Wi-Fi is endlessly convenient – I don’t think that anyone’s going to disagree with that. But convenience has a price, and in some cases, it’s a hefty price to pay. You might be trading a stable, performant connection for an unpredictable mess when you choose Wi-Fi over Ethernet.
Be it dead zones or poor signal integrity, Wi-Fi has its problems. To avoid them, make sure you connect the following devices via a wired connection if you can.
Printers
If you still own one, that is
If you don’t own a printer, feel free to move along. Personally, I’ve tried to get rid of mine for years, but the old thing keeps coming in handy at random occasions, somehow justifying its position in my household. And, in all honesty, I’m shocked that it still works, as most of my previous printers kicked the bucket within two years or less.
In any case, if there’s one thing I hate about my printer, it’s the wireless “capability.” I’d sooner call it a liability than a capability, though. The thing is simply terrible, and as I wrestled with it yet another time, I asked myself why I even bother. After all, the printer is stationary 100% of the time, so why am I not using Ethernet?
I’ve rectified my previous mistakes and moved my printer over to a wired connection, and now, I implore you to do the same.
Smart TVs
It can be a hassle, but it’s usually worth it
Adding a wired connection to a smart TV isn’t always easy, I know. But your TV is doing so much on your network that it deserves an Ethernet cable to help it along.
TVs stream video, download app updates, connect to various services, and may not have the best placement compared to the router, which, for many of us, sits in the office.
If your TV has an Ethernet port (or you want to use an adapter) and it sits relatively close to the router, wire it up. It can reduce buffering, random quality drops, and disconnects.
Don’t trash your old router: Turn it into a wired workhorse instead
Wi-Fi standards moved on, but your old router can still do something useful
Smart home hubs and bridges
Your smart home enjoys the stability of Ethernet
A smart home hub isn’t just another little gadget on your network. It often acts as the middleman for your bulbs, plugs, sensors, switches, and automations, so when the hub gets flaky, your whole smart home can grow out of sync real quick.
This is why hubs and bridges should be wired whenever possible. They usually sit near the router anyway, and Ethernet gives them a stable connection so that they can keep everything else responsive.
Gaming consoles
Gaming on Wi-Fi is, well, not great
Gaming over Wi-Fi can certainly work. I’ve done it countless times. But is it the ideal, most optimal way to play your games? No, not even close.
The problem isn’t just download speed, because nearly everyone can sit through a slow download every now and then. It’s more about latency, interference, and packet loss. Those tiny spikes can truly ruin your gameplay if you’re playing online. Whether it’s a competitive title or simply one where you play with teammates, no one likes it when you get disconnected or lag constantly.
If your console lives under your TV, that’s an easy win: just wire them both up.
Desktop PCs
Your PC sits in one place, so why Wi-Fi?
As a desktop PC aficionado, I can’t say I’ve never used Wi-Fi on my desktop, but I do avoid it like the plague. Why? Because … well, why? It’s not like I move my desktop around every other day. It’s been planted on my desk for over an eternity (well, I’ve rebuilt it a few times in that time frame, but still).
Desktops are often used for bandwidth-heavy tasks, and your desktop is probably one of (if not the) most demanding devices in your home. This is especially true if you game, stream, download large files, or move data around your local network.
Wi-Fi makes sense for laptops because they move. Your desktop doesn’t, so unless running a cable from the router is impossible, I’d say get that Ethernet cable in there ASAP.
NAS devices and home servers
Well, duh
A NAS or a home server should be one of the first things you connect with Ethernet. This is the device that may hold your backups, media library, documents, photos, or project files, so putting it on an unstable wireless connection doesn’t add up.
Your NAS is probably sitting in one place, too, which removes the whole benefit of Wi-Fi. Wire it to your router or switch to stabilize performance.
Use Wi-Fi when you have to, not for everything
Wi-Fi isn’t bad, and obviously, devices that constantly move, like phones and tablets, can’t rely on a wired connection. But if your device is stationary more often than not, it’ll almost certainly benefit from a stable Ethernet connection.
