In this time of the world where the use of the internet has become part of our existence, the importance of having a good internet connection cannot be overemphasized.
Setting up an internet connection usually seems to be a straightforward process, but there are a lot of different factors that can affect the Wi-Fi speed, starting from the location of the router down the office or home that can affect the Wi-Fi. However, in this article, we are going to focus on if an Ethernet cable can affect Wi-Fi speed.
In recent times, most especially since the emergence of Wi-Fi, many have been asking if Ethernet cables have any negative or positive effect on the speed of Wi-Fi. As of this moment, an Ethernet cable can speed up your browsing network up to 10Gbps when compared to the newest Wi-Fi which can offer only a maximum speed of 867Mbps (802.11ac) and 150Mbps (802.11n).
To answer the question about whether Ethernet affects Wi-Fi speed, we can say that Ethernet affects Wi-Fi speed positively. This is because immediately quality Ethernet cables and the router is being used, both Wi-Fi and hardwired will be working smoothly without any slowdown of the network. However, it is of utmost importance to note that simply using Ethernet cables cannot result in 10Gbps internet.
Things required to boost Ethernet network speed
There are other things needed to be put in place to achieve this which include having proper internet equipment, getting sufficient bandwidth from the internet provider, and most importantly, the Ethernet cables used should be appropriate to support the bandwidth that is being provided to your office or home by your internet provider.
Information about Ethernet and Wi-Fi and how their functions
An Ethernet typically is a traditional wired computer networking technologies use in connecting devices in wired local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), and metropolitan area networks. Ethernet enables computing devices to have a direct connection through a protocol, i.e. a set of common network language or rules. Ethernet allows for network transmission among devices in a particular Local Area Network (LAN). Wi-Fi on the other hand is the wireless technology commonly used to connect computers, phones, and other devices to the internet through radio waves.
Ethernet uses a cable for its connection, which is the physical, enclosed wiring over which Ethernet data travels. To maximize your internet usage, Ethernet cable is the most classic connection that can be relied on for gathering the needed bandwidth for a good internet connection. This article will be explained if and how Ethernet cable affects the Wi-Fi speed.
How Wi-Fi connection speed is reduced
There are a lot of reasons a slow Wi-Fi connection may be experienced. Some of these reasons are explained below.
Interference: For people living in a densely populated area where many people are using the same Wi-Fi, there maybe be a competition of Wi-Fi speed thus reducing the Wi-Fi connection.
Distance: Being far away from the Wi-Fi device to the router results in a slower internet network will be as the signal will be weaker the slower the internet network due to slowness in signal transmission. To solve this issue, it is important to bring your device closer to improve your network and browsing experience.
Connectivity Issues: Damage cables, a slack coaxial connection could result in a sluggish or slow internet connection. It is advisable to always check your cable’s connection to the router.
The number of users: It is essential to have a multi-brand router that has 5G access if there is much load on your connection.
Type of device used: The Internet enables devices to be created with different speed capabilities. A device with low internet speed will tend to slow your task down. Hence a need to have an Ethernet cable if you intend to carry out substantial internet function.
Bottom Line
Nowadays, every smart electronic device in the household, office is fully Wi-Fi capable, from laptops, smartphones down to smart TVs. Ethernet cables and Wifi both have their strength and weakness, which most time depend on some factors like the distance of your device to the router, latency, protocol, connection errors, the number of users connected to the same Wi-Fi, among others. However, it is best to know that Ethernet still offers a comparative benefit despite the increase in Wi-Fi usage though when it comes to flexibility Wi-Fi is much better.
Does Ethernet cable connection make Wi-Fi faster?
Yes. This is because Ethernet connections transmit data through a cable while using wireless signals which means that Ethernet is generally faster and much more reliable.
Is Ethernet faster than Wi-Fi?
Yes. The reason is that Ethernet has a direct connection with the router, unlike Wi-Fi that operates wirelessly.