Wired vs. Wireless

[DeathSlayer]

Do people get wireless routers just because it's wireless? Or something else?

Also, isn't everything in wired faster than its wireless counterpart?

 

[ms526]

In my opinion, Wireless networking is only good for Laptops and PDAs and other portable wireless devices. Personally, where possible I much prefer to use wired networking as it's faster, more reliable, can't be affected by signals from other devices such as microwaves or cordless telephones, and less fuss to set up.

 

[spyordie007]

Wireless = convenience
Wired = faster, more secure, more stable, less expensive

Wireless is nice to have, but it's never going to completely replace devices wired together.

 

[JackMDS]

Each sector (Home, SOHO, Small Business, Corporate) might have its own consideration of the preferred need, and which installation is most effective to use.

So the best solutions depends the particular needs.

Most home users use the Ethernet mainly for Internet activities. The Wireless is more than sufficient for such purposes and it is much more comfortable to set in the environment.

Frame of reference to function ?speed? here, http://www.ezlan.net/net_speed.html

Entry Level wired Routers are almost an extinct products since Wireless Router cost only few $$$ more than wired, and there is a much better selection. Therefore, even if you do not want to use Wireless, it makes more sense to buy a Wireless Router and use only the wire part.

:sun:

 

[spikespiegal]

it makes more sense to buy a Wireless Router and use only the wire part.

The Netopia routers I prefer to deploy in small businesses are 10x less problematic than your typical 'Best Buy' junk, and much faster.

I've also noticed a trend that dedicated access points often cost a bit more than wireless integrated routers, the later tending to drive people nuts with over-heating (netgear) and other nonsense as the engineers in China attempt to cram more cheap IC components into a plastic box. Linksys should also change the name of their 4-port Wireless Routers to 3-port given so many of them have bad ports.

 

[DeathSlayer]

Do you have to have a wireless router to have a laptop with an interweb connection?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: spikespiegalThe Netopia routers I prefer to deploy in small businesses are 10x less problematic than your typical 'Best Buy' junk, and much faster.
I've also noticed a trend that dedicated access points often cost a bit more than wireless integrated routers, the later tending to drive people nuts with over-heating (netgear) and other nonsense as the engineers in China attempt to cram more cheap IC components into a plastic box. Linksys should also change the name of their 4-port Wireless Routers to 3-port given so many of them have bad ports.

Technically, you are right; the problem is lack of decent pricing. If you opt to get out of the Entry Level hardware the price of configuring a system might Jump up in hundreds of $$$ which is not justified for most of Home users.

:sun:

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: DeathSlayer
Do people get wireless routers just because it's wireless? Or something else?

Also, isn't everything in wired faster than its wireless counterpart?

Yes, wired is much faster, more reliable, and secure. However, with wireless, you um, don't need to run wires to some devices. In addition, when you're bottlenecked by the limited internet speed, then for shorter distances with few obstructions and uncrowded air, wireless is generally not materially worse than wired.

At the consumer level, wireless routers are generally similar to their wired counterparts, but with wireless capability thrown on. Often, because of the greater popularity of wireless routers, they will cost not much more, and can even be sometimes the same price or cheaper than the wired versions.

I'd tend to get the wireless version and turn OFF the radio if I didn't immeidately need it. Because:

1. It'd probably woudn't cost much more if any.
2. It'd probably have greater re-sale value.
3. I might want to use the wireless some time in the future.
4. Wireless is so flakey that manufacturers and others keep on putting out new firmware, keeping the device refreshed well beyond its "best before" date. This is particularly true of popular, Linux-based routers.

 

[DeathSlayer]

Let me get this straight - I can buy a wireless router, and have a wired connection to my desktop, as if it was a wired router in the first place? With no signal/speed decrease because it's wired? To sum things up, when you buy a wireless router, it's wired, but with an add-on? (which is the wireless capability)

If so, oh man, I am definitely going with wireless with a new router.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: DeathSlayer
Let me get this straight - I can buy a wireless router, and have a wired connection to my desktop, as if it was a wired router in the first place? With no signal/speed decrease because it's wired? To sum things up, when you buy a wireless router, it's wired, but with an add-on? (which is the wireless capability)

Pretty much... wireless router = wired router + wireless capability.

If you want the ultimate business class + VPN router, and the ultimate wireless AP, then separates are probably better, but the average user can (and should be able to) get sufficient performance and capability in consumer class wireless routers.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Wireless routers usually have a wired ports and have the wireless ability attached to that. So typically you'll have 4 wired ports and then you can add more computers to your network wirelessly.

Unless you have laptops, there is absolutely no point in going wireless. However if you want to share your internet connection to the world, then go wireless.

 

[ktwebb]

Unless you have laptops, there is absolutely no point in going wireless

Statement born of ignorance. Innocently perhaps. Even if you are capable or running cable in your home, many of those people don't want to put the effort in to simply share an internet connection, light gaming or file sharing etc.. Then you have the people that live in apartments or rent a house and cannot run ethernet cable in the dwelling. There are many scenarios where wireless is not only useable on a desktop, it's preferable.

Don't misunderstand however. I am not advocating wireless or a wired solution. If copper is available then it's a no brainer. When it's not practical then wireless is fine for virtually any scenario except a network where large data file transfers are common

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: spyordie007
Wireless = convenience
Wired = faster, more secure, more stable, less expensive

Wireless is nice to have, but it's never going to completely replace devices wired together.

Not to mention all anyone will ever need is 640kb of memory.