SpotOn's built-in and intelligent software connects you with the best signal to your social WiFi and always offers you the fastest internet possible. So you can safely walk through your company without losing connection.
Wifi terms
Is a difficult word being used in a manual, article or blog post and you don't know what it means? Below you will find a list of all kinds of WiFi terms and their meaning. (In alphabetical order)
A
Access Control List (ACL)
A list of IP addresses or domain names that determines what network traffic is allowed.
Access Journey
The path a user takes to log into the Wi-Fi network through the captive portal.
Access Point (AP)
A wireless access point that transmits a signal that you can connect to a user device (laptop, phone)
Ad Hoc Mode
A peer-to-peer connection in which two (or more) computers communicate wirelessly via wireless network cards.
Authentication
Process by which the identity of the person who wants to use a Wi-Fi network is determined. In this process, data is exchanged to verify the user's identity (for example: passwords, username, phone numbers, digital certificates, and so on).
B
Bandwidth
The amount of data that can be sent over a connection in a certain period of time.
Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID)
The MAC address of a wireless access point.
Bridge
A device that connects two different network types, such as connecting a wired network device to a wireless network.
C
Captive Portal
A process that operates on an access point, which redirects users to a WiFi login page, for example to log in with a social media account.
Channel
A channel for wireless connections. Wifi can be set to different channels. If you and your neighbors set the Wi-Fi to the same channel, they can interfere with each other.
Closed Network
A network that requires a password as authentication before it can be used.
D
Demographic Data
Information about age, gender, nationality, etc.
Devices
The name for any device made to connect to a wireless Internet connection.
Diversity
Using multiple antennas to avoid noise and interference and improve signal transmission and reception.
Domain Name Service (DNS)
A DNS translates a normal URL to a numeric IP address.
Duration
The period that a user is connected to the Wi-Fi.
Dwell
The period that a user is connected to the Wi-Fi.
E
End
The time a user was last connected to the Wi-Fi.
Enhanced Wireless Location Tracking
Determining the location of a connected device through a Wi-Fi network.
Ethernet
A way to connect two computers by means of connect a cable (Cat5) together or connect a device to the internet using a cable (Cat5).
Extended Server Set (ESS)
A network with two or more access points, using the same VLAN and SSID. These access points ensure that users are automatically transferred between APs as they move from a coverage range from one AP to another.
Extended Service Set Identifiers (ESSID)
The name of the network used by all APs within this ESS.
F
Firewall
An extra layer of internet security provided by the router.
G
Guest Wi-Fi
A public Wi-Fi network within a location or company that guests can connect to.
H
Hotspot
An access point that is specifically set up to provide an internet connection for users.
I
IP address
A unique series of numbers, separated by dots, that identifies computers to communicate over a network.
L
Local Area Network (LAN)
A small network that is limited to its own environment, such as home or an office.
Location Analytics
Collection of location data from WiFi users.
Location Based Services (LBS)
Detailed statistics that determine how a user moves through a location, using real-time geo-data.
Location Data
Geographic location data.
Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)
A network that transmits a low bandwidth connection in an energy efficient manner.
M
MAC Address Filtering
Restricting connection of a wireless network by allowing only users with a pre-approved MAC address to connect.
MAC Authentication
Authentication based on a user's MAC address.
Media Access Control Address (MAC address)
A unique identifier assigned to a device on an Ethernet network.
Multiple Input / Multiple Output (MIMO)
It signals with multiple transceivers and antennas to extend the range of a wireless network.
N
Near Field Communication (NFC)
A technology used by mobile devices to transfer data, based on distance, or even physical contact of the user devices.
Network Name
Name of a network.
O
Offline Splash Page
A page that is shown to the user before they are authenticated. You can adjust this in your dashboard under 'Settings -> Splashpage'.
Online Splash Page
A page that is displayed after a user has logged in (redirect/referring page), for example their own website or Facebook page.
Open Network
A public wireless network that gives access to anyone without the need to enter a password. These open networks are also called hotspots and can be used by anyone within range of the network.
P
Ping
The signal sent from a user device to nearest devices. For example, from a mobile phone to an access point. This allows the delay time (latency) to be measured.
R
RSSI_Max
Strongest possible signal strength for a connected user device on site.
RSSI_Min
Weakest possible signal strength for a connected user device on site.
Range
The maximum distance where data can be sent and received between an AP and a user device.
Repeater
A device that receives signals from a wireless network and rebroadcasts them. A repeater is mainly intended to increase the range of a wireless network.
Router
A network device that transmits data and data from one network to another.
S
Seamless Login
A technology that ensures that devices automatically connect to associated networks, using the access data that remains on the device.
Service Set Identifier (SSID)
The name of a WiFi network (for example, FreeWiFi MyRestaurant).
Social WiFi
A public wifi that is accessible by logging in with a social media account, such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.
T
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
A method of transferring firmware to a router.
W
WiFi
Wireless network. A facility that allows user devices to connect to the Internet.
WiFi Analytics
Collecting data from Wi-Fi users, such as name, gender, age, nationality, date of birth, location, number of visits and more.
WiFi Marketing
Marketing intended for the users collected through the Wi-Fi.
WiFi Positioning System (WPS)
A geolocation system that determines the location of a user device within an area.
