Nowadays, all the devices that we have, including those newly released ones, actually uses Wi-Fi Direct. The Wi-Fi Direct is known as the one who actually lets any device to have a direct peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection even if they are not using any wireless router. And just like the Bluetooth option, Wi-Fi had become one of the main sources for you to be able to communicate to others online.
So, if you want to know more Wi-Fi Direct on Mac, go ahead and read this article because this is definitely for you.
People Also Read Why is My Mac So Slow? How to Fix it! How to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac?
Part 1: What Is a Wi-Fi Direct?Part 2: What Is the Concept of Wi-Fi Direct?Part 3: Some Other Uses of Wi-Fi DirectPart 4: How Does Wi-Fi Direct WorksPart 5: Benefits of Using Wi-Fi Direct on MacPart 6: What Can You Use Wi-Fi Direct for?Part 7: How to Setup Wi-Fi Direct on MacPart 8: Conclusion
Part 1: What Is a Wi-Fi Direct?
A Wi-Fi Direct is also known as the Wi-Fi P2P. This is Wi-Fi enabled device that you can use for you to be able to connect easily with each other without having to use a wireless access point. The Wi-Fi Direct will allow any two devices to gain a Wi-Fi connection without having to use any wireless router.
A Wi-Fi Direct has some similarities in terms of concept to the “ad-hoc Wi-Fi mode”. But, unlike the ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection, the Wi-Fi Direct actually has an easier way for you to be able to search for any devices that are near to you and have them connected.
However, Wi-Fi Direct is also considered to be a single radio hop communication and not a multi-hop wireless communication. And this is not just like the wireless ad hoc networks and the mobile ad hoc network.
As we all know, Wi-Fi is one of the main sources of communication wirelessly just like Bluetooth. It is considered to be one of the most helpful means in everything from browsing the internet to the process of transferring some files, and to having two devices communicating using normal Wi-Fi speeds.
An advantage of having Wi-Fi Direct is that actually has the ability to connect some other different devices even if they have both different makers. The only thing that you would need to do is to have one of those devices connected to a Wi-Fi Direct have that P2P connection. This way, they will be able to transfer some data between those two devices.
Part 2: What Is the Concept of Wi-Fi Direct?
So now, there is a possibility that you already have a Wi-Fi Direct device with you. An example of this device is the Roku 3 which actually comes with a remote control that it uses for it to communicate by the use of Wi-Fi Direct rather than using the regular and old IR blaster or the Bluetooth connection. The remote control of this device does not actually connect to the Wi-Fi connection. But what the Roku 3 does is that it actually makes a new Wi-Fi network wherein its remote control will be connected and they can communicate through it.
Here, you will not be able to connect any device because you if try to do so, you will be needing to have the security key to it. And because of that, you will be able to have a hard time getting the security key because it is automatically just between the remote control and the Roku device.
Having this device will let you have an easier way for you to communicate with each other using the standard Wi-Fi protocols. This way, you will not be able to go through any setup. You also do not need to have to enter your Wi-Fi passphrase in the remote control as you are connecting it to the Wi-Fi.
Part 3: Some Other Uses of Wi-Fi Direct
The Miracast wireless display standard actually uses a Wi-Fi Direct as well. However, the Miracast seems to be incompatible with some other devices. And the things that you use on your Mac actually can use a Wi-Fi Direct such as your mouse or the keyboard on your Mac. They can also be used to remotely connect to a wireless printer without having to join an existing wireless network.
Your Android device also has this built-in support for Wi-Fi Direct. However, there are just a few applications that you can use with it.
There are also some other devices that are actually using Wi-Fi that have a built-in Wi-Fi radio. This is easier rather than using any hardware such as Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi Direct can also have them communicate wirelessly without having any additional hardware to do so. Also, it can add a few functionalities to it.
Part 4: How Does Wi-Fi Direct Works
The Wi-Fi Direct also comes with several numbers of standards for you to be able to do a lot of functions. And here are the ways how they can work.
1. Wi-Fi – The Wi-Fi Direct actually uses the same Wi-Fi technology which also allows some other devices to connect to any wireless router. What a Wi-Fi Direct device does is it can function as an access point wherein some other devices will be able to connect with it directly. This method is already possible if you have an ad-hoc device. But if you have a Wi-Fi Direct device, it can actually extend that functionality and look for some other features.
2. Wi-Fi Direct Device and Service Discovery – This is a protocol wherein it actually gives the Wi-Fi Direct device another way for them to be able to discover them together with the service that they support before they can be connected.
3. Wi-Fi Protected Setup – When you have two devices that are connected to each other, they will actually be connected to a Wi-Fi Protected Setup or WPS.
4. WPA2 – The Wi-Fi Direct device actually uses WPA2 encryption, which is actually considered to be one of the most secure ways for you to encrypt your Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi Direct is also considered to be the Wi-Fi peer-to-peer or the Wi-Fi P2P. The Wi-Fi Direct device can actually connect directly to one another rather than connecting to a wireless router.
Part 5: Benefits of Using Wi-Fi Direct on Mac
If you are going to use a Wi-Fi Direct on your Mac, some other people will be able to connect with your Mac but still gains high security and simplicity. Now, here are the perks of using the Wi-Fi Direct on your Mac.
1. Easy Connections – When you try to connect to a Wi-Fi Direct-enabled device, then you will be able to see connections that add up to what it can do. This is because of the protocol that is included which is the “service discovery”.
2. Strong Security – The Wi-Fi Direct can actually support what we have today called the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 or the WPA2. This is why Apple has supported Wi-Fi since the year 2005. Once you have selected to join, the Wi-Fi Direct will then be able to make a special simplified security connection by using the WPS or the Wi-Fi Protected Setup.
3. Versatile Connection – A much obvious difference between just having the regular Wi-Fi connection and having the Wi-Fi Direct is that the single Wi-Fi adapter can actually maintain the connection based on the station. It can do this while you are connecting some other devices into the P2P fashion.
4. Speed – The Wi-Fi Direct will actually work with less commonly used 5GHz Wi-Fi channels and can carry your data at a higher rate than the usual 2.4GHz. This happens because of the lack of interference and at the same time, the ability to have a wide channel that is actually used twice the frequency of the normal one.
Part 6: What Can You Use Wi-Fi Direct for?
Now that you have known more about the Wi-Fi Direct, the next possible question on your mind is what can you use the Wi-Fi Direct for?
Well, if you actually have some devices that are designed to be connected to a Wi-Fi Direct, then they will be able to use it without you knowing it. An example of which is the Roku 3 device that we mentioned earlier.
The Wi-Fi Direct device is theoretically to be a standard that will be able to allow several numbers of devices that are supporting a Wi-Fi Direct to be able to communicate with each other.
Part 7: How to Setup Wi-Fi Direct on Mac
Now, for you to be able to set up the Wi-Fi Direct on your Mac, all you have to do is to follow the guide below.
- Go ahead and launch the System Preferences on your Mac.
- After that, go ahead and choose “Sharing”.
- And then, choose “Internet Sharing”.
- Once that you are done, go ahead and select to share a connection using AirPort.
The Mac OS X will then turn on a software base station on your PC and this will be the one to serve as the central Wi-Fi hub. You also have the option for you to rename it and enter the name you want. But, once you are not using this anymore, make sure that you always turn it off.
Now, if you would want to connect some other device on your Mac using Wi-Fi Direct, then here is what you need to do. Let’s say that you have a TV that you would want to connect to. Provided that both devices support Wi-Fi Direct.
- Go ahead and choose to turn on your Wi-Fi.
- And then, go ahead and click on the icon one more time and then look for the options listed.
- From there, go ahead and choose “Create Network”.
- After that, you will be able to see a prompt on your screen. All you have to do is to follow the prompt.
- Then, doing this process will make a small Wi-Fi network that will go around your Mac which can be used up to 25 feet.
- Once you are done, go ahead and go to your TV and then you can go ahead and start searching for the network. This way, it could find your Mac device.
So that is it! That is how you can actually connect other devices that support Wi-Fi Direct to your Mac. Another thing that you need to remember is that you might be needing to turn on Screen Sharing on your Mac as well. And for you to be able to do this, here is what you would need to do.
- Go ahead and launch the System Preferences on your Mac.
- After that, go ahead and select “Sharing”.
- Once you are done, go ahead and choose “Screen Sharing” from the list of choices that you can see on the left side of your screen. And if you have seen that the padlock icon is LOCKED, then all you have to do is to enter your password and then you can unlock it.
Part 8: Conclusion
So there you have it! You have already known all the possible things that you can do with the Wi-Fi Direct. And as it says, the Wi-Fi Direct is considered to be one of the most promising features that we have in today’s world of technology.
In spite of all the great things that the Wi-Fi Direct can do, it still has a very long way to go before a lot of people can actually rely on it. In simple words, it still is a working progress so that many people will have the privilege to use this device.
With all the good things that the Wi-Fi Direct can do, this will become one of the most devices in the near future. All it needs is to have more configuration and more functionality that can become useful to many people.
And once that this happens, we are really sure that the Wi-Fi Direct will become a hit and that it will be able to help many people to make their lives easier.
