WiFi or Ethernet

Icemanbrfc

Icemanbrfc

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
21,644
Reaction score
4,711
Location
Cape Town
As the title says guys, which is the better of the 2 and why? I've always just gone for the Ethernet option, but I'm intrigued to know why WiFi option would be better.
 
Icemanbrfc said:
Just in terms of general connections. Would I assume that the Ethernet option would be a more stable one?
Click to expand...

Yes, it would also have lower latency and wouldn't be prone to fluctuations in signal strength.

But, it's not mobile.

For a home setting with our ADSL speeds etc, Wi-Fi is great.
 
Things do seem to be connecting alot quicker via WiFi over Ethernet for me at least
 
If you're moving around a lot of suggest WiFi. Or a very long extension cable.
 
Ethernet.

If you connect your NAS via 300Mb/s Wi-Fi you half you connection speed on these:
1. Using Wi-Fi to router and from router to NAS etc. - data is send twice
2. Not Using 40MHz bandwidth.
3. Not having two antennas on all the devices - 300Mb/s requires two "streams"

Thus, the 300Mb/s can be reduced to 72.5Mb/s if everything isn't just right for Wi-Fi.
 
MtnUser said:
Ethernet.

If you connect your NAS via 300Mb/s Wi-Fi you half you connection speed on these:
1. Using Wi-Fi to router and from router to NAS etc. - data is send twice
2. Not Using 40MHz bandwidth.
3. Not having two antennas on all the devices - 300Mb/s requires two "streams"

Thus, the 300Mb/s can be reduced to 72.5Mb/s if everything isn't just right for Wi-Fi.
Click to expand...

Gigabit ethernet cannot be touched when it comes to speed and consistency. Speeds of 40 to 90 megabytes per second are achievable.

On a slow wifi device 4 megabytes or less is perfectly normal. The only advantage I can think of is access for mobile or low workload devices i.e. for internet usage or simple document working and storing on server.
 
The answer is Always Ethernet.
Also if you keep your wired devices wired then your wireless is going to be less congested and so faster for devices you can't wire.
 
There is another technical aspect as well. The TCP/IP stack was written for wired communications and it doesn't perform as well over wireless networks. For the past 3 years, various organisations have been working on re-writing the TCP/IP stack to better support lossy wireless connections:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08/14/tcp_boffins_offer_performance_boost_on_lossy_links/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/12/14/nokia_and_arm_bid_reinvent_tcpip_stack_5g/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/25/mit_wireless_research/
 
I have the tp link ones in the link - I still sometimes get buffering of certain video streams
Was wondering if running a cable would make a difference
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X