

Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet: Has wireless killed wired?


The blistering connection speeds offered by today’s Wi-Fi standards do make wired networks appear a bit of a relic, but appearances can sometimes be deceiving. Though Wi-Fi has improved significantly over the last five years, it is not perfect. So is there still a place for Ethernet in the home?

Catching up in connection speed

Several years ago, when most Wi-Fi devices were using the 802.11g standard, connection speed was a serious limitation. Though theoretically capable of transferring up to 54 MB/s most users found real-world performance to be far less. Gigabit Ethernet, by contrast, can handle 1,000 MB/s, which is a much bigger number.

Then 802.11n arrived with a promise of speeds up to 600 MB/s (most homes will be limited to 150 or 300 MB/s, however, because only expensive high-end routers support the highest data rate). Though these numbers remain more theoretical than actual, improvements in reliability have made 802.11n more likely to flirt with its peak data rate.

And now there’s 802.11ac, which promises speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s – finally giving wireless the ability to match Gigabit Ethernet on paper.


Readers lucky enough to enjoy an extremely fast connection will still see benefits from Ethernet, however. If you’d like to know if Ethernet would be faster for you, try this simple test. Go to Speedtest.com and run the benchmark on your Wi-Fi-connected PC. Then, connect the computer via Ethernet (be sure to turn off Wi-Fi) and try the test again. If the second test is quicker, you are losing performance to the ether by using Wi-Fi.


The limitations of radio


The problem is interference, which is an issue that can impact a Wi-Fi router just like it can impact a radio station. If another device is using the same frequency and channel as your router, the performance of both may be reduced. A common solution is to change the channel setting in the router’s settings, but even this can sometimes fail.



A third option

There’s a niche option that is helping to keep Ethernet alive in homes: powerline networking. The name is appropriate. Powerline networking uses power lines that exist in a home to transfer data. Worried about how this might impact your power bill? Don’t be. The technology requires an inconsequential amount of power and doesn’t interfere with how power is delivered to devices in your home.


Powerline networks are an often overlooked option that can help keep Ethernet relevant in your home. Modern adapters offer effective transfer speeds of up to 500 MB/s while maintaining the reliability of Ethernet. Multiple adapters can be added to extend the network. There’s also no need to run new wire since it uses existing power sockets, making it a great solution for renters.

Ethernet’s not dead, but…



But this is the exception that proves the rule. Sure, Ethernet can solve problems; but most home users can easily live with Wi-Fi. The average person doesn’t have a broadband connection quicker than what 802.11g can handle, won’t have a problem with interference, and doesn’t own a home large enough to encounter range issues. Ethernet is only relevant if these issues exist and need to be solved. That is why, in spite of its advantages, we can safely say that Ethernet is slowly dying off.

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