> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.waveyhq.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WiFi CSI Sensing vs Other Technologies

> How WiFi CSI compares to cameras, mmWave radar, PIR sensors, and wearables on sensing mechanism, coverage, cost, and deployment.

Wavey uses WiFi Channel State Information to sense motion, presence, and activity without requiring dedicated hardware. This page compares WiFi CSI to the four most common alternatives on mechanism, coverage geometry, and deployment cost. For what CSI can detect, see the detection ladder.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="WiFi Sensing vs Cameras" icon="camera" href="/comparisons/wifi-sensing-vs-cameras">
    WiFi CSI vs cameras — sensing mechanism, data payload, latency, coverage geometry, and when each modality fits occupancy vs identification tasks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WiFi Sensing vs mmWave Radar" icon="satellite-dish" href="/comparisons/wifi-sensing-vs-mmwave-radar">
    WiFi CSI vs mmWave radar — RF front-end cost, ranging precision, fine-motion SNR, deployment scale, and when dedicated radar beats commodity WiFi.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WiFi Sensing vs PIR" icon="temperature-low" href="/comparisons/wifi-sensing-vs-pir">
    WiFi CSI vs PIR — infrared motion cone vs radio channel sensing, still-detection mechanism, coverage geometry, and why PIR false-offs happen.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WiFi Sensing vs Wearables" icon="watch" href="/comparisons/wifi-sensing-vs-wearables">
    WiFi CSI vs wearables and MAC tracking — device-free body sensing vs opt-in device telemetry, coverage completeness, and data model differences.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  For a task-level view of what WiFi CSI can detect, see the [detection ladder](/concepts/detection-ladder).
</Note>