How I Finally Understood Wi-Fi (Hint: It's Like a Rhythm Game)

Source: Dev.to

Why You Should Care

Ever wondered how Wi‑Fi actually works? How invisible waves carry your Netflix streams, Zoom calls, and Spotify playlists without getting mixed up?

I was troubleshooting my router when this question hit me. The technical explanations didn’t click—until I thought of rhythm games.

The Problem: Router Keep Disconnecting

My Buffalo router (WXR-1750DHP2) kept dropping connection. It would disconnect randomly, then reconnect a few minutes later. Classic intermittent issue.

I switched to my ISP‑provided modem/router combo (KAON from J:COM) and the speed actually improved.

That’s when I realized: my 10‑year‑old router was the bottleneck.

But more importantly, it made me wonder: How does Wi‑Fi even work?

The Confusing Technical Explanation

I asked ChatGPT:

“Wi‑Fi uses radio waves to transmit information. It converts digital signals (0s and 1s) into electromagnetic waves through modulation. Wi‑Fi 5 uses 256‑QAM, while Wi‑Fi 6 uses 1024‑QAM…”

I had no idea what that meant.

“Modulation”? “256‑QAM”? “1024 patterns”?

Sure, I understood waves carry information, but how?

The Analogy That Made It Click

Then I thought of rhythm games—like Taiko no Tatsujin, Guitar Hero, or Rock Band.

In these games:

• Notes flow across the screen
• You hit buttons/drums at the right timing
• The faster the song, the more notes you can play per second
• Accuracy matters—miss the timing, you lose points

This is exactly how Wi‑Fi works.

Wi‑Fi = Rhythm Game

256‑QAM vs 1024‑QAM

• Wi‑Fi 5 (256‑QAM): 256 different “note patterns”
• Wi‑Fi 6 (1024‑QAM): 1 024 different “note patterns”

Wi‑Fi 6 can process 4× more detailed patterns than Wi‑Fi 5. Imagine playing an expert‑level rhythm game where notes fly by so fast you can barely see them—that’s what Wi‑Fi does billions of times per second.

When I realized this, it finally made sense.

Wi‑Fi 6 = Orchestra Mode

Then I wondered: How does Wi‑Fi handle multiple devices at once?

• Wi‑Fi 5 handled devices one at a time (like taking turns in a rhythm game).
• Wi‑Fi 6 uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), which lets multiple devices play simultaneously—like an orchestra.

The Orchestra Analogy

• Violin section = High‑frequency band
• Cello section = Low‑frequency band
• Conductor (router) = Coordinates everything

Each section plays simultaneously without interference. That’s Wi‑Fi 6.

Additional features

• MU‑MIMO: Multiple conductors for different sections
• TWT (Target Wake Time): Musicians rest during rests (power saving)

Wi‑Fi 6 is like an orchestra where everyone plays expert‑level rhythm game patterns simultaneously.

Mind. Blown. 🤯

What I Learned

Troubleshooting Takeaways

• If your router is acting up, test with another Wi‑Fi source to isolate the issue.
• Old routers (Wi‑Fi 5 or earlier) might be bottlenecks.
• ISP‑provided equipment isn’t always worse.

Understanding Wi‑Fi

• Wi‑Fi = Rhythm game (wave patterns encode information)
• Wi‑Fi 6 = Orchestra mode (simultaneous multi‑device support)
• 256‑QAM → 1024‑QAM = 4× information density

The Bigger Picture

Technical explanations often don’t stick because we need our own mental models. Reading “256‑QAM modulation” didn’t help me, but thinking of rhythm games did.

Finding your own analogies is how you truly understand technology.

Next time my Wi‑Fi drops, instead of just being annoyed, I’ll think: “Ah, the rhythm game notes aren’t being read correctly.” And somehow, that makes it better. 😊

This thought process—from troubleshooting to understanding—is something I write about more on my blog: tielec.blog