Hardwired vs. Wi-Fi: Is it worth switching to Ethernet?

Greetings.

I have an inquiry regarding hardwiring a computer to the internet. We have Wi-Fi access available on the upper floor, and I am wondering if it is feasible to connect another computer on the lower floor via an Ethernet cable using the same service provider connection.

Thank you.

It’s totally doable—you’ll just need to pick up a pretty long Ethernet cable to make it work. If that sounds like a hassle, you might be better off just grabbing a USB Wi-Fi adapter and catching the signal that way.

Honestly, I’d rather just hardwire the PC and save the Wi-Fi for laptops, phones, and tablets. If you can snag a router that supports it, you could plug it into the LAN port upstairs and use it to broadcast a solid Wi-Fi signal for the whole ground floor.
Wi-Fi coverage down on the first floor is probably going to be pretty weak anyway. Plus, if someone starts streaming upstairs, it’ll hog all the bandwidth, leaving everyone downstairs struggling with lag or even losing the connection entirely.

Ethernet cables aren't exactly breaking the bank. You could easily snake one through an unused vent or an old chimney flue 🙂 ... or even check if there are any old phone lines running between floors. Sometimes those old four-wire setups can actually work as a makeshift LAN.

Robert James said:Greetings.

I have an inquiry regarding hardwiring a computer to the internet. We have Wi-Fi access available on the upper floor, and I am wondering if it is feasible to connect another computer on the lower floor via an Ethernet cable using the same service provider connection.

Thank you.

Totally doable. Just run a cable and plug it in.