{"id":445806,"date":"2022-05-12T14:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T14:00:35","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T11:00:35","slug":"using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/","title":{"rendered":"#Using Wi-Fi for Everything? Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29d7084bbcc\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29d7084bbcc\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/#%E2%80%9CUsing_Wi-Fi_for_Everything_Heres_Why_You_Shouldnt%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Using Wi-Fi for Everything? Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/#Wi-Fi_Is_a_Compromise\" >Wi-Fi Is a Compromise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/#Ethernet_Is_Great_But_Often_Overlooked\" >Ethernet Is Great (But Often Overlooked)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/using-wi-fi-for-everything-heres-why-you-shouldnt\/#Devices_You_Should_Connect_to_Ethernet\" >Devices You Should Connect to Ethernet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CUsing_Wi-Fi_for_Everything_Heres_Why_You_Shouldnt%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Using Wi-Fi for Everything? Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-800527 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WiFiEthernet.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WiFiEthernet.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WiFiEthernet.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A person plugging their TV into their Wi-Fi router.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/wireless-internet-router-connected-cables-backside-1986978041\" data-credittext=\"Charoen Krung Photography\/Shutterstock\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/wireless-internet-router-connected-cables-backside-1986978041\">Charoen Krung Photography\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wi-Fi is ubiquitous at this point but that doesn\u2019t mean you should default to using it exclusively. Here\u2019s why you should skip using Wi-Fi in favor of Ethernet where you can.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wi-Fi_Is_a_Compromise\"><\/span>Wi-Fi Is a Compromise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>First off, lest you think we\u2019re crusading against Wi-Fi, let us assure you that we think Wi-Fi is pretty great. Breaking free from physically tethered networks makes it possible to do all sorts of useful and fun things.<\/p>\n<p>From backyard laptop use to wireless security cameras and, of course, goofing around on your smartphone with high-speed internet,\u00a0 it\u2019s all possible over every inch of your home thanks to Wi-Fi. That\u2019s amazing. A blazing fast modern router paired with a new smartphone really is a \u201cthe future is now\u201d kind of moment.<\/p>\n<p>But, Wi-Fi is ultimately a compromise. It\u2019s a compromise based on accepting that we have to give up some performance to not be physically tied to the wall by a cable. To use a real-world example that predates Wi-Fi by a long shot, broadcast radio is exactly the same kind of compromise.<\/p>\n<p>Radio allows you to listen to music anywhere. But you won\u2019t get the same fidelity you get from listening to an album at home with hardwired speakers. Same thing with streaming services. The bitrate of a Netflix stream is a fraction of the bitrate you get from a Blu-ray player fed into your TV over an HDMI cable.<\/p>\n<p>Like those things, when we use Wi-Fi we make tradeoffs. Wi-Fi isn\u2019t as fast as Ethernet. It has higher latency. Too many devices connected to a Wi-Fi create congestion and connectivity issues.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s OK. We make those compromises because it\u2019s convenient. If we could only use network-connected devices like tablets and smartphones where we could plug them in, things would look a whole lot different than they do now. But we shouldn\u2019t compromise where we don\u2019t have to\u2014and that\u2019s where Ethernet comes in.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ethernet_Is_Great_But_Often_Overlooked\"><\/span>Ethernet Is Great (But Often Overlooked)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re a computer geek of a certain age, you can remember a time when Ethernet was it, as far as network connectivity was concerned. There was no Wi-Fi and if you wanted one computer to communicate with another computer in your home or office you needed a physical cable connecting the two of them.<\/p>\n<p>The arrival of Wi-Fi in the late 1990s and the increasing adoption throughout the 2000s, however, eventually religated Ethernet\u2014as far as the average household was concerned at least\u2014to the annals of history.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, there are lots of people who simply don\u2019t think about Ethernet at all. They default to adding things to their Wi-Fi network and never even consider using an Ethernet cable.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a neighbor asked me for help with a smart TV issue they were having. The problem? The TV just wouldn\u2019t maintain a stable connection, and streaming <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> connections would frequently drop leaving them staring at the message \u201cNetflix has encountered an error.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When I popped over to help them I noticed their cable modem\/Wi-Fi router combo unit was right there under the TV in the entertainment center. I grabbed a short spare Ethernet cable from my workshop, hooked the TV directly to the router, and their streaming experience went from working some of the time to working perfectly all of the time.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest takeaway from that particular experience wasn\u2019t that Ethernet saved the day (which was an outcome I expected) but that my neighbor simply hadn\u2019t considered there was anyway but Wi-Fi to connect their TV to the internet. And that\u2019s a shame because when you have the opportunity to use Ethernet, it\u2019s a huge upgrade over Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m writing this article while working on a PC connected to my home network by Ethernet cable. Thanks to Ethernet I have exactly the same latency and bandwidth that I would have right at the modem\u2014but I\u2019m enjoying it at a workstation that\u2019s all the way across the house and two stories removed from where the fiber connection enters my home in the basement.<\/p>\n<p>There are a host of\u00a0advantages to using Ethernet over Wi-Fi in the home, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ultra-low Latency:<\/strong> Wi-Fi will never be as responsive as an electrical impulse sent down a wire. Whether you\u2019re gaming on a PC or a console, low latency is ideal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Speed:<\/strong> Even the best Wi-Fi routers still don\u2019t hit their maximum theoretical speeds, but it\u2019s easy to max out an Ethernet connection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stability:<\/strong> Barring damage to the cable or hardware, Ethernet connections are rock solid.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No Authentication:<\/strong> You don\u2019t need credentials for Ethernet. Just plug the device into the network and go.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Finally, here\u2019s an advantage that isn\u2019t inherent to Ethernet but is an advantage when you\u2019re using Ethernet and Wi-Fi in a mixed environment. Taking the high-demand devices off the Wi-Fi network (like your PC or smart TV) and putting them on Ethernet works wonders for lightening the load on your Wi-Fi router. Maybe you don\u2019t need a new Wi-Fi router after all\u2014maybe you just need to put the most demanding items on Ethernet.<\/p>\n<p>Considering how cheap Ethernet cable is, if you have the ability to connect a device with it then there is little reason not to do so.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Devices_You_Should_Connect_to_Ethernet\"><\/span>Devices You Should Connect to Ethernet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-800643 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WiFiEthernet1.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The back of a smart TV, showing various ports including an Ethernet port.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"LG\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Look for Ethernet ports on all your devices. <span class=\"imagecredit\">LG<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If, like our neighbor, you simply hadn\u2019t considered using both Ethernet and Wi-Fi for your home network, you might want some suggestions on where to start.<\/p>\n<p>Many homes\u2014both apartments and houses alike\u2014have the internet entering the home in the living room because that\u2019s where various telecommunication points, like the cable connection, enter the home.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in that situation and your network gear is right there with your TV, then you have an obvious first stop. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/AmazonBasics-RJ45-Cat-6-Ethernet-Patch-Cable-1-5-Meters-5-Pack\/dp\/B01INRUFGK\/?tag=hotoge-20\">Grab a pack of Ethernet patch cables<\/a> and connect everything in your media center that supports it.<\/p>\n<p>To use my media center as an example, that would include the smart TV, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a> consoles like the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, and streaming boxes like the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>le TV and Roku. Check for Ethernet ports on everything under your TV. No Ethernet port on your smart TV? Here\u2019s how to add one. If you need more ports <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG105\/dp\/B00A128S24\/?tag=hotoge-20\">unmanaged network switches<\/a> are inexpensive.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a similar situation with home offices. If you have a bunch of gear in the same room as the modem and router, such as your PC, a network laser printed, or any other office gear with an Ethernet port, don\u2019t use the Wi-Fi\u2014plug it in.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-box noflex-desktop \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link\/dp\/B084CZMYNM\/?tag=hotoge-20\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31tyRuax62L._SL160_.jpg\" height=\"147px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Even if your home isn\u2019t wired for Ethernet you can still work around that and take advantage of wired speeds. You can run <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Cable-Matters-Snagless-Ethernet-White\/dp\/B007O0AUT0\/?tag=hotoge-20\">a long Ethernet cable<\/a> from one room to another or even use powerline Ethernet to route data signals over your home\u2019s electrical wires.<\/p>\n<p>Powerline Ethernet has improved greatly over the years. You can link your basement router to your bedroom gaming setup with gigabit speeds <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link\/dp\/B084CZMYNM\/?tag=hotoge-20\">for under $50<\/a>. It\u2019s not exactly having your whole house wired with Cat6, but you won\u2019t have to fish any cables or patch any drywall.<\/p>\n<p>However you go about it, though, switching over devices will not only take a burden off your Wi-Fi system but improve that device\u2019s connection to the local network and internet too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t&#8221; Charoen Krung Photography\/Shutterstock Wi-Fi is ubiquitous at this point but that doesn\u2019t mean you should default to using it exclusively. Here\u2019s why you should skip using Wi-Fi in favor of Ethernet where you can. Wi-Fi Is a Compromise First off, lest you think we\u2019re crusading against Wi-Fi,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":445807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WiFiEthernet.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-445806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445806"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445806\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}