WiFi vs Ethernet Cable: Which One Should I Choose?

With the popularity of the mobile Internet in recent years, we’ve seen a large number of smart devices in our homes and offices connected to the Internet via WiFi. Then will WiFi outperform the capabilities of the traditional Ethernet cables? WiFi vs Ethernet cable, which one should I choose? What factors shall be taken into account before settling for one of these options? How does latency and interference affect the speed of WiFi and Ethernet? We’re gonna answer all these questions in this article.

What Is WiFi?

WiFi is a wireless technology that connects devices to the Internet without any physical wired connection. A WiFi connection is established using a wireless adapter to create hotspots in the vicinity of a wireless router that is connected to the network, allowing users to access Internet services. Once configured, WiFi provides wireless connectivity to your devices by emitting frequencies between 2.4GHz - 5GHz, based on the amount of data on the network.

What Is Ethernet Cable?

An Ethernet cable is a copper wire which connects devices like PCs, routers, and switches in wired networks. Given that these are physical cables, Ethernet cables have their limitations, both in the distance that they can stretch and in their durability over usage. There are different types of Ethernet cables such as Cat5e Ethernet cable, Cat6 Ethernet cable, Cat7 Ethernet cable or Cat8 Ethernet cable optimised to perform certain tasks in particular situations.

WiFi vs Ethernet Cable: Which One Is Better?

Both wired and wireless networks come with pros and cons in particular situations. When it comes to the WiFi vs Ethernet cable discussion, have you ever taken time to consider what sort of network best suits your needs? Let’s bring clarity through a comparison over WiFi vs Ethernet cable from the following aspects.

Speed & Reliability

WiFi vs Ethernet cable speed is the biggest concern that matters to network subscribers. Ethernet cabling connections tend to be faster and more robust than WiFi. If you have the right cabling solution with Cat5e Ethernet cable, Cat6 Ethernet cable or higher, it means you’ve had all the insulation you’ll need to prevent crosstalk, thus helping you to get more reliable signals. WiFi, on the other hand, is somewhat slower but has the convenience of being able to be used from your laptop or tablet anywhere within the range of a wireless access point. Therefore, WiFi is the first choice for anyone who intends to connect to the Internet and get online within reach. However, If you are someone who loves downloading torrents or watching online movies, then Ethernet is the technology you might want to consider.

Latency & Interference

Latency is the delay with which traffic travels from a device to its destination. Latency is vital when playing games, because the reaction time must be quick, and the same goes in the IoT (Internet of Things) data world. If you want to avoid irritating lags or delay while posting data, then an Ethernet connection is the right choice. Interference is another disadvantageous thing that WiFi faces. With the technology taking over the world, we have so much wireless interference in our house from WiFi router, TV, smart phone, setup box, game consoles, etc. The interference does not let your WiFi signal stay isolated from the other signals affecting your WiFi. However, there are no such effects in Ethernet cables. Thus, in the war of WiFi vs Ethernet cable, Ethernet connection offers the advantage of much lower latency and interference.

Cost

Using the Ethernet cable is much pricier than using WiFi because the wired network is often more expensive to install than a wireless network. The cost of wired networks comes in the form of installation charges and cabling. Since each workstation and device in the office that needs a connection requires a wire running to it, the size of your office space affects the cost of a wired network.

Conclusion

In the war of WiFi vs Ethernet cable, there are many plot elements which form the deciding factors in choosing one over the other. These factors mentioned above are perceived individually by the individual users. If you are someone who regularly download/upload large files and participate in gaming, then the Ethernet cable would be worth the connection. If you like to have mobility in your apartment and get online fast, then WiFi suits you better.

D-Rings for Cable Management

In high-density data centers, disorder of cable assemblies can lead to poor system performance, difficult maintenance, unnecessary downtime, and even safety hazards. Good management will enhance your system availability and efficiency by well organizing the mass of cables. D-rings, as one of the common types of cable management products, play an important role in building an easier and safer cabling environment.

What Can D-Ring Cable Manager Achieve?

D-ring, also known as D-ring cable manager, is a basic manager that organize cables. It is commonly used individually on any suitable plat like wall or installed on cable management panel to provide easy and orderly cable routing, making it one of the most versatile cable managers on the market! Whether you’re routing cables from the front to the back of your cabinet or organizing and supporting patch cables, the D-ring cable manager will be an effective tool for your IT installation.

Types and Selection of D-Ring Cable Manager

D-ring cable managers are designed with different sizes, shapes and materials for different applications. There are mainly two types of D-ring according applications one is for vertical cable management and the other is for horizontal cable management. As for the materials, durable metal is more popular during applications. The selection of D-ring cable manager should also consider the size of a D-ring and cable count the D-ring going to hold. The following picture shows horizontal cable management and vertical cable management applications of D-rings.

How to Use D-Ring in Cable Management

The using and installation of D-ring cable manager is simple and easy. With screws and installing tools, you can make full use of this cable management accessory. As the above mentioned, D-ring is usually installed on cable management panels. Here will introduce how to use D-ring in vertical cable management and horizontal cable management in details.

• D-Ring in Vertical Cable Management When a D-ring is used for vertical cable management, it can be directly installed on the server rack using appropriate fasteners. It can be used for both front or rear cable management providing tidy cabling appearance and easy cable adding or removing in vertical cabling environment.
• D-Ring in Horizontal Cable Management The using of D-ring in horizontal cable management is more flexible and can be used with a wide range of cable management products for different applications. In most horizontal applications, D-ring is installed on cable management panels. Here introduce two of the most commonly seen applications of D-ring. The first one is using D-ring with patch panel, the second one is using D-ring with rack unit enclosures.

The following picture shows a simple example of fiber cabling using cable management panel with D-ring on the front panel, fiber patch panel installed on the IT rack and a lacing bar on the rear side. Four 24-fiber LC adapter panels are installed on the fiber patch panel. The cable management panel with D-ring is installed on the front side of this IT rack providing an organized channel for the fiber optic cables connected to the fiber adapter panels. Fiber cables connected to the rear side are supported by the lacing bar which provides cable strain relief.

Conclusion

D-ring is a small but indispensable accessory in cable management, which can promote clean and tidy cabling environment. Apart from the D-rings mentioned above, there are many other small but effective tools for cable management, such as cable ties, cable lacing bars, J-Hooks, and wire looms which are also very necessary for cable organization.

Use J-Hooks for Cable Support Systems

Cable support system requires loading capacity, grounding, material, finishes, mechanical protection and cable trays commonly used for cable management in commercial and industrial construction. Cable support systems include cable tray, raceway and J-Hook, among which J-hooks are a flexible and cost-effective solution for support especially when cables are installed in limited areas that cannot contain cable trays or raceways.

What Is J-Hook?

J-hook, as its name suggested, looks like the letter “J”. It is usually made of galvanized steel or sometimes of plastic polymers, allowing for both indoor and outdoor installation. J-hooks are widely used for cable support because they are easy to reconfigure, offering flexibility, speed and economy in installation. They feature a wide base with smooth, rounded corners to eliminate the potential for snags during installation, while preventing the development of stress points where the cable bundle is supported. In addition, they can maintain the correct cable bend radius which make them less likely to pinch, ensuring the integrity of the cabling systems.

J-Hooks Supported Cable Media & Fill Capacity

J-Hooks offer an easy-to-install, non-continuous cable support for all types of telecommunication, data and power cabling, such as Category cables (eg. cat3/cat5e/cat6/cat6a), optical fiber cables and coax cables. In addition, there are some J-hooks designed for low voltage and fire protection cabling, meeting the related standard requirement.

For instance, when Category 5 cable is pulled, it requires special handling and must be supported more than the less-sensitive voice-grade cable used in traditional cable pulls. Specifically, the bend radius of Category 5 cable can be exceeded and stress points created when using narrow-base fasteners such as cable ties and bridle rings to hang and support cable bundles. Overbending, twisting and stressing Category 5 cable can damage it, leading to network failure when data transmission speeds approach the full 100-MHz potential of the cable.

Horizontal cabling trays can be used to solve the problem, but they are expensive and time-consuming to install. A more practical solution is the use of "J"-hook fasteners specially designed for Category 5 installations. These fasteners feature a wide base with smooth, rounded corners to eliminate the potential for snags during installation, while preventing the development of stress points where the cable bundle is supported.

Fittings for J-Hooks Attachment

In practical applications, an alone J-hook is uncommon to use. Usually, there are some fittings designed for use to make the J-hooks attach to beams, columns, walls, or the structural ceiling. For instance, several fittings options are available for wall mount J-hook attachment. As shown in the following picture, from left to right, they are angle bracket, beam clamp, hammer-on and wire/rod clip.

Procedure to Install J-Hooks

1) Attach the appropriate "J"-hook fastener--whether for wall, stud, beam, flange or drop-wire mounting--to the supporting structure. Space fasteners to fall every 4 to 5 feet. 2) Lay the cable in the "J" of the fasteners. Make sure that the cable sag between fasteners is no more than 12 inches at midspan. (Actual cable sag will depend on the number of cables in each bundle and the weight of the cable.) If the sag is greater than 12 inches, add additional fasteners. 3) If the "J" hook can accommodate a cable tie, use the prepunched holes in the fastener to install the tie. This prevents the cable from lifting. Be sure that the cable tie does not put pressure on the cables because this can cause distortion of the cable geometry. 4) Check your installation. The overall appearance of installed cable should be neat.

Conclusion

J-hooks are one of the most cost-effective solution for supporting horizontal cabling, providing a broad base for cable support, reducing stress and bending. This post introduced the basic knowledge of J-hooks, which help users better understand them. Meanwhile, you can buy the most cost-effective J-hook products at FS.COM. We offer wall mount J-hooks and various options of fittings for attachment. Various diameters including 3/4 inch, 1-5/16 inch, 2 inch, 4 inch are available for your choice.