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CSMA/CA — WiFi Collision Avoidance

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Why WiFi can't use CSMA/CD like Ethernet

Ethernet uses CSMA/CD (Collision Detection): transmit and listen simultaneously. If two signals collide, both are detected and senders back off.

WiFi can't do this: a transmitting radio's own signal completely drowns out any incoming signal — it's physically impossible to hear a collision while transmitting. So WiFi uses CSMA/CA (Collision Avoidance): try to prevent collisions before they happen.

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