

Cons of 802.11a - Highest cost; shorter range signal that is more easily obstructed.802.11g In 2002 and 2003, WLAN products supporting a newer standard called 802.11g emerged on the market.

802.11g attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b.802.11g supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps, and it uses the 2.4 GHz frequency for greater range. 802.11g is backward compatible with 802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network adapters and vice versa.

Pros of 802.11g - Fast maximum speed; signal range is good and not easily obstructed. Cons of 802.11g - Costs more than 802.11b; appliances may interfere on the unregulated signal frequency.802.11n802.11n (also sometimes known as Wireless N) was designed to improve on 802.11g in the amount of bandwidth supported by utilizing multiple wireless signals and antennas (called MIMO technology) instead of one.

Industry standards groups ratified 802.11n in 2009 with specifications providing for up to 300 Mbps of network bandwidth. 802.11n also offers somewhat better range over earlier Wi-Fi standards due to its increased signal intensity, and it is backward-compatible with 802.11b/g gear.

Pros of 802.11n - Fastest maximum speed and best signal range; more resistant to signal interference from outside sources. Cons of 802.11n - Standard is not yet finalized; costs more than 802.11g; the use of multiple signals may greatly interfere with nearby 802.11b/g based networks.802.11ac The newest generation of Wi-Fi signaling in popular use, 802.11ac utilizes dual-band wireless technology, supporting simultaneous connections on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. 802.11ac offers backward compatibility to 802.11b/g/n and bandwidth rated up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band plus up to 450 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. What About Bluetooth and the Rest? Aside from these five general-purpose Wi-Fi standards, several other related wireless network technologies exist.

Bluetooth supports a very short range (approximately 10 meters) and relatively low bandwidth (1-3 Mbps in practice) designed for low-power network devices like handhelds.

The low manufacturing cost of Bluetooth hardware also appeals to industry vendors. You can readily find Bluetooth in the networking of PDAs or cell phones with PCs, but it is rarely used for general-purpose WLAN networking due to the range and speed considerations.

Wi Max also was developed separately from Wi-Fi. Wi Max is designed for long-range networking (spanning miles or kilometers) as opposed to local area wireless networking.

The following IEEE 802.11 standards exist or are in development to support the creation of technologies for wireless local area networking:802.11a - 54 Mbps standard, 5 GHz signaling (ratified 1999)802.11b - 11 Mbps standard, 2.4 GHz signaling (1999)802.11c - operation of bridge connections (moved to 802.1D)802.11d - worldwide compliance with regulations for use of wireless signal spectrum (2001)802.11e - Quality of Service (Qo S) support (not yet ratified)802.11F - Inter-Access Point Protocol recommendation for communication between access points to support roaming clients (2003)802.11g - 54 Mbps standard, 2.4 GHz signaling (2003)802.11h - enhanced version of 802.11a to support European regulatory requirements (2003)802.11i - security improvements for the 802.11 family (2004)802.11j - enhancements to 5 GHz signaling to support Japan regulatory requirements (2004)802.11k - WLAN system management802.11l - skipped to avoid confusion with 802.11i802.11m - maintenance of 802.11 family documentation802.11n - 100+ Mbps standard improvements over 802.11g (2009)802.11o - skipped802.11p - Wireless Access for the Vehicular Environment802.11q - skipped802.11r - fast roaming support via Basic Service Set transitions802.11s - ESS mesh networking for access points802.11T - Wireless Performance Prediction - recommendation for testing standards and metrics802.11u - internetworking with 3G / cellular and other forms of external networks802.11v - wireless network management / device configuration802.11w - Protected Management Frames security enhancement802.11x - skipped (generic name for the 802.11 family)802.11y - Contention Based Protocol for interference avoidance The Official IEEE 802.11 Working Group Project Timelines page is published by IEEE to indicate the status of each of the networking standards under development.

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. The choice of Bluetooth or Wi Fi is clear. Bluetooth is a universal standard and easy to use. But, its range is quite limited and sound quality is restricted. Wi Fi systems have a wider range and can offer excellent fidelity. But, different systems that use Wi Fi are incompatible, and setup may be difficult.

Should my wireless audio system use Bluetooth or WiFi?

Should my wireless audio system use Bluetooth or Wi Fi? This is the fourth in a series of blog posts on the subject of wireless audio. Our objective is to simplify what to the average music lover is a complicated and confusing subject.

We will publish a new installment about every two weeks, so please check back again. As always, we welcome your comments and participation.–Mike Giffin When shopping for a wireless audio system, a number of key criteria will determine if a particular system is the right one for you. That may sound intimidating, and your choices are important for your satisfaction with your system; but the choices are relatively straightforward.

For example, we need to determine whether the system will be compatible with your other devices and whether it has sufficient range to satisfy your needs. Let’s consider those and other factors. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the method with which the audio source communicates with the wireless speaker.

This determines the compatibility of the system, as well as its range of operation. You might choose Bluetooth or Wi Fi. But which one is best for you? Most wireless audio systems communicate with either Bluetooth or Wi Fi. (Some wireless subwoofers use another method). Each has advantages. Bluetooth is an almost ubiquitous technology and universally compatible; a wide variety of devices employ it.

In fact, it’s possible that many of your devices (and your car) have Bluetooth wireless technology, and you may not even know it. For example, most phones, tablets and laptops have Bluetooth capability, though you usually have to find a menu to enable the feature.

On the downside, Bluetooth transmissions have a limited range; a manufacturer might claim 30 feet, but the real-world range might be 15 feet. This range is adequate for a room or maybe a small apartment, but would not cover an entire house.

A “line of sight” between transmitter and receiver is not needed, but be aware that walls and partitions will decrease the range. Not all Bluetooth hardware is equal. Some chips can provide significantly more range than others, and are less sensitive to interference from devices such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.

It’s also important to note that Bluetooth has evolved over the years and not all versions will support the transmission of stereo music.

The key technology to look for is A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile); this is a type of Bluetooth that permits streaming of stereo audio. Although the sound quality of audio conveyed via Bluetooth can be very good, it may not attain audiophile status. In particular, to accommodate stereo audio, data compression is used to reduce the bit rate of the audio signal.

This may slightly degrade audio fidelity. Wi Fi is almost as ubiquitous as Bluetooth, but not quite. Wi Fi is sometimes referred to by its technical label, IEEE 802.11. Most smartphones, tablets and laptops have Wi Fi onboard.

Wi Fi has a greater range than Bluetooth – perhaps as much as 120 feet indoors, but the actual range may be less. With some planning, Wi Fi can cover an entire house. One way to assure maximum coverage is to locate the Wi Fi router in the center of a house, or where its coverage is most useful.

For example, if you want to use wireless speakers mainly in a bedroom and on a patio, place the router central to those locations. If needed, a Wi Fi bridge can be added to further extend the range. Although a “line of sight” is not needed, walls and partitions will decrease the range.

As with Bluetooth, there are differences in Wi Fi hardware. Some chips can provide more range than others, and are less sensitive to interference. However, Wi Fi signals can experience interference from devices such as microwave ovens. As with Bluetooth, Wi Fi has evolved.

Version “n” is currently the fastest and has the greatest range, but all types of Wi Fi can convey audio signals. Importantly, audio signals can be conveyed via Wi Fi using a lossless codec; with this method, there is absolutely no loss of audio fidelity as the data signal travels across the Wi Fi network.

The digital bits at the receiver are identical to the bits at the source. One downside is that different wireless systems, while they may all use Wi Fi, use incompatible data formatting.

So, the systems are incompatible; for example, Apple and Android run into this problem. We’ll discuss this in a later installment. Setting up a Wi Fi based system can sometimes be tricky. For example, you might need to enter a security password. Some Wi Fi routers have a WPS (Wi Fi Protected Setup) feature; this allows secure connection without needing a password. One of the most important considerations when buying a Wi Fi-based wireless system is to make sure that setup and operation is clearly defined

. The choice of Bluetooth or Wi Fi is clear. Bluetooth is a universal standard and easy to use. But, its range is quite limited and sound quality is restricted. Wi Fi systems have a wider range and can offer excellent fidelity. But, different systems that use Wi Fi are incompatible, and setup may be difficult.

There are several additional technical issues to consider while evaluating wireless speaker options. We’ll take those up in our next installment.3 Responses Finley Ferguson says: It is a great post by Mike Giffin. i like this most that you shared about criteria and all . When you are going to buy a blue tooth speaker then you can use the above tips .

These will sure help you to make a good deal . Reply Bluetooth Speakers says: Hello,Thank you for sharing such a great blog with us.

Reply Theman says: Excellent article. Wifi it is for me. Was wondering which had better sound quality transmission. Glad I know. Reply Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Name*Email*Website

""? Bluetooth is a wireless technology developed by Ericsson that is designed to be a cable replacement. It operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band, like Wi Fi, and is officially known as IEEE standard 802.15.1.

"What is ""Bluetooth""?"

"What is ""Bluetooth

It is most commonly used with wireless headsets and car kits, but can also be used for network access, moving files from one device to another, or with wireless input devices such as a mouse and keyboard - among many other uses.

These other uses are dependent on the Bluetooth profiles that are supported by the devices in question.

There are multiple versions of the Bluetooth specification in use, and in order for full functionality to be possible, the devices on both sides of a connection must be of the same version. This is not to say that a Bluetooth 1.1 headset, for example, will not work with a Bluetooth 2.0 phone - it will.

It is only to say that in order to enjoy the benefits of Bluetooth 2.0's features, such as faster connection times, a Bluetooth 2.0 (or later) headset would have to be used. Also known as: ""802.15.1""See Also: GHz, Wi Fi, IEEE, frequency band Referred to by: A2DP, AVRCP, Bluetooth profile, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, Enhanced Data Rate, HID, NFC, Sony Ericsson, tethering, UMA, IEEE "

te""Wi-Fi Direct devices will operate at the same speeds or data rates and range as current Wi-Fi gear. This maximum of about 200 Mbps at 200 feet is much more than the 3 Mbps at 30 feet with Bluetooth. This means you can share and communicate much faster and farther with Wi-Fi Direct.

"Join Stack Overflow to learn, share knowledge, and build your career. Email Sign Upor sign in with Google Facebookrange of distances in which Wi-Fi direct works Ask Questionup vote6down votefavorite2I'm developing an android app which is based on Wi Fi Direct technology (P2P), so I really need to know how many meters is the range of android Wi Fi direct performance.based on Android API Guides:you can discover and connect to other devices when each device supports Wi-Fi P2P, then communicate over a speedy connection across distances much longer than a Bluetooth connection.but knowing that is not enough for me.

because of my aim I need numbers! I mean a range of distances in which Wi-Fi P2P works.android wifi wifi-directshare improve this questionasked Jul 5 '14 at 11:36Soheil526 5 20 55The maximum range of any wireless protocol is very, very strongly dependent on obstructions, interference, and the particular devices being used.

You're unlikely to find any dependable numbers. – Sneftel Jul 5 '14 at 11:411what u said is correct and that is the reason why I mentioned range of distances in my question (shortest distance to longest, based on the parameters u mentioned). – Soheil Jul 5 '14 at 11:46en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi#Range says: a range of 35 m (115 ft) indoors and 100 m (330 ft) outdoors.

– brummfondel Jul 5 '14 at 12:00@brummfondel but that is for wifi access points...isn't it ? – Soheil Jul 5 '14 at 12:04add a comment4 Answers active oldest votesup vote21down voteaccepted+50Typical Wi-Fi devices extend their signal up to 100 meters. Source However the biggest of horror of Wi-Fi is Line of Sight (LOS) which may drop your range dramatically.

That's because Wi-Fi signals at 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies. These are easily disrupted by interfering obstacles such as furniture, walls or even mirrors (whose metallic layer reflects the signal) or even water that absorbs the waves.

If the app is to be used mostly outside, such obstacle count is supposedly greatly decreased. Extra: Wi-Fi signal strength is influenced by a factor called attenuation. Here's a Cool Table displaying the materials influence on the signal. You might also want to keep in mind that Android Wi-Fi P2P (Wi-Fi direct) is available only since API 14 (4.0 ICS). Though Samsung allowed using the Wi-Fi Direct ability to connect to devices since API 9 (2.3 Gingerbread).

Anyhow you might want to think if users are ""there yet"", to be using this standard. I also liked this Video comparing Galaxy S3 and i Phone 5 connectivity to a Go Pro Hero 3 Camera. The maximum range he reached was 100 yards (~90 meters) with perfect LOS. EDIT: Antenna-Theory a website dedicated completely to antenna's states that: Wi-Fi Antenna Efficiencies for handheld mobile devices are typically on the order of -6 d B to -2 d BWhile various online sources note that average laptop antenna efficiency is from -3d B to 3d B, which is not that much different from the cell phone.

You can't really figure out the actual numbers as it all really depends on the surroundings, the target's antenna and the users antenna. Still phones tend to have lower range than that of the laptops and it's probably between 50-80 meters in clear sight.

Sorry but I can't provide more accurate information as i'm no physicist or a technician, and what you're asking for is pretty abstract :)share improve this answeredited Jul 14 '14 at 15:16answered Jul 11 '14 at 20:08Simas34.1k 7 60 912Typical cellphone antennas extend their signal from 60 to 100 meters. this is somehow the most important part of your answer. any resource for that please ? ! – Soheil Jul 14 '14 at 13:14If you need safe numbers I'd go with 10-20 meters though.

– Simas Jul 14 '14 at 22:30@Simas - I don't think phones have lower range, it really depends on the phone, for example my Note 3 can connect to networks my laptop can't even detect, my PC with an external antenna detects those but cannot really establish a usable connection.

The Note can connect to several hotel networks in my area which are 500 m to 1 km away with a clear line of sight. – dtech May 23 '15 at 14:47add a commentup vote3down vote This site says the range of Wi Fi-direct of phones is about 200 feet (~60 meters) while bluetooth has a range of 30 feet (~10 meters). The official Wi-Fi direct site (see under the point "" How far does a Wi-Fi Direct connection travel? "") states that the maximum range of Wi Fi-direct is up to 200 meters (which is 656 feet), but I highly doubt that phones already achieve this range...share improve this answeredited Aug 15 '14 at 23:14leorleor329 3 6answered Jul 8 '14 at 7:09Manu8,537 13 34 55add a commentup vote1down vo

""source: http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=1620205&seq Num=2share improve this answeranswered Nov 8 '15 at 16:07tony90991,595 4 25 53add a commentup vote0down vote I've done my research on this in the past. Similarly with the other answers, I found that the maximum distance ""The Wi-Fi Alliance"" claims it to reach is 656 feet. I could be wrong, but I feel that it may be possible to connect both devices to an Apple Air Port device and extend it quite a bit.. Of course you can't expect all of your app purchasers to have one, but in the testing phases it may prove to be very useful.share improve this answeranswered Jul 14 '14 at 19:16Justin Sweely1 1add a comment Your Answer Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest Name Email By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged android wifi wifi-direct or ask your own question.asked3 years, 9 months agoviewed26,896 timesactive2 years, 5 months ago Linked0 Is it possible to create a “client to client” system for Android?

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Bluetooth or Wi-Fi: what's the difference? Here's the biggest difference: With Bluetooth, you stream music from your phone to a speaker. A Wi-Fi speaker accesses music from the internet, or from a computer on your home network. You can control a Wi-Fi speaker with your smartphone. You just have to stay within range of your Wi-Fi router's signal.

Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth for streaming music

Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth for streaming music Which wireless audio format is best?by Crutchfield's Ralph Graves16 commentsshare div For wireless home audio, there used to be two mutually exclusive options: Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®. Each technology had its merits, each offering a different type of wireless streaming. Increasingly, wireless home gear comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built-in.

However, there are different flavors of Bluetooth. And speakers with Wi-Fi are definitely not created equal. Read on to discover what suits your needs best.

The music keeps playing if you take a call or wander into another room. With a Bluetooth speaker, your phone (or other Bluetooth device) has to stay within the range of the speaker (just 30 feet or so with most speakers). Bluetooth for simplicity and portability Bluetooth makes a direct link between two devices. Wi-Fi requires a router to connect the devices. That makes Bluetooth ideal for wireless portable speakers. Bluetooth speakers are easy to use. No network is required, so there's no log-in or setup procedure, just a simple phone-to-speaker pairing process.

Some Bluetooth speakers can be simultaneously paired with two or more devices. But those paired devices still have to take turns streaming to the speaker, which can only accept one signal at a time.

High-resolution Bluetooth: apt X® and Bluetooth 4.0To meet the demand for better audio quality, new Bluetooth protocols were developed. These new protocols, under ideal conditions, can deliver near-CD quality sound. Both the streaming device and the receiving speakers use the same protocol.

So, for example, both your smartphone and your speaker must have Bluetooth apt X built-in in order to enjoy its benefit. If only one of the two devices has it, you can still stream via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth apt X device simply defaults to standard low-res Bluetooth. The same happens Bluetooth 4.0 devices. Have powered speakers or a stereo system with no wireless capability?

You can get a Bluetooth adapter. The two most common types of high-resolution Bluetooth are apt X and Bluetooth 4.0. Bluetooth apt X can deliver near-CD-quality sound with a compatible speaker. It has a range of about 30 feet. Bluetooth 4.0 delivers high-resolution sound in a different fashion. Bluetooth 4.0 devices can have a range of up to 98 feet.

These formats are often found in high-performance home Bluetooth speakers. They’re also used in high-performance wireless Bluetooth headphones. Wi-Fi speakers Wireless speaker systems offer a compact alternative or supplement to a receiver-based audio system.

Some are even capable of playing high-resolution music files or streams. Wi-Fi also serves as the backbone for wireless multi-room audio systems. Wireless multi-room systems can play different songs in different rooms. Or they can all play the same the music. You can control the volume or music selection from anywhere in your home. Many wireless multi-room systems are closed, meaning every speaker in your system must be from the same brand.

You can mix and match speakers from brands that use the DTS Play-Fi system. Our article on multi-room audio systems gives you more detailed information. Home theater receivers use Wi-Fi to let you stream music from your computer or media server. This gives your receiver access to high-resolution audio. Most Wi-Fi speakers aren't truly portable. They plug into an AC outlet for power. But they're much easier to move about than a traditional stereo system.

Multi-room audio plus Bluetooth — where the lines blur Many multi-room audio systems also have Bluetooth. This lets you stream music from your smartphone or tablet. The receiving device converts the Bluetooth signal to send it to other speakers in the system. You can find built-in Bluetooth in Bose® Sound Touch®, Bluesound, Denon HEO, and Yamaha Music Cast systems, among others.

This speaker has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Questions? Our expert Advisors can help you choose the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers that best meet your needs.

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ogy Bluetooth and Wi Fi are different standards for wireless communication. Bluetooth technology is useful when transferring information between two or more devices that are near each other when speed is not an issue, such as telephones, printers, modems and headsets.

Comments: Bluetooth vs Wifi

Diffen › Technol

It is best suited to low-bandwidth applications like transferring sound data with telephones (i.e. with a Bluetooth headset) or byte data with hand-held computers (transferring files) or keyboard and mice.

Wi-Fi is better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better wireless security (if configured properly) than Bluetooth. Comparison chart Bluetooth versus Wi-Fi comparison chart Bluetooth Wi-Fi Frequency 2.4 GHz 2.4, 3.6, 5 GHz Cost Low High Bandwidth Low ( 800 Kbps ) High (11 Mbps )Specifications authority Bluetooth SIG IEEE, WECASecurity It is less secure Security issues are already being debated.

Year of development 1994 1991Primary Devices Mobile phones, mouse, keyboards, office and industrial automation devices. Activity trackers, such as Fitbit and Jawbone. Notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, TV, Latest mobiles.

Hardware requirement Bluetooth adaptor on all the devices connecting with each other Wireless adaptors on all the devices of the network, a wireless router and/or wireless access points Range 5-30 meters With 802.11b/g the typical range is 32 meters indoors and 95 meters (300 ft) outdoors. 802.11n has greater range. 2.5GHz Wi-Fi communication has greater range than 5GHz. Antennas can also increase range.

Power Consumption Low High Ease of Use Fairly simple to use. Can be used to connect upto seven devices at a time.

It is easy to switch between devices or find and connect to any device. It is more complex and requires configuration of hardware and software. Latency 200ms 150ms Bit-rate 2.1Mbps 600 Mbps Video Explaining the Differences Intermedia Minute #3: Bluetooth and Wi Fi Communication Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available.

Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about HTML5 video.0:03 / 2:11References Wikipedia PCWorld Article Bluetooth technology and Wi-Fi Related Comparisons USB vs Fire Wire Cat6 vs Cat5e 3G vs 4GGSM vs CDMA USB 1.0 vs USB 2.0 Android vs i OSFollow Share Cite Authors If you read this far, you should follow us: Comments: Bluetooth vs Wifi

. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Range: Maximum range for Bluetooth based wireless connections is 30m while for Wi-Fi, it can extend well upto 100m. In Wi-Fi, range depends on the version of Wi-Fi protocol applied and addition of antennas in the communication system while no such concerns of range or extra antenna are much known in Bluetooth.. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Devices Connected: In Bluetooth, upto 7 devices can be connected to each other (piconet) while in Wi-Fi, the maximum connections depend on Wi-Fi router which can accommodate 1 to several communicating devices at a time.

Difference between Bluetooth and WiFi

"Difference between Bluetooth and Wi Fi Tweet Communication is going wireless with the upsurge of smart mobile devices such as laptops, cellular phones, PDA, tablets etc. In order escape traps of wires and to stream data wirelessly among these devices, a number of protocols have been formulated such Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC etc.

Using these technologies users can exchange almost all sorts of files at high speeds. The speed of data transfer is not a major concern and there is no limit on data size exchanged. Though used for a lot of similar applications, these data exchange protocols have significantly different rule stacks and vary a lot in terms of range, device application etc.

This article will detail with some of the common and uncommon differences between two such data exchange protocols: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. {C 1. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Formulation: Bluetooth Technology’s invention has been credited to Ericsson which in the year 1994 launched it as a wireless communication alternative to RS232. Wi-Fi, though had researches since the mid 80s, was officially launched in the year 1997. A committee for development of Wi-Fi was set in the year 1990 which was head by, Victor Hayes who is also known as father of Wi-Fi.2.

Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - IEEE Standards: Bluetooth was initially defined under IEEE 802.15.1 standard but is now taken care by a Special Interest Group (SIG).

Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is defined under 802.11.x (x=a, b, c, and so on) series of protocols and is currently maintained under the same. A Wi-Fi alliance founded by various companies tests and authorizes gadgets to be Wi-Fi compatible. {C 3. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Versions: Since its inception, Bluetooth has seen several versions of it such as Bluetooth 2.0, Bluetooth 2.1, Bluetooth 3.0 and the latest, Bluetooth 4.0.

Added technologies such as Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), Alternate MAC/PHY, low energy protocols etc have been implemented in these updates. Various versions and upgrades are there in Wi-Fi too which are quite different than those in Bluetooth.

Since, it is an IEEE 802.11 standard, Wi-Fi versions are termed as 802.11.a, 802.11b and so on. These versions vary in terms of security protocols, radio frequency used for data exchange, maximum speed for data exchange, bandwidth occupied etc.4. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi -. Frequency: Bluetooth works at 2.4GHz frequency while Wi-Fi based networks work at 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz .5.

Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Data Transfer Rates: The latest additions to Bluetooth (Bluetooth 4.0) promises data transfer rates to be upto 25mbps while latest Wi-Fi version of Wi-Fi direct can reach upto 250mbps of data transferring rate. Earlier versions of Bluetooth were able to deliver data at 800 hops per second while Wi-Fi clocked up at speeds like 54mbps. { 6

{C 8. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Connection Complexity: Connecting two devices over Bluetooth is fairly simple as there is just a simple key matching process. On the other hand, connections concerning Wi-Fi need an expertise in configuration and security pass code matching process. This makes Wi-Fi connection process more complex than the Bluetooth ones. {C} 9. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Security: Earlier versions of Bluetooth were encryption and even now Bluetooth security is limited to key matching. Whereas in Wi-Fi, the security standards have been raised with inclusion of new versions. Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) are two most used security accesses used in Wi-Fi with the former being less secure than the latter.

{C 10. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Power Consumption: Able to works at longer distances and loaded with high quality security protocols makes Wi-Fi a more power consuming protocol than Bluetooth.

{C 11. Bluetooth vs. Wi Fi - Applicative Scenario: Wi-Fi technology is more used in connecting computers to routers or internet gateways. Moreover, a number of electronic gadgets such as camera, gaming consoles, PDA’s etc. also make use of Wi-Fi to connect to each other or internet. Bluetooth, on the other hand, is used to connect peripherals to the computer. Computerkeyboards, mouse, headsets etc.

can be connected to the CPU using Bluetooth protocol. There are internet based applications regarding Bluetooth but are less efficient than the Wi-Fi counterpart. Log inor registerto post comments 100161 reads Comments Thanks.. Submitted by AKASH PREET on Tue, 18/10/2016 - 08:51Thanks.. Log inor registerto post commentsthanks man you made it easier Submitted by se on Fri, 30/12/2016 - 19:13thanks man you made it easier to understand Log inor registerto post comments Thanks you Sir.

Very helpful. Submitted by Chris Chemlen on Mon, 09/01/2017 - 11:16Thanks you Sir. Very helpful. Log inor registerto post comments Nice discription thankyou Submitted by kailash on Sat, 11/02/2017 - 18:49Nice discription thankyou Log inor registerto post comments Thank you..

Submitted by Karthik on Tue, 14/02/2017 - 19:55Thank you.. Log inor registerto post commentsthanx Submitted by tom on Fri, 26/05/2017 - 01:09thanx Log inor registerto post comments Hi,This is a very nice Submitted by Floris on Fri, 06/10/2017 - 15:13Hi,This is a very nice article!

However, please update the RANGE section because this is very misleading at this moment. I am personally working a lot with Bluetooth and we're usually use BT modules with ranges from 300m to 600m which is very common in our industry.

So I would say specifying 100m as a maximum range is a ""bit"" low. My maximum range I used in the past was around 1.5km.

Greetings, Floris. Log inor registerto post comments You state that bluetooth was Submitted by mark sheldon on Fri, 20/10/2017 - 12:12You state that bluetooth was credited to Ericsson. in fact Dr. Jaap Haartsen invented Bluetooth while working at Ericsson in the 1990s,Log inor registerto post comments Thanks for giving descriptive Submitted by Santosh on Wed, 01/11/2017 - 16:49Thanks for giving descriptive knowledge of wi-fi Log inor registerto post comments Thank for info!!! !Submitted by Raghu DS on Sat, 11/11/2017 - 11:00Thank for info!!! !Log inor registerto post comments "

ms Bluetooth tethering - 1.6 mbps download, 0.65 mbps download, with an average ping of 152 ms As you can see from the numbers above, there are some pretty big differences. But don't go drawing conclusions just yet as we have to take battery life into account too. Typically Bluetooth eats the least amount of battery while Wi-Fi tethering eats the most.

USB vs. Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi: The best way to tether to your iPhone or iPad!

"USB vs. Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi: The best way to tether to your i Phone or i Pad!Allyson Kazmucha12 May 201418Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available.

Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about HTML5 video.0:00 / 1:47Tethering lets you share the data connection from your i Phone or cellular i Pad with your Mac, PC, Wi-Fi tablet, and other devices.

There are three ways to tether to your i Phone or i Pad and they are USB (via Lightning or Dock cable), Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi (personal hotspot). But which one gives you the fastest speed? Which one gives you the most reliable connection? Which one saves you the most battery life?

Which is the best way to tether to your i Phone and i Pad? Note: Some carriers require an additional data plan for tethering.

Also, data speeds can and will vary by carrier and location.i Phone and i Pad tethering test methodology I spent the last few days testing out all three tethering methods in different locations and on two different Macs. I used my i Phone 5s and my i Pad Air running on AT&T LTE in order to perform all my tests.i Phone and i Pad tethering speed tests I used Speedtest.net on my Macs at least three times during each type of tethering.

Here are the average speeds I got using each of the three different tethering methods. Wi-Fi tethering - 13.62 mbps download, 2.56 mbps upload, with an average ping of 115 ms USB tethering - 20 mbps download, 4.76 mbps upload, with an average ping of 95

USB tethering doesn't eat any since you can charge your device through your computer while tethering. Who should use USB tethering? USB tethering is not only the fastest method, it's the most reliable and results in zero battery drain on your i Phone or i Pad.

It does, however, drain your Mac or PC battery to keep it charged. You'll also only be able to tether one device at a time with USB tethering, and you'll need your Lightning (or Dock) cable. If you only need to tether one device and you want the fastest, most reliable connection possible, then you want USB tethering.

Who should use Bluetooth tethering? Running your Bluetooth radio is technically less of a battery drain then running your Wi-Fi radio, however ""race-to-sleep"" (how fast data can be transferred and the radio shut down to conserve power) means the slower speed often cancels out the battery savings.

Also, BT tethering is also only one device at a time. If you forgot your Lightning (or Dock) cable and you can't use Wi-Fi, then Bluetooth tethering is there for you. Who should use Wi-Fi tethering? Wi-Fi tethering (personal hotspot) is convenient and works with multiple devices at once, up to ten for some carriers.

Just turn on Personal Hotspot and start connecting. It may not be as fast or reliable as USB tethering, but if you have good, solid service you may not notice much of a difference.

It does, however, drain battery faster so you'll have to keep that in mind. If your Lightning (or Dock) cable is unavailable or inconvenient, or if you want to tether multiple devices, you want Wi-Fi tethering. What's your favorite method to tether from the i Phone or i Pad? If you tether your Mac or PC to your i Phone or i Pad regularly, what tethering methods do you prefer and why?

Are your speeds worse, better, or similar to mine? Let me know in the comments!View Comments (18)i Phone Best Bluetooth Accessories "

Wireless vs Bluetooth Headphones Both these types of headphones are wireless i.e. they do not use wires of any form to connect to a device. But the main difference between wireless and bluetooth headphones is their range. A wireless headset can receive signals from up to a distance of 100 feet (30 meters). On the contrary, Bluetooth headphones are designed for devices at a distance of up to 30 feet (9 meters). Comparison Chart

Difference between Wireless and Bluetooth Headphones

Updated on March 25, 2016When it comes to differentiating between Wireless and Bluetooth, wireless refers to connection of a computer to a particular network, while Bluetooth refers to connection of different devices such as a phone and laptop for transferring information.

Wireless includes various communication forms such as satellites and radios, all of which use electromagnetic waves. Contents [ hide]1 Definitions2 Wireless vs Bluetooth Headphones3 Comparison Chart Definitions Wireless headphones Wireless headphones are small electronic speakers which are worn close to your ears and help you listen to a particular sound device.

However, the device is not connected to the headphones through any wires. These headphones are commonly also dubbed cordless headphones. Instead of using wires, the device – be it a smartphone or a laptop – uses radio frequency waves to transfer the sounds.

Your wireless headphones may be large as shown in the figure above, or small enough to fit in your ears. Some earlier devices also used infrared waves for this type of transfer of sound. Bluetooth Headphones While the Bluetooth headphones also do not require any wires to connect to a device for transfer of information, they use radio waves.

Bluetooth covers short ranges and this technology is available in almost all hi-tech devices such as laptops, smartphones, speakers, and of course, headphones. Bluetooth devices contain a small computer chip with Bluetooth radio. The chip has software that helps devices connect with one another.

Wireless headphones Bluetooth headphones Wireless headphones cover a wide range i.e. generally 100 feet or 30.5 m at the minimum. Bluetooth headphones cover short distances, possibly up to 30 feet (9 m). Gamers generally use wireless headphones.

They are also very helpful for those working in call centers. You can use bluetooth headphones while travelling or while exercising at the gym, or while taking a walk. It eliminates the inconvenience of keeping a wire attached to your device. Advertisement Did this article help you? Yes No Current rating: 7.8 / 10 , 8 votes