The world once known to our ancestors as the center of the universe has now become a global village and got shrink-wrapped with the network and technology.
Today is an era where we can not think of a single day without the most amazing invention called the internet.
But there are lots of ways to get access to the internet and we often get confused about which way to take to get the optimum conditions while getting an internet connection.
The most common question we face is that should we use a direct wired connection to our device (Ethernet connection) or should we use a router to create a hotspot and get access to the internet using the hotspot.
Well, this article is going to be the place where we break down facts one by one and compare both options to give you a proper idea about these two ways of getting access to the internet and clear out all the fogs of your misconceptions.
I will discuss the Wi-Fi vs Ethernet connection and then I am going to compare the pros and cons of both ways. If you are interested let us get into it.
Table of Contents
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is a wireless internet connection technology that transmits data at high speed without using any wired connection. It actually transmits data to the sender and receiver using radio waves at the frequency level same as the electromagnetic wave spectrum. To access Wi-Fi, you should choose a proper wireless router too.
Wi-Fi is known as Wireless Fidelity which is wrong because it is a trademark for wireless connection of the IEEE 802.11 standard.
This one of the most popular ways to get access to internet connection mostly via movable devices to that wired connection is a burden. And that portable device for Wi-Fi is a router.
What is Ethernet
Xerox Corporation and Intel first brought in the Ethernet technology in 1976 which is basically a Local Area Network using a specific topology to transmit data of the IEEE 802.3 standard.
Its older version supports data transfer up to 10 Mbps and the newer version of Ethernet supports up to 100 Mbps allowing users to get access to a speedier internet connection.
This is one of the widest ranged practical use of LAN and wired connection worldwide to get access to the internet using bulky devices like desktop, Televisions and so on.
Wi-Fi vs Ethernet in short
From the above sections and short discussions, it is clear that Wi-Fi is more convenient to use with mobile devices like cell phones, laptops, GPS devices and so on.
On the other hand, Ethernet is for those devices which we do not carry with us here and there. The choice depends upon the device you are going to connect to the internet.
Besides these facts, there is some slight difference between these two ways which you should consider before getting an internet connection based on your needs. They are:
Speed
Ethernet connection uses a wired connection that is why Ethernet has a faster data transfer rate than the Wi-Fi connection.
If you are into online gaming or something like that and you need a steady and high-speed data transfer rate then in that case you should get the Ethernet connection.
Security
Ethernet connections use a wire where Wi-Fi does not. It is easier to get access to lying around Wi-Fi hotspots than tapping into a wire. This is the reason why transmitting data over a wi-fi connection requires encryption where an Ethernet connection does not require this.
So, if you are up to some secret deeds or you prefer more privacy then you should give priority to Ethernet connection over a Wi-Fi connection.
Installment
Wi-Fi hotspot is easy to install compared to all those hubs, cables, crossovers, etc on Ethernet connection.
Reliability
The Ethernet cable is protected in many ways that is why it has a better resistance against environmental interference and distortion. Thus, ethernet provides a steadier speed compared to the Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi connection suffers from environmental interference.
Cables that you see being used for Ethernet is the cat cables. The most popularly used amongst them for in-house use is the cat6 cable. This one is the thickest of all other cat cables and can transmit up to 10 Gbps.
Last Words
Comparing Wi-Fi vs Ethernet, I would like to say that Ethernet is more convenient to use but given the fact we move a lot with the mobile devices we can not but use Wi-Fi connection. So, if you are in such a position where mobility is not a big deal then you should choose ethernet over Wi-Fi.
