Passive WiFi vs. Traditional WiFi: Key Differences

This article explores the differences between Passive WiFi and traditional WiFi technologies. Traditional WiFi systems consume significant power due to their reliance on analog RF circuits. Passive WiFi aims to address this issue through a different architecture.

Understanding Passive WiFi

Passive WiFi utilizes digital baseband processing in devices like smartphones and tablets, while the analog RF circuits are concentrated in a single, plugged-in device. This architectural shift significantly reduces power consumption in the mobile devices.

passive wifi architecture

Passive WiFi Architecture

By eliminating the need for analog RF components in smartphones or tablets, Passive WiFi extends battery life considerably. The Passive WiFi network comprises a single plugged-in device and one or more passive WiFi devices.

Passive WiFi vs. Traditional WiFi: Key Differences

The following table summarizes the key differences between Passive WiFi and traditional WiFi.

SpecificationsPassive WifiTraditional Wifi
Distance coverage10 to 30 meters (in LOS and through wall scenarios)100 meters
Power Usage10000 times less compared to traditional wifiHigher compared to passive wifi
Data RateAbout 11 Mbps in the downlinkSupports 802.11b (2.4GHz, 11Mbps) and 802.11g (2.4 GHz, 54Mbps), 100 Mbps (11n) to Gbps (11ad)
Sharing of networkIn passive wifi network, single plugged in device does the carrier sense and informs all the passive wifi devices to transmit or not.All the WiFi devices share the network with the help of carrier sense mechanism