In theory, yeah, modern WiFi and gigabit Ethernet are about the same speed. But WiFi will always be less reliable, the bandwidth is shared rather than per device, and if you have neighbors you will lose some to interference. Also, cat6 can get you to 10 gigabit, so is much more future proof.
Comment on MoCA vs Ethernet Home Setup
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 week ago
I certainly wouldn’t remove existing cables, that’s effort for little to no gain.
Surprisingly, there’s very little anymore that exposes the bandwidth difference between wireless and wired, and I run a media server at home.
I see the performance difference when copying files, but that’s about it.
I have multiple local devices streaming video (over wifi), while the devices that really need a wired connection get one via a single cable and small switches.
For example there’s a cat5e running to a 5 port gigabit switch behind the TV. So the TV gets a drop and anything else I may need there (Apple TV, dedicated media PC, etc).
Currently have 3 of these switches, with about 10 devices directly wired, but only 3 runs from the primary switch.
NAS sits next to my server, so they’re on the same switch with just patch cables. Pretty much everything else get wifi of it supports it.
BartyDeCanter@piefed.social 1 week ago
muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago I hesitate to say they are the same speed because there are more variables with wifi than Ethernet, many of them outside your control. With Ethernet, you get what you build. Period.
WiFi is more optimistic. It can theoretically be fast but you cannot rely on it to perform as you plan at any given moment.
WiFi is a convenience technology and it’s great but if it’s even remotely important, it should never rely on WiFi.
BartyDeCanter@piefed.social 1 week ago
Exactly, that’s the “in theory” part. In theory, 802.11ax (aka WiFi 6) can hit 1.1Gb, and 802.11be (WiFi 7) can hit 23Gb(!!), while most common cheap Ethernet devices support 1Gb, though fancier ones support 2.5 or 10. But you’re only going to hit those rates in an anechoic chamber with perfect antennas, placement and no other devices. And that speed is shared between all connected devices.
But a $20 Ethernet switch can support 8 devices getting a solid 1Gb connection simultaneously.
Related, I have a Roku TV that only has a 100Mb Ethernet connection but generally reports several hundred Mb over WiFi. I still only use the Ethernet connection because a 4k show only needs about 60Mb, and I never have had a problem with the Ethernet connection, while WiFi would drop out several times a week.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 week ago
True.
It really depends on a lot of “what ifs”.
I’ve been through the cabling thing in multiple places since 1996…
Today I run cable as-needed. If wi-fingers it done, I’m not putting in the effort for cable.
If wifi isn’t getting it done, I’ll run a single cable for the location with issues, and drop in a gigabit switch (if needed).
The days of running cable “just in case” are in the past, for me.
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 1 week ago
You are probably fortunate enough to live in an area with not a lot of wireless interference, or don’t have a lot of wireless devices on your network, or all your devices are rather modern.
You can have good wireless…it won’t be as good as wired, never will or can be. By it’s very nature it has to be a shared medium, which by it’s very nature must be half duplex. Then there is the matter of sharing time with other stations on the same channel (and not necessarily on your network or under your control).
But for most things it can easily be “good enough”. Certainly wouldn’t run a server on wireless. Generally worse performance for realtime voice/video/gaming as well, because latency and jitter matter, and by having to share the channel with other stations, jitter is a fact of life.
And unsteady wireless is the #1 cause of VPN complaints in my office. By a very wide margin. Miraculously the problem always goes away as soon as they plug in.
But for casual web browsing, occasional large downloads (there’s a reason mobile apps don’t really show you how many B/s your transferring), streaming media…yeah, wireless can easily be good enough.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 week ago
I have 53 nearby wireless networks. Lots of interference.
Channel scan charts just looks like a bunch of color mixed together.
Still, other than copying media files, it’s fine.