Wired computer networking is still the most common type of network we see in our everyday life. In the following article I will try to explain why it is so and give more details about it.
So, why is wired computer networking so common since there are already ways to connect wirelessly to a network? The reason is that most networks had been already established when the wireless technology was mature and stable enough and people didn’t bother spending money and time for changing the way their computers connect to the network. Another reason would be that wired networks are still more stable and faster than wireless networks and even the range is far better. The limit of a network cable is around 100 meters, depending on the router. For a wireless router to be able to cover such an area you would have to spend a lot of money. In general, where there is a need for high stability and speed, the connection will be wired.
When I was in college and I had a desktop computer I chose to use wired computer networking because I didn’t need to purchase wireless adapters for all the computers in the department. Now, after having finished college, I purchased a laptop that comes with a wireless adapter and because I didn’t want to always have a cable sticking out the back of the laptop, I chose a wireless connection, but I do have to say that it has some problems every now and then and the signal drops. This is a problem that can be fixed by restarting the wireless router, but it is a problem that I didn’t have with wired computer networking.
The general consensus is that even today wired computer networking is the obvious choice for a larger network. Even if you want to connect a couple of computers in your house and you have several levels to the house you will need to us wires because the wireless signal is not strong enough to pass through concrete walls.
The reliability is also pretty good for the wired network because you can’t lose signal when it comes through a wire. Security is also an advantage for the wired option because no one else can connect to your network unless they have a cable going to the router, as opposed to wireless connection. Wired computer networking will be the obvious choice in a lot of situations.
In many corporate environments you will see a mix of wired and wireless communication. The primary mode of communication will always be wired, but still for people on the move, wireless communication is the choice anytime. The speeds are catching up and most companies prefer not to use wireless networks because of the security issues the access points pose. There are methods to hide the access points, but some companies just do not want to take the risk.
In the coming years you will see a major shift in the usage patterns. more and more people are turning to wireless methods of communication. Places where wired networking is not really practical has more chances of picking up wireless networking fast. However with the advent of technology, cheaper wireless devices, wired computer networking may soon be a thing of the past.
