Are you ready to set up (or change up) your home network but you don’t know where to start or which to choose? Great news! There isn’t a wrong answer, but one setup might be better for your home than the another. This article should help you decide the direction to go.

There are two ways to set up your home network: wired or wireless. Both are reliable. Both have great advantages for your network performance. And, both can be the right choice depending on what is best for you and your home. Let’s take a look at what wired versus wireless home networking means and how to go about setting up your home network.

Wired connection for your home network

The advantage of a wired home network is a reliable and fast internet connection every time you plug in your computer or laptop.

To set up a wired home network, you can use Ethernet cables connected to your modem. You can also use coaxial wiring in your home for reliable wired connection.

If you use Ethernet cables, all you have to do is connect one end of the cable to your modem and the other to an Ethernet cable port on your laptop or device.

If you use coax wires, you will need an adapter, but the process is more or less the same. You can use an adapter kit like MoCA, which uses one adapter to connect to your router and the other to a coax port. As a result, you get internet in other parts of your home instead of only having a connection where your device is located like with an Ethernet cable.

Why you might consider a wired connection

A wired connection serves well for online activities that require the most reliable connection. For example, if you are an avid gamer, then a wired connection is a great option. You can definitely have a great online gaming experience with a wireless network connection – in fact, if you are using multiple devices, you will likely want a wireless set up – but with wireless the chances of lag or disconnection are higher than if your device has a wired connection.

Wireless connection for your home network

Again, there are advantages to both wired and wireless home networking. A wireless home network is more common and more convenient than a wired one. If you have multiple devices in your home, wireless is the way to go.

The advantages of a wireless home network are:

• Multiple devices can connect to the internet at the same time
• The convenience to move around with your devices
• No cables cluttering your home

While Wi-Fi allows you to move freely throughout your home with your devices, offers a reliable connection and keeps your home free from the mess of cables, Wi-Fi isn’t the perfect solution for home networking. With Wi-Fi obstacles can disrupt your connection. Things like thick walls or your router being too far away from your devices can cause slow connections or no connection at all. However, there are ways to fix this.

Just like how a wired network relies on adapters to give you a connection in other parts of your home, wireless networks can use extenders to get a better connection throughout your home, too. A network extender extends the reach of your router’s signal. By using an extender, you get an instant boost in Wi-Fi performance and save the trouble of replacing your router or wiring in your home.

You can be assured that regardless of which you choose (Wi-Fi home network or wired home network) you can have reliable, fast and strong internet throughout your home. Either home network set ups will allow you to online game, download and upload files, check emails, stream your favorite music, movies and shows, etc.

We know that home networking can be overwhelming. Actiontec has many products that reduce the stress and guesswork when it comes to setting up and managing your home network. Stay in-the-know on how Actiontec’s products can enhance your home network and other developments in the Wi-Fi industry by following Actiontec’s featured Industry Articles or the Actiontec blog.

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