Difference Between Using Ethernet And WiFi

Difference Between Using Ethernet And WiFi

No, doubt, the entire world is growing with the wireless technologies. There are number of technologies providing the convenience to stay connected to the Internet from anywhere.

Therefore, WiFi is the primary choice for everyone, who wants to connect online and want to be online. The development of so many IoT applications means that we will soon see a huge amount of smart internet equipment in our offices and homes.

This article highlights the major differences between WiFi and Ethernet connections. You will also find out which internet connection is suitable for your needs.

WiFi vs Ethernet

Suppose the question had been asked a few years ago, the answer would have been slightly different than it is now. Because using Ethernet cables, back then, worked quite faster than wireless connections.

Some wireless internet connections speed is a bit slow, but it offers the ease of being within the range. Today, WiFi users can easily find WiFi hotspots in so many places.

Speed

The WiFi technology was basically based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. In addition, the max theoretical net speed is 54Mbps.

With this connection, mobile phones can connect to the available internet, however the internet speed was quite slower than Ethernet’s speed – it could provide 100 Mbps-1,000 Mbps easily and beyond.

Reliability

Ethernet connection provides constant speed. You will observe Ethernet’s fast and constant speed when you download some big files. The Ethernet internet connections are quite suitable for streaming the high quality or high definition videos.

WiFi signal interference is affected by lots of atmosphere factors. It may cause problems, and WiFi sometimes creates random performance. You will notice the signal from time to time; as you go to one place to another in your home.

Security

Security is one more primary factor. Devices those are typically connected to the network, thus eliminating the possibility of hacking or data loss, can only access the data sent over an Ethernet connection.

These devices must use a firewall for the protection. Alternatively, WiFi is an open-network, therefore, its data is not that much secure. When transferring sensitive data, do not forget to use WiFi networks where data is stored in encrypted form. The more secured method of encryption is “WPA2-PSK,” where the WEP is the less secure.

Incognito

The delay in transporting traffic from one device to its destination is implicit. Also known as “Ping” in the gaming world, delays are very significant when you are playing games. The reaction time should be fast, and it goes around the world of IoT data.

Interruption

There are many modems in our home and offices. It interferes with the signals of WiFi, causing various problems. These issues are:

  1. Abandoned signals
  2. Excessive delay
  3. Low speed

Therefore, Ethernet is very reliable and stable in terms of interference.

Small devices

Apparently, no one is connecting his or her smartphones to Ethernet. For small or remote devices, using WiFi is simply the primary option.

Which connection should you choose?

If you need a stable connection for daily use, an adequate built-in WiFi router can provide you with the appropriate internet connection.

However, if you are a gamer and cannot risk an unstable internet connection, you can choose Ethernet.

Final words

WiFi and Ethernet, both options have different pros and cons. In addition, most of the things depend on many factors such as interference, protocol standard, medium standard, and delay. WiFi is very popular these days, but the internet connection using Ethernet still gives some major benefits. Therefore, you have to choose your connection based on your requirements.