Wired vs Wireless: Why Your Smart Home Still Needs Ethernet

Wired vs Wireless. With the arrival of Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and now Wi-Fi 7, the marketing departments of router companies want you to believe that cables are a thing of the past. They promise “fibre-like speeds” without the wires.

But if you are building a serious smart home, a home office, or a Smart Shed or Garden room, I’m here to tell you: That cable is still king. In this guide, I’ll explain why a wired backbone is still essential and which devices you should never, ever put on Wi-Fi.

The Wi-Fi Myth: Fast Doesn’t Mean Reliable

Wi-Fi speeds have indeed become incredibly fast. Under perfect conditions, Wi-Fi 7 can hit multi-gigabit speeds. But the keyword there is perfect.

Wi-Fi is a “shared medium.” This means your phone, your laptop, your smart fridge, and your neighbour’s router are all fighting for the same airwaves. This leads to interference, latency (lag), and jitter. Ethernet, on the other hand, is a dedicated “private road” for your data.

4 Reasons Why Ethernet Wins Every Time

1. Zero Latency (The Gamer’s Choice)

If you play online games or use video conferencing (Zoom/Teams), speed isn’t as important as latency. Wi-Fi signals can be delayed by a passing microwave or a thick wall. Ethernet provides a constant, sub-1ms response time.

2. Full Duplex Communication

Wi-Fi is “Half-Duplex”—it’s like a walkie-talkie where only one person can talk at a time. Ethernet is Full-Duplex; it can send and receive data at full speed simultaneously.

3. Power over Ethernet (PoE)

As I covered in my PoE Explained Guide, a single Ethernet cable can power your devices. You can’t send electricity over a Wi-Fi signal (yet!).

4. Rock-Solid Security

A Wi-Fi signal can be intercepted or “jammed” from outside your house. To hack a wired connection, someone usually has to physically plug into your network.

The “Never Wi-Fi” List

To keep your wireless network fast for your phones and tablets, you should move these “heavy lifters” onto a wired Cat6 or Cat8 cable:

Smart TVs & Streaming Boxes: 4K and 8K video streaming eats up Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Gaming Consoles: For the lowest ping and fastest game updates.
Security Cameras (NVRs): 24/7 high-def video streams will choke any Wi-Fi router.
Home Office PC: For stable video calls and large file transfers.
Desktop Printers: Because Wi-Fi printers are notoriously unreliable.

The “Never Wi-Fi” Audit Checklist

If you have any of these devices currently running on Wi-Fi, you are unnecessarily “clogging” your airwaves. Use this checklist to see what you should move to a physical Cat6 or Cat8 cable immediately.

The “Must-Wire” Priority List:

[ ] The Primary TV / Streaming Box: (Apple TV, Shield, Sky/Virgin box).
- Why: 4K/8K video needs a constant stream. Wiring this prevents the “buffering” circle.
[ ] Gaming Consoles: (PS5, Xbox, PC).
- Why: To eliminate “Lag” and “Jitter” during online play.
[ ] Home Office Computer:
- Why: For rock-solid Zoom/Teams calls and faster access to cloud storage.
[ ] Security Cameras: (Especially 24/7 recording NVRs).
- Why: High-resolution video is a data hog and can easily overwhelm Wi-Fi.
[ ] Desktop Printer:
- Why: Wireless printers are the #1 source of “it’s not working!” frustration. Hardwire it and never look back.
[ ] Network Attached Storage (NAS):
- Why: Transferring large files over Wi-Fi is painfully slow.

The “Convenience” Wi-Fi List (Leave these on Wireless):

[ ] Smart Light Bulbs & Plugs (Low data, high quantity).
[ ] Robo-Vacuums (They need to move!).
[ ] Phones & Tablets.
[ ] Laptops (When you aren’t at your desk).

Pro-Tip

If your device is sitting right next to your router but is connected via Wi-Fi, you are leaving performance on the table. Grab a short patch lead and plug it in today—you’ll be surprised how much faster your other wireless devices feel once the “bandwidth hogs” are off the air.

Wired vs. Wireless Comparison at a Glance

Feature	Wi-Fi (Wireless)	Ethernet (Wired)
Setup Ease	Very Easy	Moderate (Running cables)
Stability	Variable	100% Consistent
Max Speed	Shared / Drops with distance	Dedicated / Constant
Power Delivery	No	Yes (PoE)
Best Use	Phones, Tablets, IoT Bulbs	TVs, PCs, Cameras, Sheds

The Hybrid Strategy: The Best of Both Worlds

The goal isn’t to wire everything. I use a hybrid approach at BuiltByPete:

A Wired Backbone: Use Ethernet to connect your main router to “Access Points” (like the one in my shed).
Wireless for Convenience: Use Wi-Fi for mobile devices and small smart home gadgets (bulbs, sensors).

By wiring your static devices, you “clear the air” for your wireless ones, making your whole home feel faster.

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Wired vs. Wireless: Why Your Smart Home Still Needs Ethernet Cables

The Wi-Fi Myth: Fast Doesn’t Mean Reliable