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Is there any difference in download speed between wifi and ethernet?

9 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/is-there-any-difference-in-download-speed-between-wifi-and-ethernet.178414/

sanny16
sanny16 Original post #1
Oct 9, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Which is better to use - a wifi or ethernet connection for internet? Where do i get maximum bandwidth?
Zangetsu
Oct 9, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Ethernet is better :cool:
but WiFi has its advantages :mrgreen:
Vyom
Vyom #3
Oct 9, 2013 at 8:06 PM
Which is better to use - a wifi or ethernet connection for internet? Where do i get maximum bandwidth?

Just do a speedtest on both Ethernet and Wifi, and decide for yourself.
I think the only advantage of Ethernet is its reliability, which in theory should be more than wireless. So, less chance of a breakup in downloads.
xtremevicky
Oct 9, 2013 at 8:08 PM
Ethernet is always faster. The reason being less loss of packets. This is what I know.
sanny16
sanny16 #5
Oct 10, 2013 at 12:19 AM
I have multiple device at home which requires internet connection like cell phones, so i was thinking of using wifi connection via wireless router. Now a days every gadget requires internet access.
Hrishi
Hrishi #6
Oct 10, 2013 at 12:46 AM
Depends whether it is 100Mbit Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet.
RCuber
RCuber #7
Oct 10, 2013 at 1:49 AM
Well the speed depends.

if you have a good wifi strength then your max sustainable speed will be your internet's speed, as it internet speed is slower than the wifi or Ethernet connection. my dad's computer is in such a position that it receives less wifi signal, a speed test shows up the results just fine (8mbps) but when browsing the difference is noticeable as it takes longer time for lookup.

so simple answer would be.. if you have good wifi signal strength (2-3 bars on 5) then you will get almost same speed as ethernet.

10/100/1000 mbits doesn't matter when it comes to Indian internet , only now we are seeing speeds up to 50 mbps for that even 100 mbit port will do.

also worth noting is that; even if your motherboard has gigabit ethernet , if your router is 10/100 then motherboard switches the speed to 10/100. so note when buying Router and modems , check if they support gigabit ethernet. also gigabit ethernet would be useful only when you are transferring large amount of data over the local network.
kg11sgbg
Oct 10, 2013 at 6:06 PM
Just do a speedtest on both Ethernet and Wifi, and decide for yourself.
I think the only advantage of Ethernet is its reliability, which in theory should be more than wireless. So, less chance of a breakup in downloads.
+1,for this.

Reliability is a MUST when downloading volumnous ,GB's of data.
Eg: Downloading a Linux OS distro or downloading movies(legal),or huge amounts of data...
mitraark
Oct 24, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Well WiFi isn't that unreliable if nothing other than the normal happens, WiFi routers work 24x7 without any hiccup, so if you own the WiFi, and are getting decent signal, it's reliable enough.