Get “Beamed Up”: How Beamforming Makes Your WiFi Connection Stronger
As more and more devices need to be connected to the internet, the demand for fast and reliable WiFi increases. Over time there have been incremental improvements to WiFi technology that we seem to take for granted as it is now just seen as another line on the router feature box but many of these features are underappreciated. Engineers take a lot of time to develop new technologies to improve the performance of WiFi networks so you should at least acknowledge some of the more interesting ones that have improved your life to be more convenient. One of these technologies is beamforming, which has been able to significantly improve the use of WiFi in homes, offices and anywhere there are walls.
At its most basic level, beamforming is a technique used by WiFi routers to focus and direct the signal they emit towards specific devices. Traditionally, WiFi routers would broadcast their signal in all directions, which could lead to signal degradation and poor performance. With beamforming, the router uses an array of antennas to track the location of a device and direct a more focused signal towards it. This results in a stronger, more stable connection and faster data transfer speeds.
To dive a bit deeper into the technical aspects of beamforming, it’s important to understand that there are two types: implicit and explicit beamforming. Implicit beamforming is a simpler and more common form of beamforming, where the router uses information about the device’s signal strength and location to adjust its broadcast pattern. Explicit beamforming, on the other hand, requires the device to provide feedback to the router about its location and signal strength. This feedback is used to create a custom signal pattern that is optimized for the specific device.
Regardless of the type of beamforming used, the end result is the same: a stronger, more stable connection and faster data transfer speeds. This is particularly important in homes where multiple devices may be competing for bandwidth on the same network. With beamforming, the router is able to allocate resources more efficiently and provide a better overall experience for users.
Another advantage of beamforming is that it can improve the range of WiFi signals. By directing the signal towards a specific device, the router can extend its range and provide coverage in areas that might otherwise be out of range. By directing a more focused signal towards specific devices, beamforming can improve connection stability and speed, and optimize resource allocation.
The great thing is, beamforming has been built into higher-end routers for quite some time and is a feature you MUST have on a router if you want to have good range in your home. If you are buying a router make sure it says “beamforming” somewhere on the box because if it doesn’t have it you are not going to be able to move too far away from your router.
