3 ms·

Isn't this require a "clear line of sight?" Wi-fi works across walls, around corners and so on. Is this possible with this li-fi?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
meragrin_ 3y ago
> Isn't this require a "clear line of sight?" It's a very nice feature. Imagine not having to share bandwidth with your neighbors. > Wi-fi works across walls, around corners and so on. Is this possible with this li-fi? Think of this as a wireless ethernet cable. Instead of having a jack in the wall, you have a light fixture in the room.
- profmonocle 3y ago
  > Imagine not having to share bandwidth with your neighbors. 6 GHz Wi-Fi ("Wi-Fi 6E") is going to be a big help with this. Many more channels than 5 GHz, and the higher frequency means it doesn't travel as far. As someone who lives in a high-rise where 5 GHz is already pretty crowded, I'm looking forward to more devices supporting it. I'll be honest, I don't see Li-Fi taking off for normal consumer use. Few users are going to be interested in arranging their home to have direct line of site between their access and point and game consoles, TV, etc. And there would need to be some very fast and reliable mechanism to handover between Li-Fi and Wi-Fi, so that you don't cut out when you, for example, move your head slightly during a VoIP call.
tinco 3y ago
The line of sight does not need to be direct, light can bounce and still retain enough brightness to communicate. Which is also how 5ghz wifi works because 5ghz wifi also has trouble with going through objects like walls.
- reflectiv 3y ago
  The 'light-based' network thing kinda threw me for a second...wifi IS technically light, its just a frequency (RF) at which we can't see it and that can (somewhat) penetrate walls.
  - Omin 3y ago
    Light is only the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
DrThunder 3y ago
Not sure about direct line of sight but the article mentions that it'll never fully replace wifi for the reason you've stated. Radio waves can go much further distances and penetrate walls/buildings etc. Light can't do that.

deleted 3y ago

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meragrin_ 3y ago

> Isn't this require a "clear line of sight?" It's a very nice feature. Imagine not having to share bandwidth with your neighbors. > Wi-fi works across walls, around corners and so on. Is this possible with this li-fi? Think of this as a wireless ethernet cable. Instead of having a jack in the wall, you have a light fixture in the room.

profmonocle 3y ago
> Imagine not having to share bandwidth with your neighbors. 6 GHz Wi-Fi ("Wi-Fi 6E") is going to be a big help with this. Many more channels than 5 GHz, and the higher frequency means it doesn't travel as far. As someone who lives in a high-rise where 5 GHz is already pretty crowded, I'm looking forward to more devices supporting it. I'll be honest, I don't see Li-Fi taking off for normal consumer use. Few users are going to be interested in arranging their home to have direct line of site between their access and point and game consoles, TV, etc. And there would need to be some very fast and reliable mechanism to handover between Li-Fi and Wi-Fi, so that you don't cut out when you, for example, move your head slightly during a VoIP call.

tinco 3y ago

The line of sight does not need to be direct, light can bounce and still retain enough brightness to communicate. Which is also how 5ghz wifi works because 5ghz wifi also has trouble with going through objects like walls.

reflectiv 3y ago
The 'light-based' network thing kinda threw me for a second...wifi IS technically light, its just a frequency (RF) at which we can't see it and that can (somewhat) penetrate walls.
- Omin 3y ago
  Light is only the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

DrThunder 3y ago

Not sure about direct line of sight but the article mentions that it'll never fully replace wifi for the reason you've stated. Radio waves can go much further distances and penetrate walls/buildings etc. Light can't do that.