Wireless vs WIRED Network...

Question

My home broadband network currently consists of a D-Link Wireless 811 G router, 1 new Dell Desktop computer connected to it using a cat 5 cable and my Dell laptop wirelessly connected.  Now I want to install another new Dell 531s in my shop and am am wondering will it perform better if it is wired to the router or uses a wireless connection.  The local Best Buy store person says that there is no difference in performance no matter what I do while another store tells me to use the wired option if I can... Any information or suggestions would be appreciated before I undertake this project.

volcano11 · Answer

Wired is always better if possible.  It is not subject to interference from other radio waves moving through the area and is overall less flakey than wireless.   99% of the time my wireless connected computers work on the network.  It is just that 1% of the time when some strange thing happens that causes the frustration.  The computers connected by a wired ethernet connection always work.   Steve

ronss · Answer

i use wired for my desktops, wireless for my notebook..less problems with wired, better security with wired. a notebook a hard to handle with a wired cat 5 cable connected to it, espically if you want to room around...as for speed, i would still say wired is faster, though some of the wired n devices are getting close. now if you are using gigabyte and cat 6, crossover cable. and download files in network,,wired a lot faster..

Message Edited by ronss on 11-09-2007 03:15 AM

Message Edited by ronss on 11-09-2007 03:21 AM

STGCMTED · Answer

Thnaks for the responses.. I have almost decided to do with the wireless as I don't feel like running a wire to the shop.. Large file transfer is not a regular activity.. Just Inet connectivity.. My new Dell Inspiron 531S was not ordered with a wireless card / adaptor.. I know Dell sells them but I am sure that there are many aftermarket ones that will work just fine at a much lower cost.. Any recommendations on a wireless PCI card or USB Adaptor based on personal experience?

NemesisDB · Answer

just to join the bandwagon, wired if you can do it -- though it's probably not worth laying down a bunch of new wires if it's not in the same room (unless you're going to do a lot of file transfering between the two machines).

Davet50 · Answer

Another thing to consider about wireless is distance and obstacles.. the more walls you have to go through the more the signal gets degraded same is true for distance from the router..some systems handle this better than other.

foobar909 · Answer

My own experience?  Wireless just did not do the job.  I tried connecting 2 computers wirelessly, one 3 feet from the router and one 20 feet.  Neither performed satisfactorily.  The laptop 20 feet out could not do what I need it to do at all.   I ran wires for them both, and they are working much more reliably and much faster.   Good luck with yours.   Foobar909

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless vs WIRED Network...

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