▷ Wifi vs ethernet, wired connections still have many advantages

The advantages of a wired Internet connection over Wifi technology

The benefits of the Cat05e and Cat06 Ethernet cable protocols are palpable. Say what you want about those pesky cables, but thanks to recent advancements, wired Ethernet is going to places that Wifi can only dream of. This was not the case a decade ago, when many thought that Ethernet had followed the path of the flip phone. Although Wifi has started its own energy and data journey, power delivery remains one way in the future. Ethernet can provide power now and not just for computing devices. Low-power lighting, camera systems, phone systems, and sensor manufacturing facilities are just a few of the technologies that often rely on Ethernet connectivity.

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Wired Ethernet also saves on installation costs, because you only need to drop a cable to turn it on. It is not necessary to hire an electrician to install an additional plug in some remote location. But let's take a closer look at how Ethernet can continue to exceed Wi-Fi capabilities. We will focus on 4 key areas:

Data Rate Signal Quality Network Expansion Capacity Device Suitability

Ethernet data delivery is fast and getting faster

The current IEEE 802.3bz standards for Ethernet are 2.5 Gbps for 2.5GBASE-T and 5 Gbps for 5GBASE-T. To be fair, Wifi has also been sped up. The IEEE 802.11ac maximizes at speeds of 866.7 Mbps. The IEEE 802.11n handles a much more humble 150 Mbps. There is certainly nothing to scoff at, but high-speed, high-definition formats across multiple devices in an office or home will deliver better quality over Ethernet.

One of the applications where the fastest speeds benefit end users is video games. Ask any reasonably competitive player if they are willing to play over a Wi-Fi connection and you can be sure of a resounding "never". Another place where this difference is pronounced is with large file downloads. Both places can be very frustrating when slow data speeds torment.

Signal quality

It is no mystery that interference can make it difficult to connect and stay on a wireless network. As more devices go online due to the explosion of the Internet of Things (IoT), this may become a challenge in the near future.

Not so with Ethernet. Cable connections tend to be more robust. If you have the correct wiring solution, Cat06 or higher, then you have all the insulation you will need to prevent interference from interfering with your signal.

How does interference work?

Anything electrical in the cable or radio frequency that is not the actual signal is noise. These waves can take your signal out of control. Noise can come from inside and outside the radio or cable frequency band. Controlling noise is important because uncontrolled noise can overwhelm the data signal.

Signals travel essentially the same path in both directions creating a balanced electric field. An electrical imbalance means noise. This can happen for several reasons, from mismatched conductors to adjacent cable overflow signals. An imbalance can also be caused externally, by things like microwave in the case of Wifi.

Network expandability

In case you're new to Ethernet, what makes it so attractive to customers is how easy and inexpensive it is to install. Let's say you have a single surveillance camera or LED light installation in a remote location, Ethernet allows you to perform an installation without having to install an additional electrical outlet. If you have a power outlet in that area, you can keep it open for other uses, because when you connect a device to the Ethernet network, it is sending power and data over the same network.

PoE extenders allow booster signals to be extended beyond the reach of the 100m cable standard. Network Extender Kits allow you to add other networks just as easily, and VDSL2 SFP modems let you connect Ethernet and Coax instantly, so regardless of the types of networks you need to connect, you can have everything ready and working in a few minutes on wired Ethernet networks. Wifi definitely has expandability options, but the devices it currently supports are narrower in scope.

Device adaptability

Wifi technology is ideal for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and even, in some cases, desktop PCs, as there is no denying the convenience factor. But Ethernet is still where a wide variety of device demands are really met. PoE networks can power and control:

Desktops Access points LED lighting Monitoring systems Surveillance cameras Voip telephone systems VDSL and DSLAM installations

And these installations can occur at home, on a campus or in a data center, and even on the floor of a manufacturing plant. Remote cameras have even reached the top of suspension bridges and roads. It is the combination of power and data delivery that enables a broad and flexible application of Ethernet technology. Simplify installation and keep costs low.

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For the reasons stated above, Ethernet cabling remains the way to go for network flexibility and stability. The truth is that Ethernet cables and WIFI technology have a symbiotic relationship. But their rivalry will continue to be interesting to watch as we move into 2019. If you have any questions about the best way to implement either technology, you can leave a comment in this article or you can enter our forum.