Since desktops have to be plugged into the wall, it was common for them to only have an Ethernet port for a wired internet connection. However, it is now becoming more common to see them have both a port for a wired connection and the ability to connect over WiFi. This raises an important question: if a computer has both options, which should you use?
Here are three factors to consider:
Speed - Generally, WiFi has been much slower than Ethernet. Most Ethernet cards today can transfer at speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps), which is about 1000 Megabits per second (Mbps). This number refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted during a one second interval. Higher numbers mean that more data can be sent each second. Until 2008, the most common standards for wireless connections worked at a mere 54 Mbps. Even when 2008's standard (802.11n) came out, it was still limited to 600 Mbps if you had the right equipment. For most equipment using the 802.11n standard, 300 Mbps was the fastest you could get.
Early last year, the newest wireless standard was released: 802.11ac. This has a theoretical speed reaching up to 7000 Mbps, which is faster than the most Ethernet connections, but it requires that you purchase the right equipment for both your devices and your router. (There is also an Ethernet connection that is faster--reaching as much as 10,000 Mbps--but it is only common in workplaces that transfer high amounts of data.)
In equipment that is most commonly found today, you will get a faster speed using Ethernet.
Signal Strength - Have you ever been somewhere and kept losing your WiFi signal? That can get very annoying. Wireless connections require you to be within range of an access point. The further away from the access point you go, the weaker the signal, leading to temporary losses in service and slower speeds. There is also the possibility of interference from other devices. Cordless phones and microwaves work in the same frequency that some of your WiFi signals use.
With an Ethernet connection, you don't have to worry about losing signal. If the cable reaches, you will have signal. There is still the possibility of interference, especially if the cable runs close to items that can generate a magnetic field. However, you can use shielded cables to reduce the interference. I know someone who works for a company where the servers are in one room, and the Ethernet cable passes over the boiler room on its way to the cubicle farm where most of the employees work. Their internet service was very slow because the equipment in the boiler room kept interfering with the cables until they replaced them with shielded ones.
Overall, you are most likely to have a better quality signal if you use the wired Ethernet connection.
Security - With a wired connection, your router will usually only send data down a cable if the data needs to go to your computer. (There are some exceptions to this.) This makes it difficult for anyone else to read what is being sent. For someone to read the data as it comes into or out of your computer, they would need access to the cable or to the router. While there are ways to do this over WiFi (if you have it enabled), it is somewhat difficult to do.
With WiFi, the data being transmitted is broadcast through the air, and anyone can pick it up. This is one reason why it is important to secure your WiFi network with encryption. If you download your bank statement over an open WiFi network, anyone else connected could use their computer to capture everything that is sent and reconstruct that statement to get your account number. Encryption makes the job much more difficult, but it is not foolproof.
For security, Ethernet is the clear choice.
As you can see, there is a common pattern among these three areas. Yes, WiFi is convenient, and it works great if the computer is in an area of the house where it is difficult to get a cable. However, if your computer is already tied to the wall for power, Ethernet is a clear winner if it is available.
No comments:
Post a Comment