We live in a world where more and more things are connected without the use of wires. This includes how we power our devices and how we listen to audio through wireless earbuds. One of the most important things that relies on wireless technology today is the internet. There are many benefits to using Wi-Fi to access the internet, and it might seem unnecessary to use old-fashioned Ethernet cables (which were first introduced in 1973 and seem very outdated compared to Wi-Fi 7). However, we shouldn’t forget about the drawbacks of relying solely on wireless technology.
It’s not always necessary to tear open your walls to install Ethernet cables. For most people, Wi-Fi is sufficient for their online activities most of the time. However, if you have the chance to install Ethernet cables in your home, such as during a renovation or other wiring work, you should seriously consider it. This is because having a wired internet connection is still better than relying solely on a wireless one.
Ethernet is faster
First and foremost, ethernet is always faster than wifi. Studies indicate that wifi is less than half as fast as an ethernet connection. A typical Wi-Fi network at home only manages to achieve about 42% of the speeds you get with a wired connection. This is primarily due to basic physics. Cat 6A cables are designed to transmit data at a consistent rate of 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), while WiFi 6E, which relies on radio waves, can reach a “theoretical” maximum speed of 9.6 Gbps and a practical throughput that is much lower.
This situation may change somewhat with the introduction of WiFi 7. The latest version of the Wi-Fi standard boasts an impressive theoretical maximum speed of 46 Gbps. However, in reality, the speeds you experience will be lower due to interference and other devices on the network. Nevertheless, WiFi 7 will certainly compete with ethernet in terms of delivering fast speeds to your devices, once it becomes available in your home.
In contrast to wifi, the internet provided through ethernet doesn’t degrade with distance. As you move farther away from your router, your wifi speeds decrease, but you can use a 100-foot ethernet cable without any noticeable loss in speed. Ethernet also offers low latency, which measures the delay between an action and the corresponding result over an internet connection. This is especially important for activities like gaming. Once again, WiFi 7 promises to deliver latency comparable to ethernet, but actual results may vary. For the foreseeable future, connecting an ethernet cable to your televisions, gaming systems, and other devices will ensure the highest possible speeds.
Ethernet offers more reliable coverage
Even if WiFi 7 matches ethernet’s speeds, you’ll still probably experience the terror of Wi-Fi dead zones. Wi-Fi is a radio signal, and there are many, many materials that inhibit those signals. That’s why your speeds drop to painfully slow levels every time you walk into your bedroom, or why your finished basement might as well be located in the wilderness as far as your Wi-Fi signals are concerned. You can solve this problem somewhat with extenders, MESH networks, or secondary routers — or you can wire up your house and never experience a dead zone again.
Ethernet provides better security
When we talk about security, Wi-Fi has a problem because its signal is in the air. It can be locked with a code, but it is still available, so it’s easier for people to break the code and get to your information. The WPA3 code standard, which was made in 2018, is quite good for security, but it’s not perfect and can be weak in some parts, just like any other security standard.