Month: November 2021

Okay, so there’s been some talk about 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but what exactly are those? And why should you care? Not to worry! We’re here to help you weigh your options so you can choose the best IT set-up for your lifestyle.

Wi-Fi Frequency Bands

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are Wi-Fi frequency bands that refer to the rate of data transmission and the signal range. The higher the frequency, the faster the data transmission and the shorter the signal range.

With this in mind, we can say that the 2.4 GHz band transmits data at a lower speed but has more coverage, while the 5 GHz band provides less coverage but transmits data at faster speeds.

How are 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and 5 GHz Wi-Fi different?

Now that we know what Wi-Fi frequency bands are, we can dive into the main differences between them.

2.4 GHz	5 GHz
Longer signal range	Shorter signal range
Slower data transmission rate	Faster data transmission rate
Used for low-bandwidth activities	Used for high-bandwidth activities
Susceptible to Wi-Fi interference	Can avoid Wi-Fi interference

 

You Should Choose 2.4 GHz if…

• Your home is spacious. 2.4 GHz has more signal coverage. While it has a slower transmission rate, 2.4 GHz will ensure that you get a good signal throughout your home.
• You mostly do low-bandwidth activities, such as browsing the internet.
• You don’t have many 2.4 GHz devices, such as garage openers or baby monitors.
•  

You Should Choose 5 GHz if…

• You have a smaller house, or your PC is close to your router since the 5 GHz band has low signal coverage.
• You engage in high-bandwidth activities, such as gaming or videoconferencing.
• You have many devices that use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band can help avoid wireless congestion.

We hope we’ve helped make your choice easier. However, ensuring your internet set-up is optimal doesn’t end there. Another big factor to take into consideration is your internet security.

Now that you have access to the internet, you are prone to cyberattacks and breaches. As hackers get smarter, the need to protect your digital assets and network devices is even greater.

Internet security, in essence, prevents unwanted access and ensures your data remains accessible to those who you authorize. Sounds good? Great! Let’s walk through the different types of security options and see which is the best fit for your business!

 

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

WEP is a security algorithm introduced to provide data confidentiality for wireless networks. It aims to add a layer of security to the wireless network by offering strong encryption to the data. Though it has become obsolete, it is still used in modern times with older devices. WEP is the least secure network type.

 

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

WPA was developed to fill the gaps found within the WEP protocol. It aims to provide more sophisticated data encryption and better user authentication.

 

Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)

WPA2 has stronger security and is easier to configure than the prior options. It uses the Advanced Encryption Standard, which is able to secure top-secret government information, which makes it a brilliant option.

 

WPA2-PSK

WPA2-PSK (Pre-Shared Key) requires a single password to get on the wireless network. This makes it as safe as the people you entrust your password to. There could be major repercussions should the password fall into the wrong hands, which is why WPA2-PSK is used mainly for residential or open networks.

 

WPA2-Enterprise

WPA2-Enterprise is different from the other protocols in that it requires each user to have a password unique to them. Because each device is authenticated before it connects, a personal, encrypted tunnel is effectively created between the device and the network. The security benefits of a properly configured WPA2-Enterprise grant a near-impenetrable network.

 

Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3)

WPA3 offers greater protection for passwords, individualised encryption for personal and open networks, and more security for enterprise networks.

 

WPA3-PSK

WPA3-PSK trumps WPA2 in that it offers greater protection for simple passwords, individualised encryption for personal and open networks, and even more secure encryption for enterprise networks.

 

It is essential that you choose a security option that is the most useful to you as a business. The last thing we want is for you to fret about the nitty-gritties of Wi-Fi frequencies and security options. Contact us today to see how we can help you set up your internet!

Contact us for IT Services today!

 

Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions.

Telephone: 011 784 9167

E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za

 

Since its release in 2015 Microsoft Windows 10 has been replaced with the latest version of the operating system, Microsoft Windows 11. The need for better home and business technology is a growing demand as we are now in a time when computers and technology play a more central role in human lives.

However, before you jump in and upgrade to the new operating system, we think we have some answers to the questions, you may have about the new Windows 11.

 Question #1: What is new and improved in Microsoft 11?

Besides a significant boost in performance, functionality, and style there are other featured upgrades that we will cover that Microsoft has made.

Microsoft Teams

With work now being a mixture between home and in the office, Microsoft Teams became a new spotlight for effective internal communication for the office and between colleagues. As a result, it’s no surprise that Teams is now integrated into the operating system of Windows 11, which makes communicating with family, friends, and colleagues easier.  

            Productivity

The streamlined productivity functions are small, but Windows 11 will now remember the last layout of your choice when docking. When using virtual desktops, you can choose between different backgrounds and the new Windows 11 features a Snap Layout function that allows users to choose from a variety of layout options at the click of a button.

            Gaming Experience

If you are an avid gamer, the new Windows 11 offers better gaming experience. Gamers can look forward to playing their games on Windows, with the Xbox Game pass and Cloud gaming supported by the Xbox app of the new Windows 11.

            Overall Look

The new Microsoft 11 has changed the overall look and design of Windows from Microsoft 10. Some may see a similarity to macOS or those that have used Apple before, as the icons in the taskbar are now permanently centred and the icons have a more tightly rounded corners than to their square design before. 

Question #2: Is my hardware compatible for the new Windows 11?

If you are unsure about whether your computer is compatible, speak to us at Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions and we can have a look at your hardware to ensure that Windows 11 can run smoothly on your laptop.

Some compatibility elements are:

• 4 GB of RAM
• At least 64 GB of storage
• At least a 1GHZ dual-core processor
• A graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver.

Not all computers are compatible to the new Microsoft operating system upgrade and, if you are feeling hesitant about the upgrade, contact us at Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions and we can assist you!

If your computer is not compatible or you have found that you can’t run the Windows 11 upgrade, don’t worry, Windows 10 will stay compatible with Microsoft until 2025!

There is nothing wrong with staying with Windows 10, you still have enough time to think about changing and upgrading your operating system.

Question #3: Is the Microsoft Office Suite available on the new Windows 11?

Microsoft Office Suite is not available to the new and upgraded Microsoft 11, you would have to pay for a Microsoft Office subscription first.

If you have an existing Microsoft Office subscription to Microsoft 365, then you are set!

The next step you would need to do is the installation of the Office suite on to your device after you have upgraded to Windows 11. It is important to keep in mind that the Microsoft Office 2010 version is older and has been discontinued as of last year, 2020. This means that if you are still wanting to use this version, you would have to make changes that would help in avoiding making yourself vulnerable to security risks or formatting risks to the operating system.

Overall, Microsoft have had a look at the pain points of their users and have made their efforts to upgrade the OS to increase their user’s experiences. Windows 11 is the new era of Windows and Microsoft have made a clear point in showing how technology is just a tool used to increase our everyday productivity and efficiency.

However, this doesn’t mean that you must upgrade to Windows 11 immediately, if you find that you’ve become a wizard and master of Windows 10, then the change is not as urgent.

If you are thinking of making the change to Windows 11 and want to find out more about the compatibility, security updates and if your laptop is well-suited for the new OS, then an IT Service provider, like Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions is willing to talk you through it.

Contact us for IT Services today!

 

Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions.

Telephone: 011 784 9167

E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za