Ethernet Vs 5GHz: Here Is What You Need To Know | WhatsaByte
with more and more people using wi-fi more frequently, the lack of an ethernet port is becoming less of an issue. But for those of you still sticking with wired connections, there are a few things you need to know. for example, you might be wondering what the difference is between ethernet and 5ghz.
ethernet and 5ghz refer to different types of internet connection. ethernet is a network that connects to your devices through a cable, and 5ghz is a wireless internet frequency band. both have advantages, but in our current state of technology, the ethernet connection offers greater stability and speed.
is the ethernet 5ghz?
ethernet is not 5ghz. ethernet is a wired network and 5ghz is a wireless network. with ethernet, you connect the cable to your motherboard router and then to the device intended for the connection.
With 5GHz, it runs a wireless internet signal from your router to your devices. you can connect using a username and password that will allow you to access the network.
5ghz is a wi-fi frequency band. the other frequency band is 2.4ghz. Frequency bands are the ranges within the wireless diameter that are designed to carry Wi-Fi. this is what you connect to when you sign in to a Wi-Fi network.
Wi-fi routers usually carry one or the other, however you can also buy dual band wi-fi. these are routers that support both frequency bands.
The benefits of dual band routers are that they provide more speed on your connection and much more stability with a wider range.
dual-band routers certainly have better performance than single-band routers.
ethernet will always guarantee you a solid connection, since it does not depend on these frequency bands for the internet. Your connection runs through the ethernet cable that plugs directly into your device.
This means that you are always guaranteed a fast and stable network connection, since you are not dependent on a wireless connection.
wi-fi can also give you a fast and stable network, but it depends on the devices you are connecting to and what your connection intention is. For example, if you’re looking to stream in HD, watch movies, download large files, and play high resolution games, then Ethernet is better.
however, if you’re just looking for daily internet use, a wi-fi connection is definitely enough.
Dual-band wi-fi, as mentioned above, can be on par with ethernet when these higher demands on internet performance are needed, such as high resolution gaming. although, it is important to remember that the two are different and that ethernet is not a 5ghz.
is 5 ghz wifi network faster than ethernet?
The speed comparison between 5ghz and ethernet can depend heavily on altering factors. eg 5ghz is faster than some ethernet connections. like, 10mp/s and 100mp/s. however, 1 gb/s ethernet cannot be beaten by 5 ghz in terms of speed. it just doesn’t maintain the same performance.
with the modern and advanced ethernet in use today, 5ghz will rarely be the fastest option. to be honest, ethernet is always going to trump wi-fi in terms of speed and stability. however, wi-fi is more convenient than ethernet, so you can choose this as the best option.
It’s more convenient because you don’t have to run cables from your router to your devices. you can connect from anywhere in your home with a 5ghz network.
Speed is an important factor when looking at your internet setup and deciding what type of connection you’ll need. As mentioned above, if you’re looking for HD streaming and high-res gaming, but would like the convenience of a Wi-Fi setup, then dual-band is the best option for you.
otherwise an ethernet setup is what you’ll need to support this.
Although ethernet is likely to be faster than 5ghz wi-fi, the technology we have today is constantly improving. It is improving at a rapid rate and therefore in the next few years Wi-Fi may be as reliable, stable and fast as an ethernet network.
In the last decade, Wi-Fi has gotten stronger and stronger. It can support the internet connection of a whole household and is fully sufficient for daily internet use. therefore, it may not be important to worry about which is faster.
It largely depends on what you need internet for, to decide if the difference between 5ghz and ethernet is important to you. the differences aren’t so distinguishable that you need to worry if you just want to set up an internet connection at home.
should i use ethernet or 5ghz?
The answer to this question largely depends on the internet usage you require. For example, if you are looking for daily Wi-Fi usage within an average family home, then 5GHz Wi-Fi will suffice.
however, if you want to install a desktop or gaming computer and need a constant, uninterrupted signal, you should go for an ethernet connection.
Also, if you need internet within an office space or for an area larger than a house, ethernet is your best option. however, you have the option of dual band wi-fi which uses 2.5ghz and 5ghz frequencies for a stronger signal.
this covers much larger areas than normal wi-fi. it’s a good middle ground to land on if you don’t need the blazing fast speeds and download sizes of ethernet, but do need something stronger than a regular wifi network.
It is also important to consider the convenience of the two. For example, if you need to connect multiple devices to a network using ethernet, you’ll need to purchase what’s called an ethernet splitter. this will allow multiple devices to connect to an ethernet network at any one time.
Some people choose to have both an ethernet connection and a wi-fi signal within their homes. This is typically for people who need to connect a desktop device to the internet, but also have laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
It is more expensive than going for one or the other, however, many homes require both due to the volume of electrical devices that we have today.
Can 5g replace ethernet?
when I refer to 5ghz I mean the frequency band of a wi-fi network. As it stands, 5GHz cannot replace Ethernet in terms of speed, reliability, and stability.
Having a device connected to ethernet with a cable will always be more reliable than connecting to the 5ghz Wi-Fi band.
With that, a new technology is emerging which is cellular. this is called 5g. as in the 5th generation. the two should not be confused as they relate to different things within the world of internet networks.
5ghz is a frequency transmitted through a wifi signal. and 5g brings an internet connection to devices from 5g cell towers.
5g cellular network is an extremely new technology that emerged in 2018. it is not yet developed enough to surpass ethernet; however, predictions imply that in the next ten years we will see this happen. Now you can install 5g hotspot boxes in your homes that work similar to wi-fi routers.
transmit a signal and you connect with a username and password. they use the same technology as the “hotspot” setting on any smartphone device.
Wireless internet connection is much more convenient than ethernet. And so, if there is a wireless technology that can deliver the same performance as ethernet, wireless will replace wired in homes and offices.
As I said before, this won’t happen for another ten to fifteen years, as the technology is still developing.
however, once we get to that point, ethernet will be left behind as an option and wireless will take its place.
The benefits of this 5g cellular network will be enormous. will have the ability to reach even the most rural areas. It will offer more speed, coverage, and stability than other network setups we’ve had before.
conclusion
Comparing ethernet to a 5ghz wi-fi frequency, it is apparent that there are some distinguishing factors that separate the two. These are the uninterrupted speed and stability of Ethernet, but the convenience and flexibility of a 5GHz wireless connection.
always consider your internet needs before deciding between the two, and recognize that for some connection purposes wi-fi may not be as sufficient as ethernet.