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As a video gamer, it is very important for me to always have a good internet connection.
But the Wi-Fi connection in my house always gives me a lot of problems because the signal drops frequently and the connection has high latency.
What's more, gaming over Wi-Fi doesn't just make things worse for me. It has the potential to bring down the other players playing with me.
I don't want to be the one who spoils everyone else.
Ethernet is supposed to offer more speed than WLAN. So I decided to get a Wi-Fi extender to improve my experience.
To further increase internet range, I have an ethernet cable in case I could connect it to my Wi-Fi extender.
Like you I was wondering if I would be able to connect both properly and did some research on how it will work and if it's worth it.
If you have the same doubts as me or want to know how to connect an ethernet cable to your wifi extender, you've come to the right place.
Most WiFi extenders include an Ethernet port that can be used as an input port. Connect an Ethernet cable to one of the output ports on your router and then to the input port on your Wi-Fi extender.
What Types of Wi-Fi Extenders Have Ethernet Ports?
Most Wi-Fi extenders and mesh Wi-Fi network nodes and satellites have an Ethernet port.
Why would you connect an Ethernet cable to a Wi-Fi extender?
While connecting your Wi-Fi extender to your original Wi-Fi router over Wi-Fi is the best option, it is not always possible.
It also has several downsides that you don't want on your network.
These include low internet speed, signal loss, connection errors and other issues.
Just make sure you connect the cable to an input port and not an output port.
Therefore, most Wi-Fi extenders include an Ethernet connector that can be used as an input port.
Connect an Ethernet cable to one of the output ports on your router and then to the input port on your WiFi extender.
This strengthens the connection between the two and allows you to have a more seamless browsing experience.
If there is a significant difference between the router and the extender and you don't mind having some cable lying around, this will work just fine for you.
You can use an Ethernet cable to increase the connection speed of your gaming PC, laptop, smart TV or game console.
Your extension has various output ports that you can use for this purpose.
All you have to do is plug an Ethernet cable into one of the Wi-Fi extender's output ports and plug the other end into your device.
Since these ports were built for the same purpose, it would work perfectly.
Do you need to set up the WiFi extender before connecting an Ethernet cable?
Plug-in and standalone Wi-Fi extenders are the two most common types of Wi-Fi extenders.
Standalone devices resemble a wireless router, consisting of a black box with antennas protruding from it.
Place it as close as possible to the dead spots in your room to get the most out of it.
It should also be at a higher altitude, perhaps in the attic above, similar to the source WiFi router.
These are less expensive and have a lower profile, but they are smaller and have a narrower bandwidth.
They usually look like an air freshener and plug into a regular outlet.
Place it as close to the WiFi dead zones as possible, similar to the standalone variants. The range of the expansion will determine this.
Some Wi-Fi extenders work by trying to outperform your current Wi-Fi router.
They connect directly to the router via Ethernet, but have more powerful boosters than the current router and are designed to further boost the Wi-Fi signal.
To avoid confusion, these can be set up with the same name and password as the existing network, or used in place of the existing WiFi system if there is sufficient range.
These do not affect the available bandwidth.
What Happens to Your WiFi Extender After You Plug in an Ethernet Cable?
A Wi-Fi extender is a device that connects to your router and extends your wireless connection.
They are standalone devices that are placed between your router and the area you want to cover.
They resemble wireless repeaters in appearance. All a wireless extender does is retransmit the signal.
This happens automatically and sends the same packets as your router. An extender is used when you have devices that are out of range of your network.
To be effective, a Wi-Fi extender must be connected to your main router using a wired LAN connection. The majority of people just don't do this.
With a hardwired connection, an extender becomes a powerful access point.
This allows it to transmit your Wi-Fi signal while maintaining the speed you want.
A Wi-Fi extender typically sets up a new Wi-Fi network with the letters EXT in the name, e.g. B.Home EXT.
If you are in the room where the extender will be used, you will need to connect your devices to the new WiFi.
The Effect of an Ethernet Cable on Your Internet Speed
Wired Ethernet speeds of up to 10 Gbps are possible, with the latest WiFi versions only capable of delivering 867 Mbps (802.11ac) and 150 Mbps (802.11n). That's a key difference.
It's important to realize that simply connecting your computer to the Internet using Ethernet connections will not result in a 10 Gbps connection.
You must ensure that your home is equipped with the necessary internet equipment.
You also need to make sure that your internet service provider gives you adequate bandwidth (ISP).
The idea is that if you pay for gigabit internet (1Gbps) but only support 10Mbps ethernet cables, your device will only get 10Mbps.
You can't get the cables to transfer data faster than they were designed.
You must confirm that the cables can support the bandwidth (i.e. speed) offered by your ISP.
Ethernet cables won't make your internet faster, but they can definitely slow it down if you use the wrong ones.
The impact of an Ethernet cable on your latency
The longer your Ethernet cable, the more latency you have to deal with.
However, the effect is only about a millisecond per foot of wire. Therefore, it is barely noticeable in most situations, especially since a single Ethernet cable has a maximum length of 100 meters.
Wi-Fi extender vs mesh router network
You may want to investigate a mesh network if you want a more reliable extended network.
These networks can provide faster and more reliable services than a Wi-Fi extension.
Additionally, devices like the previously mentioned TP-Link Deco can be used as an extender and mesh network.
A mesh network is based on intelligent packet and protocol management. A mesh network is already used in your home if you have a smart home system.
They work by forming nodes from connected devices.
Rather than just retransmitting a signal, these nodes seek the fastest, most efficient route to your router. This is called dynamic routing.
The more nodes you have in a mesh network, the greater the coverage area.
With devices like the Eero Wi-Fi Extension, it's easy to set up nodes around the house.
Signal strength and reliability are not that important since they use dynamic routing.
You can connect an Ethernet port to a node on a mesh network and expect a good connection.
This is because they are not just a retransmission of the same signal, but a true extension of your wireless network.
MoCA as an alternative wired connection
If you're still looking for a solid hardwired connection, MoCA is a good option.
This technique is a bit outdated, but it can still produce incredible results.
What exactly is it?
MoCA, on the other hand, is a coaxial cable-based router technology.
Yes, the same ones you used to connect your TV to the cable box.
Essentially, if you have a coaxial cable network at home and use cable internet, you can use it with a little assistance.
Adapters like this one from Actiontec connect directly to your router using the cables already installed in your wall.
If you're out of range of your Wi-Fi but still want a wired connection, this is the way to go.
Speed is not an issue with coaxial cable as it can withstand a large data transfer load.
Contact your ISP
The Internet in your home is set up by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Visitbreitbandnow.comto identify your ISP.
If you experience any of the following problems, you should contact your internet service provider.
- You cannot connect your gateway device to the internet.
- You are having problems with your internet connection.
- Their speed test results show that you're paying for slower speeds than you get.
Here are some questions you can ask to better understand connectivity issues:
- Is there a problem with my internet service?
- Have your internet settings changed in any way?
- Have other changes been made to network services that could harm my network?
Final thoughts on plugging an Ethernet cable into a Wi-Fi extender
A simple Wi-Fi extender could be used to extend the range of your Wi-Fi to another floor in your home.
If your home only has one circuit, a powerline extender might be worth considering. They are also very affordable.
Finally, mesh WiFi networks are ideal for large homes, as most of them can span 5,000 square feet or more.
While they offer reliable WiFi and excellent coverage, they can be expensive.
In the end it comes down to what you need. In rare cases, you might be able to extend the Wi-Fi signal by changing some settings on an outdated router.
Most routers can be configured to act as a bridge or access point.
In the end, expanding your WiFi is easy, and you can usually use the Ethernet port on WiFi extenders as well.
You can also enjoy reading:
- How to run an Ethernet cable along walls: explained
- Ethernet slower than Wi-Fi: How to fix it in seconds
- How to set up a WiFi extender with Xfinity in seconds
- Why is my Wi-Fi signal suddenly weak?
- Internet Lag Spikes: How to Avoid Them
frequently asked Questions
What is the Ethernet port of a WiFi extender for?
A Wi-Fi extender is a device that allows you to connect to the Internet without a cable.
It collects the Wi-Fi signal from the base station and amplifies it before retransmitting it.
However, a true Wi-Fi extension can also include an Ethernet port.
This optional feature allows you to connect a non-wireless component to your LAN.
In this case, the Wi-Fi extender acts as a wireless bridge. Some companies sell products that can do both jobs.
You should also keep in mind that wired access to the Wi-Fi extender simplifies and secures configuration.
So there is a financial incentive to add an Ethernet dock to wireless-only extenders, even if not all extenders have one.
Is Ethernet faster than WiFi?
If you want a fast connection, make sure that as many of your devices as possible are connected to the Ethernet.
This is because an Ethernet connection is almost always faster than a Wi-Fi connection from the same router.
Radio waves actually travel at incredible speeds. On the other hand, an Ethernet cable allows your devices to send and receive data almost instantly.
This is especially true if your connection is fiber optic.
It also does not imply a difference in the proximity or distance of your router.
As long as your ethernet cable lasts, there will be minimal to no speed hit.
A simple onespeed testUsing Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections can be used to compare Wi-Fi and Ethernet speeds.
Almost without a doubt, the Ethernet connection will be faster.
Do I need an Ethernet cable if I have Wi-Fi?
The truth is that a wired connection is still objectively superior for almost any application that requires an internet connection.
The benefits can sometimes be small, but they can also be life-changing.
Signal dropouts and high latencies are also more familiar from wireless connections.
You might not notice this just by browsing the web, but those playing online video games with you will.
Last but not least, the connection speed is practically always slower when using a wireless connection.
My home WiFi is excellent, but when I plug in an Ethernet cable, my connection speed increases by two or three times.