Wireless v wired internet

splot_2

I currently have 100mb internet from Virgin, and get about 40mb wireless speed on iPads and laptops.

I know the wireless speed depends on the signal strength and processor speed so my question is what is the point in having higher and higher wired speed when you mainly use wireless and that is limited by the equipment being used?

Would it be better to reduce the wired speed to say 60mb, save some money and live with the existing wireless speeds?

PenguinJim

Sounds like it.

Wireless is nice for casual internet users.

Wired is essential for serious users, e.g. people who download gigabytes each day and need it ASAP, gamers who need the best ping, people who need guaranteed security. Note that it's not always just about the speed.

I can't really see why a casual user would need more than 24mb/s, so you could save money by dropping the speed even further. Heck, I'm fairly serious, but I just use 12 (I'm patient and thrifty! ).

bridgedino

Do you use any wired items?

My 40meg is ideal for my wifi stuff and the 3 smart TVs in the house are wired via home plugs

I suppose it depends on what your speed needs are

bod1467

I have Infinity 1 (40meg, and get about 34meg actual). This is fine for me, and my whole home network is wifi.

And I'm a (casual) gamer ... I find ping over wifi is fine.

Cisco001

There are wifi adapter with 867Mbps. Also the faster speed of your adapter may do nothing with internet speed as you may use it with transferring file within intranet.

RumRat

If you drop down to the 60Meg package it will be increased to 100MB soon, for free, anyway. If you really want to save money, drop to the 30MB package which will increase to 50MB eventually, again for free.
If you decrease your line in speed your wireless speed will probably drop correspondingly. I doubt you will notice much difference in daily use though.

Ainsley1

Climbs on hobby horse.....

just a plea for people to use the correct terminology. 'Speed' is usually quoted as megabits per second (Mb/s- capital M lower case b) or megabytes per seconds (MB/s capital M capital - depending upon what data we are considering) 100meg is really poor shorthand as it is a quantity, not a speed so is technically incorrect as is a lower case m which signifies milli not Mega. MB/s indicating that so many Bytes (8 bits) are being transferred rather than 1 bit in the time - so indicates it's an 8 times faster (or so) data transfer. Note how much faster hard drive transfer rates are as they are usually quoted as MB/s or rather now GB/s rather than 'download speeds' of Mb/s

OK; If we are being really pedantic (accurate actually) it is not 'speed' at all but a rate as the signals all travel at approximately the speed of light and it is the rate of transfer of the data bits that really interests us...... the number of bits in a specific time.

It may seem unnecessary to use the correct terminology but it avoids confusion.

I always cringe when I hear the likes of Top Gear presenters mention things like 'goes at a rate of knots' meaning a fast speed. Do they not realise knots (a nautical mile per second) is already a rate/speed so a 'rate of knots' is really akin to acceleration........mmm perhaps that's what they meant????

Sorry will get off hobby horse now.....
..and yes there are lots of other speed measurements and rates too but for broadband and wi-fi rates these are pretty common rates.

What? Oh the original question

Would it be better to reduce the wired speed to say 60mb, save some money and live with the existing wireless speeds?

Why pay for something if you're not using it and something cheaper will be virtually as good?
...oh dear answered one question with another. Just having a bad night chaps and chapesses....

RumRat

I guess it's an age thing. I doubt anyone, including you, were confused in anyway.
Nurse will be along to tuck you in soon.....;)

spud17

Ainsley1 wrote: »

Climbs on hobby horse.....

just a plea for people to use the correct terminology. 'Speed' is usually quoted as megabits per second (Mb/s- capital M lower case b) or megabytes per seconds (MB/s capital M capital - depending upon what data we are considering) 100meg is really poor shorthand as it is a quantity, not a speed so is technically incorrect as is a lower case m which signifies milli not Mega. MB/s indicating that so many Bytes (8 bits) are being transferred rather than 1 bit in the time - so indicates it's an 8 times faster (or so) data transfer. Note how much faster hard drive transfer rates are as they are usually quoted as MB/s or rather now GB/s rather than 'download speeds' of Mb/s

OK; If we are being really pedantic (accurate actually) it is not 'speed' at all but a rate as the signals all travel at approximately the speed of light and it is the rate of transfer of the data bits that really interests us...... the number of bits in a specific time.

It may seem unnecessary to use the correct terminology but it avoids confusion.

I always cringe when I hear the likes of Top Gear presenters mention things like 'goes at a rate of knots' meaning a fast speed. Do they not realise knots (a nautical mile per second) is already a rate/speed so a 'rate of knots' is really akin to acceleration........mmm perhaps that's what they meant????

Sorry will get off hobby horse now.....
..and yes there are lots of other speed measurements and rates too but for broadband and wi-fi rates these are pretty common rates.

What? Oh the original question
Why pay for something if you're not using it and something cheaper will be virtually as good?
...oh dear answered one question with another. Just having a bad night chaps and chapesses....

Don't forget those who insist on saying 'hot (or cold) temperature'.

What about the ones who say 'rise to a crescendo'?

Terry98

spud17 wrote: »

Don't forget those who insist on saying 'hot (or cold) temperature'.

What about the ones who say 'rise to a crescendo'?

That's bad:D

I_have_spoken

I currently have 100mb internet from Virgin, and get about 40mb wireless speed on iPads and laptops.

Consider putting the SuperHub into modem-mode with a new dual-band wi-fi router so the iPad (at least) is on the 5GHz signal