Why does your wireless network suck? No ethernet backbone.

Why Your Wireless Network Needs an Ethernet Backbone to Thrive

Introduction:

Have you ever faced the frustration of slow or unreliable Wi-Fi in your home or office? You’re not alone. The secret to a robust and speedy wireless network lies in an overlooked component: the Ethernet backbone.

Why does your wireless network suck? No Ethernet backbone.

Why Ethernet Backbone Matters:

You’ll often find Ethernet cables in many modern buildings, even in areas with wireless access points. These cables are more than just physical connections; they are the backbone of a solid wireless network. Here’s why:

1. Stability and Speed:

Imagine your wireless network as a busy highway. Without a solid infrastructure, it’s like having a road full of potholes and detours. An Ethernet backbone serves as this highway, ensuring a smooth and fast flow of data traffic. This setup enables your devices, such as smartphones and laptops, to enjoy higher speeds and more reliable connections.

2. Overcoming the Weak Links:

Wireless extenders and standalone Wi-Fi access points seem like convenient solutions, but they’re often the weakest links in your network. When these devices aren’t connected to an Ethernet backbone, they rely heavily on their internal radios. It’s like asking a single traffic cop to manage an entire city’s traffic – it’s inefficient and leads to congestion.

When we see clients with multiple wireless extenders plugged into electrical outlets that do not have Ethernet ports, we immediately know how to fix it. If the access point isn’t connected to the Ethernet backbone, it must use its radios for the wireless backhaul in a wasteful manner. Because no Ethernet cable is providing the source (internet), it must utilize its radios to establish that connection before it even considers passing the internet to your device.

3. The “Copy of a Copy” Phenomenon:

Each wireless extender without an Ethernet connection can halve your network’s efficiency. It’s like making a photocopy of a photocopy; the quality degrades with each iteration. Connecting these devices directly to an Ethernet source maintains the original quality of your internet connection.

Here is some scientific proof: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8718141/references#references

Real-World Impact:

In my on-site experience, over 90% of customer calls regarding internet issues are attributed to a lack of Ethernet infrastructure. Once we introduce an Ethernet backbone and real switches that can handle an enterprise backplane, the improvement in network performance is both immediate and significant.

How to Upgrade Your Network:

Upgrading to an Ethernet-backed wireless network might sound daunting, but it’s feasible for most homes and offices. Consider consulting with a professional to plan the layout and installation.

If you’ve found an excellent low-voltage or AV company, they will offer you different speeds of Ethernet cables and will be able to explain the differences. We install Cat6A/Cat8/SFP Fiber so that all our clients are future-ready for 10GbE.

Now, some “Tech Bro” will tell you (the customer) that it’s overkill and you don’t need that speed.

So just to be transparent to the assholes who think you don’t need or deserve the extra speed, let’s make one thing clear.

Scientific FACTS:

Cat5e frequency 100 MHz (this stuff is unethical to install) 1 Gbps deployments ONLY & NOT FUTURE READY

Cat6 frequency 250 MHz (limited 10G Abilities)

Cat6A frequency 500 MHz (True 10GbE & enhanced performance PoE)

Cat8 frequency 2000 MHz (used in data centers and in creative studios (8k video streaming) and for demanding users)

Cat8 is the current highest Ethernet cable standard used in data centers, homes, and offices and is very popular online, like here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/DbillionDa/CAT8CABLE/page/8253B87E-4E19-4D43-BEEE-89012CD1984D

Remember, we DO NOT accept payments from companies to recommend their products.

Conclusion: Why does your wireless network suck? No Ethernet backbone.

Embracing an Ethernet backbone might be the game-changer your wireless network needs. If you’re tired of the spinning loading icon or the dreaded ‘no internet’ message, it might be time to rethink your network setup.