5 WLAN misconceptions: Here you are wrong

WLAN networks have become an integral part of our lives. Loud Statista 93% of households in Germany have Internet access. WLAN errors and myths are therefore also widespread. In this article, we will get to the bottom of the errors and explain them to you. Because these mistakes often lead to poor connections and insecure surfing.

1) WLAN radiation is harmful?!

This is probably the most widespread myth about WiFi. But how dangerous is WLAN radiation really? This is high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. However, routers are well below the internationally recommended limits for radiation exposure. The radiation from the WLAN routers is therefore considered to be largely harmless. As soon as you are one meter away from the router, radiation exposure has already been reduced by more than 80%. Conclusion: You shouldn't worry about radiation. If you still want to be on the safe side, you shouldn't place the router right next to the bed.

2) Interference liability abolished - I can share my WiFi with everyone?!

In June 2017, the Telemedia Act was amended and the so-called”Liability for Interference“abolished. Many people now assume that they can simply share their WiFi networks with everyone (customers, guests,...) without having to reckon with consequences. Do you assume that public WiFi is a lawless area in which you do not have to expect any legal consequences despite illegal downloads? Stop — it's not that easy. It is true that hotspot operators can no longer receive horrendous bills from lawyers. However, the provider remains the primary contact person in the event of misuse of the Internet and can now be held liable through legal proceedings. In addition, the operator must block certain websites if the network is misused.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force today, on 25.05.2018, is also currently here. If you simply enable your WiFi, you may be breaking this law. Here You can find more information about the GDPR. It is therefore recommended to provide a professional hotspot for customers even now. Socialwave is of course still perfect here compliant with legal and data protection regulations.

3) Are all routers the same?!

Many people assume that all routers are basically the same. This is only partly true. Although the small boxes look very similar on the outside, they vary greatly in computing power and transmission technology. There are therefore major differences in the stability of the signal and the capacity of concurrent users. For this reason, more professional and powerful hardware is used to cover large areas and serve many users at the same time than in simple households.

4) My WiFi has a range of 400 meters?!

Unfortunately, it's not that simple either. The range specified by the manufacturers usually refers to optimal conditions. In real life, this usually looks different: walls, corners, ceilings, glass and doors weaken the signal. In private households, however, this should not be a problem, as the capacity of 30 simultaneous users is unlikely to be reached. In a business environment, it is recommended to install additional access points for large areas and many users, especially in multi-storey buildings. These so-called access points should preferably be connected via cable, because the wired solution is usually more stable than the one via air bridges.

5) WLAN hotspots will be superfluous in the future?!

We hear more and more that the mobile network will take on the role of WLAN in the future. However, these are more like two parallel ways to go online. Users use both WLAN and mobile communications. Nevertheless, WiFi is the more popular way to be online. The network is significantly more stable and, in most cases, faster. You know it yourself, no matter how much data volume you have on your smartphone, you surf more and more sparingly than on WiFi. Streaming videos is also rather difficult.

Conclusion on WLAN misconceptions

There are many myths and half-truths about topics that are present in all of us. It is the same with WLAN. We hope that we were able to shed light on the 5 most famous WLAN mistakes. If you want to offer a public WiFi hotspot, it's better not to share your Fritzbox with everyone. Hire a professional Guest WiFi hotspot too. This means that both you and your customers are on the safe side.

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