Hypothetically, if we saw everything digital signals that surround us, what would they look like? If we could physically see the WiFi footprint, what would it be? It is this question that photographer and artist Luis Hernan explores in his latest series of works, Creative Exploration of Wireless Spectra.
Obsessed with the invisible wave infrastructure that holds our wireless world together, Luis set out to capture the landscape of electromagnetic waves in a series of amazing color photographs. The pictures quickly gained popularity, which prompted the author to further research in this area. 
Using a long exposure camera and RSSI sensors to visualize WiFi networks, he was able to create these vibrant paintings. The result is a beautiful collection of surreal images that are both active and static at the same time. People often misuse technology without even thinking about its nature. But thanks to Luis Hernan, you can now imagine what Wi-Fi looks like in your home! 
This project aims to demonstrate the nature of electromagnetic wave space and prove that high technology can be visualized. If the human eye does not see something, it does not mean that it does not exist. And the author of these pictures clearly demonstrated this by making wi-fi waves temporarily available for perception. 
The Digital Ethereal Project is a progressive creative research project that explores the materiality of wireless protocols. As part of this work, these impressive photographs were taken.
As soon as the computer connects to a Wi-Fi network, it will no longer ask for a password from it. And most users safely forget this password, especially if it was written down on some piece of paper. This is not a problem exactly until you need to connect another device to the same Wi-Fi - for example, a phone or tablet.
I will show several proven ways to see the password that are suitable for any popular operating system(Windows 7, 8, 10).
1 . Click the left mouse button on this tray icon.
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen, between the alphabet and the clock. Sometimes this icon is hidden under a small arrow.
2. In the window that appears, click right click on the network from which you need to find out the password, and select "Properties".
3 . We put a tick in "Display entered characters" and the computer shows the wifi password in the "Network security key" field.
This option is a little more complicated, but it shows all the wireless networks that the computer has connected to, and not just the active ones.
1 . Right-click on the tray icon and select "Network and Sharing Center".
2. A window will open, on the left side of which we select "Wireless Network Management".
3 . Click on desired network right-click and select "Properties".
4 . Go to the "Security" tab and put a bird next to "Display input characters."
If there is no “Wireless Network Management” item, then click on “Change adapter settings”, right-click on the desired connection and select “Status”. In the window, click on the "Properties" button wireless network”, go to the “Security” tab and check the box next to “Display input characters”.
There is such a wonderful free program WirelessKeyView. Thanks to it, you can see the passwords from all the points to which the computer was connected. You do not need to install it: just download from the official site, unpack and run the program file. If wifi hotspots will not appear immediately, click on the icon
That's all :)
Of the minuses, it should be noted that some antiviruses swear at it, as the program climbs into the settings (my Kaspersky, for example, made a panic). If that doesn't bother you, use it.
This method is good because only thanks to it you can find out the password, which the computer does not know at all. For example, Windows was reinstalled, but you don’t remember the password for your Wi-Fi and now you can’t connect. So in this case, the router will help.
Router - this is the thing that "distributes" the Internet. It looks something like this:
In its settings, among other things, the password is stored. To find it, you need to connect the router to the computer via power cord(usually it comes with a kit).
If the computer remembers the password and connects to the network, then you can not do this.
1 . Open a browser (internet program) address bar we type 192.168.1.1 and press the Enter button on the keyboard.
Most often, after this, a login / password request appears. If this does not happen, try other addresses: 192.168.0.0, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.1.0. But if they don’t fit either, then take the router, turn it over and find its IP address on the sticker.
For example, I didn’t even have an address on the sticker. Then I copied the router model from it (in my case, Huawei HG8245A) and entered the query “huawei hg8245a ip address” into the search engine. It turned out that the default address is different, as, in fact, the login with the password.
2. In the window that appears, enter the login admin and the password admin.
Usually these data are suitable (if no one specifically changed them). But there may be other options, such as root or user. They are usually written on the router itself - on a sticker on the other side.
3 . Open the tab Wireless (Wireless mode) or WLAN and look for the password there. Often it is located in the item Wireless Security (Security Settings or Wireless Protection).
As a rule, the password is written in the column where there is the word Key, Password or Password. Often, to see it, you need to uncheck it.
By the way, it happens that it is written immediately when you open the router settings.
Then you can reset all router settings to factory settings. But in this case, you will have to configure it yourself: specify the Internet connection settings, network name and password.
To reset the settings on the router, there is a small, deeply hidden Reset button (usually located on the back).
We clamp it with some sharp object for ten seconds. After that, all settings will be reset, and the router will be as good as new - all that remains is to configure it.
After the appearance of computers and laptops in almost every home, the number of clients from providers has increased several dozen times, since in the modern world for many people life without the Internet is almost unthinkable.
To begin with, the usual protocol for transmitting information through telephone connection, then the increase in the volume of transmitted information required an improvement in quality and an increase in the transmission speed. There are new ways to access the Internet.
However, as before, the usability of laptops was minimal due to the need to connect a cable from the modem. After that, a wireless method was invented for transmitting a large amount of data over a fairly long distance, which was called Wi-Fi. In the modern world, in many large cities you can find points WiFi access and anyone can do it, provided they have internet access and a special router.
Smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers can be used to obtain large amounts of data. In the case of tablets and phones, the situation is complicated by the fact that it is impossible to connect to the Internet for software updates or other tasks via a WAN cable.
For the convenience of using the Internet at home, Wi-Fi routers began to be used. Such equipment differs from older versions in that it has a WI-Fi module that connects all devices in its signal field. The first models were equipped with an antenna, modern ones outwardly do not differ from the usual versions.
The principle of operation of this equipment is as follows:
The router acts as a distributor of information.
The choice of a router should be approached thoroughly, since the features of the created wireless network will depend on it. Conventionally, all Wi-Fi routers can be divided into the following groups:
When considering this issue, we note that in 99% of cases routers are issued by providers, since they must be correctly configured according to their connection protocol.
Recently, more and more often carry out the installation of WiFi routers, as they eliminate the need for long fuss with laying the cable to the desired location.
Given the rather large operating radius and the fact that the signal passes through the walls, the router can stand anywhere.
The only catch is that a computer or other device must have a receiver. All modern laptops have a built-in receiver for such a wireless network, but desktop computers do not have one as standard.
There are several options for solving the problem with the lack of a Wi-Fi receiver on a desktop computer:
As a rule, the master who comes to connect the Internet will recommend the most suitable connection option.
Although a representative from the provider will recommend the most suitable version of the router, in some cases you have to choose on your own. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
Also, when choosing, you can see the options that are installed with friends and ask them about problems with the Internet.
You can install the router anywhere. At the same time, it should not stand in a damp room, the temperature should be at room temperature, exposure to direct rays from the sun is excluded. Installing this equipment is quite simple: you just need to connect the cable from the wired network and that's it. But with the setting everything is more complicated.
The creation of an access point is carried out through a computer, but the features of connecting to the Internet depend on the work of the provider. The setup requires an administrator login and password, and the provider does not provide this information to protect their servers.
The following models can be distinguished:
In conclusion, we note what to do WiFi at home without a special router, it is possible only if there is a device with a built-in module that is capable of distributing, and not just receiving a signal. Modern models of many laptops can become an access point, and if the computer has Internet access, access will become visible to all devices. In some cases, a smartphone or tablet can become an access point.
A router is a very complex device with many specifications. We will focus on those that play an important role for the buyer.
The WAN (or Internet) connector is used to connect an Internet cable to the router. This is the first detail that you should pay attention to when buying a device. It depends on it whether the router will work with the provider.
A typical router has a WAN port in one of two formats:
There are also universal devices, which support multiple formats including DSL and Ethernet. But they are much less common.
In fiber-optic networks that are now quite popular, access to the Internet is carried out through a GPON terminal, to which the router is connected. Some routers have a corresponding connector for connecting the provider's fiber optic cable directly. This allows you to get rid of the terminal, which often suffer from power surges and remove the extra link in the chain.
ISPs use various technologies to connect subscribers. Some of them are massive and are supported by default in all routers, others are less common and not available everywhere.
For example, many service providers use the L2TP protocol, which does not work in every router. Therefore, before buying, it is advisable to check with the provider's support service whether their networks support the router you are interested in.
If instead of DSL and Ethernet, the provider uses specific connection technologies, which rarely happens, then it is better to trust the choice of equipment to specialists.
Computers, consoles, TVs and other stationary equipment that needs stable wired access to the Web are connected to the LAN ports of the router. This connection always guarantees maximum speed, which is independent of distance and interference.
And the more such connectors in the router, the more devices can be connected to it via wire. Typically, routers are equipped with four LAN ports. But if this is not enough for you, choose a model with additional connectors.
The type of LAN ports determines the maximum speed of data exchange between the router and other devices connected to it via a wire.
There are two such types:
If your ISP offers Internet access at speeds greater than 100 Mbps, choose a router model with Gigabit Ethernet ports. So you will use your channel to the fullest.
The maximum possible data exchange rate between the router and the fleet of devices connected to it wirelessly depends on the Wi-Fi standard. There are currently two standards in use:
But don't let the specs fool you: the values shown are only theoretically possible within the technology. Actual speeds are much lower.
The speed indicated by the manufacturer is also most often unattainable in practice. This is only a possible value without taking into account distance and interference.
Thanks to backward compatibility, you can connect any gadgets via WI-Fi to a router with the 802.11ac standard. Even if they only support 802.11n and older versions. But to unlock the full potential of 802.11ac, both your router and every other device on your wireless network must support this standard.
Some routers can operate simultaneously in different frequency bands. In this mode, the router is able to support not one, but several independent Wi-Fi networks at once.
Many popular models are able to distribute data transmission between two ranges. Thus, they create two networks at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, respectively.
These networks can operate in parallel without limiting each other. But again, their total speed will not exceed the limit set by the Internet provider.
In addition, not all gadgets support a 5 GHz network.
Beyond standard and frequency wifi work, the wireless network speed depends on the number of antennas in the router. The more of them, the faster the data exchange between the connected devices and the router.
The 802.11n Wi-Fi speed limit for the single antenna model is 150 Mbps. With two - 300 Mbps, with three - 450 Mbps. That is, with each antenna, the maximum possible speed increases by 150 Mbps. And in the 802.11ac standard - at 433 Mbps.
Recall that we are talking about theoretically possible speeds under ideal conditions. In reality, these figures are much lower. In addition, do not forget that the total speed of Internet access via Wi-Fi cannot exceed the provider's limit.
Antennas can be built-in or external. As practice shows, in a typical city apartment, the type of antennas is not so important. Contrary to popular myth, the difference is barely noticeable.
But for large rooms, it’s still worth choosing a router with external antennas so as not to have. In addition, if external antennas are removable, if necessary, they can be replaced with more powerful ones.
Selecting a router with one or a pair USB connectors, you can connect additional devices to it. For example, a USB stick will provide remote access to the shared storage of files through any device in WiFi networks. A wireless USB modem will be yours in a backup way Internet access if cable Internet stops working.
Let's go over the key points of the article again. This checklist will help you choose a good router.
