Increasing Public Wireless Bandwidth with WiFO

[Guest_Jim_*]

As people rely on their mobile devices more and more, we also come to depend on wireless networks. In our homes and on our private networks, bandwidth may not be a problem, but in public places where large numbers of devices may try to connect to the same network, speeds can drop significantly. To help speed things back up, researchers at Oregon State University have developed WiFO, which leverages LEDs for faster transmissions.

Current Wi-Fi networks use radio waves that work well for covering large areas, but have some speed limitations. By shifting to higher frequencies of light, transmission rates can be increased, so many researchers have been working on ways to use LEDs for sending information. The Oregon researchers are using recent advances that allow for faster modulation of LEDs, which is necessary for high speed transmissions, in their WiFO system. The system is more than just LED transmitters though as it is a hybrid system that works across multiple ceiling-mounted LEDs and existing Wi-Fi systems.

Potentially the WiFO LEDs could transmit at 100 Mbps, and as numerous LEDs would be used across an area, each covering about a square meter, users could see 50 – 100 Mbps. Of course devise will need a compatible receiver, which are small photodiodes that cost less than a dollar and could use USB ports on old devices, or integrated into future ones.

Source: Oregon State University

[IVIYTH0S]

I'd imagine the photodiode would also need to be in line of sight with the WIFO LEDs...sounds like it'd be rendered useless if the phone/tablet were in a case

[Guest_Jim_*]

Unless the case has an opening for it, like they do for cameras. Also the frequencies used may be able to pass through some thin materials, like cases. All the source said was that the frequency is invisible to the human eye.

[IVIYTH0S]

Unless the case has an opening for it, like they do for cameras. Also the frequencies used may be able to pass through some thin materials, like cases. All the source said was that the frequency is invisible to the human eye.

Yeah but imagine there'd still be complications with holding the phone right as I doubt the signal would be able to penetrate the thickness of one's hand. Just like when you cover up the antenna on a phone.