Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi: When to Wire It and When to Relax

To wire, or not to wire? That is the question.

Growing up, I was a big PC gamer and always stood by “hardwiring is the fastest, most dependable connection for my computer.” But as we have moved on and upgraded to Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and now Wi-Fi 7, that declaration is not as clear today as it once was.

I would like to start this article off by tackling one of the biggest misconceptions about bandwidth that I hear.

Bigger is not always faster

1,000 Mbps (1 gig) does not necessarily mean faster than 500 Mbps. Yes, I know that sounds counterintuitive. Bigger number, faster speed, is the usual thinking.

Think of a garden hose. Now think of the bandwidth as how wide that garden hose is: how much water it can push per second, not necessarily how fast that water is being forced through the hose.

If you have one computer using 100 Mbps of that 1,000 or 500 Mbps, it is going to run at the same speed either way.

The higher bandwidth truly shines when you have many devices using the internet at the same time. So if you have a lot of streaming devices on a 500 Mbps plan and upgrade to double the bandwidth, you will likely ease the congestion, and it will feel much faster. If you are weighing a plan upgrade, my Tucson internet providers guide covers what is available and what to ask before you switch.

Back to the main point: wired vs. wireless

Both current Ethernet and Wi-Fi standards can deliver your full internet bandwidth to your devices, as long as the Wi-Fi signal is strong.

Wi-Fi 7 advertises a theoretical 46 Gbps. A typical laptop or phone connects at up to about 5.8 Gbps, and real-world speeds usually land well below that.

Wired Cat 6A Ethernet delivers a steady 10 Gbps without the drama, as long as your router, switch, and computer have 10 Gbps ports. Most have 1 or 2.5 Gbps ports today, which is still plenty for most internet plans.

What truly affects the speed? The invisible killer: latency and jitter

Latency is the delay between an action and the response, measured in milliseconds (ms). Jitter is how much that delay jumps around. A latency of 10 ms may be imperceptible, but a spike to 80 ms you may notice.

Low lag, latency, and jitter are extremely important for gaming, video calls, VoIP (internet phone calls), and anything that requires real-time collaboration.

How much lag do Ethernet and Wi-Fi add?

A wired Ethernet connection adds almost nothing, usually under 1 to 2 ms, and it stays steady. Wi-Fi usually adds a few milliseconds, with unpredictable spikes of 30 ms or more because of its wireless nature.

Wireless is more susceptible to interference

Remember that Wi-Fi shares the airwaves with every neighbor, microwave, smart device, baby monitor, and cordless phone. In dense apartment and condo buildings, this can prove detrimental.

Ethernet is a dedicated copper path, and nothing else touches it, as long as the cabling is in good shape and free of cuts or kinks.

Wireless is inherently less secure

Ethernet requires physical access to tap into. Someone needs access to your networking closet, router, or devices.

Wi-Fi can be sniffed from the parking lot. Wireless security standards have improved tremendously over the years, but the medium itself is more exposed.

If you use Wi-Fi, and most of us do, set your router to WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) if all your devices support it, or WPA2 with a long, unique password. Some devices, especially security cameras, only work with WPA2. I cover that in my Wi-Fi camera guide.

Cost and practicality

Running Ethernet cable through walls and attics is expensive and invasive. It truly is one of my least favorite things to do, especially in a Tucson attic in July.

This is where Wi-Fi actually wins.

Wi-Fi is instant, mobile, and can handle 50 or more devices. It is also very fast these days, and it makes sense in a lot of situations.

Cannot run new cable? There is a middle ground

• Mesh Wi-Fi with a wired backbone. A mesh system spreads Wi-Fi around the house with several units. If you can run even one cable between them, the whole system gets faster and steadier.
• MoCA adapters. These run your network over the TV coaxial cable many homes already have, with speed and lag close to Ethernet.
• Powerline adapters. These send your network through the electrical wiring. Results depend heavily on the wiring, so they are hit or miss.

My suggestion: a hybrid approach

Not “all wireless” or “all wired.”

Summary

The goal is not to win the wired vs. wireless debate. It is to build a network that just works, and works well. Wire where it matters, and relax where it does not.

Want help deciding what to wire?

Planning a home office, setting up a new office, or tired of fighting Wi-Fi dead zones? I can help you figure out what to wire and what to leave on Wi-Fi, and then set it up. See home computer and Wi-Fi help in Tucson or small business IT support, or contact me and tell me what you are working with.