With the rise of wireless technologies on all of our devices from our phones, laptops, and even fridges!! It's natural to question whether a wired home network is still worth the investment. Wi-Fi offers convenience as well as ease of setup. While Wi-Fi might be easy and convenient there are several benefits to having a wired home network that may make it a worthwhile investment for your household.
We will explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of wired home networks and help you decide whether it's worth it for your specific needs. As a professional home networking company we can offer you some advice.
A wired home network offers faster and more reliable internet speeds than Wi-Fi. Your Wi-Fi speeds will never be able to provide you with the maximum you are paying for. If you are paying for 1GB of internet it is expected to get anything between 100mb to 300mb with a Wi-Fi connection. With a wired connection, there's no need to worry about interference or distance limitations that can slow down your internet speeds. With a hard wired connection you should be getting the speeds you pay for at the end of the new cable run. This way you get the fastest speeds possible.
Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to security breaches and hacking attempts. If you can wirelessly access your network, then so can someone trying to breach your network. With a wired home network, your internet connection is less exposed to outside threats. By hard wiring your connection you are creating a direct pathway for sensitive data and online transactions.
For larger households with multiple devices and users, a wired network can provide a more stable and consistent connection. You would want to run hardwire connections throughout the home hand in hand with a mesh or access point system.
Wi-Fi signals can be weakened by walls, floors, and other obstructions, resulting in slower speeds and dropped connections. With a wired network, you can avoid these issues and enjoy a more reliable connection throughout your home.
Wireless signals can be disrupted by other devices in your home, such as microwaves and cordless phones. The wireless connection cannot be seen by our eyes but the other signals around our home can easily interfere with it. With a wired connection, you don't have to worry about interference from other devices, ensuring a consistent and stable connection at all times.
With more people working from home than ever before, a wired home network can be especially beneficial for home offices. A wired network connection ensures that you have a reliable and secure connection for video conferencing, file sharing, and other work-related activities. It also allows you to set up a dedicated network for your office, separate from your home network, which can help to further enhance security and performance. If you are working from home, most of the time your employer can help with the costs of the home network.
Setting up a wired home network requires running Ethernet cables throughout your home. This can be a costly and time-consuming process depending on the length of the run required. Most homeowners will not have the knowledge or skill set to run their own wiring. These homeowners will need to hire a professional to complete the work properly. This can be a costly up front purchase but ultimately an investment into your property.
With a wired ethernet connection, your devices are tethered to a specific location. This can sometimes be annoying if you need to use your device away from where the plug is. While this may not be an issue for stationary devices like desktop computers and gaming consoles, it can be inconvenient for mobile devices like laptops and smartphones. We recommend getting long patch cables to help this issue.
Installing a wired home network is a very time-consuming process. Running Ethernet cables through walls, ceilings, and floors can be a difficult and messy task. You may need to hire a professional installer if you are not comfortable with DIY wiring.
While wireless networks offer convenience and flexibility, a wired home network can provide several advantages, including faster speeds, better reliability, improved security, and more consistent performance. If you are looking for a stable, secure, and high-speed network for your home, a wired network will be the way to go.
If you are looking for help with your home networking project, please reach out to us! We have a team of skilled technicians ready to help with your specific needs. Whether you have a large or small network cabling project we are here to help.
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*All installations are backed by a warranty so you can enjoy with peace of mind