Understanding Ethernet Cables - Types And Benefits

By Author: Jennifer Truong
Total Articles: 100
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Remember going to cyber cafes and workplaces to use the internet? Now everyone has that workplace at home itself. There is no doubt how the internet has become a concrete part of everyone's lives now. With the growing dependency on online services, the need for the internet is increasing every day.

This is why most of us drool over the WiFi for its benefits. With public WiFi services, one can connect to the internet from anywhere and with any device. But then, there are security issues too. If anyone can use it, then anyone can hack it too, right? Don't worry. We have a solution for you- Ethernet cables.

Nowadays, we can carry the internet wherever we go. However, the frustration of buffering is a real problem to fix as we all lose our patience when the internet slows down. What most people do not realize is that they can use the ethernet cable to solve this problem.

Yes, with an ethernet cable, one can use a fast internet connection wherever they go. In this article, we will shed some light on its incredible benefits. But before we move ...
... to the benefits, let us have a short introduction to ethernet cables, its characteristics, and its types:

What is an Ethernet Cable?
Invented by: Robert Metcalfe

Standardized as: IEEE 802.3

The ethernet cable connects the gap between your computer and your internet connection. They are also popularly known as network cables. It will quickly connect the wires of your computer to a router or a modem. The ethernet cable will increase your internet speed easily. Today, millions of people rely on ethernet cables as they speed up their work and help them accomplish their tasks on time.

Characteristics of Ethernet
Ethernet provides connectionless communication.

It is built on a star topology.

Ethernet operates via the link layer in TCP/IP model architecture.

Before transferring any data to the network, the ethernet system checks if the access medium is free to transfer data or not. It determines free medium by Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD).

Types of Ethernet
As per the cable used for connecting the systems over the network, the ethernet connection is of two types:

Fiber Optic ethernet connection

Twisted Pair ethernet connection

There are three categories of ethernet-based on the data transfer speed:

Basic ethernet- slowest among all and provides the speed of 10Mbps

Fast ethernet- intermediate between basic and Gigabit network and provides the speed of 100Mbps

Gigabit ethernet: provides the highest data transfer speed of 1Gbps. This is 10 times faster than Fast ethernet. It has increased to 100 Gbps.

Benefits of the Ethernet cables:
Speed
If you check for your maximum WiFi connection speed, you will find 866.7 Mb/s. For maximum people, this speed is enough to complete their daily internet tasks on time. Whereas ethernet connection gives 10 Gb/s. And just for the information, this tremendous speed is enough for an entire building. So, when you get your hands on the ethernet cable, you don't need to worry about your internet speed.

Security
The global dependence on the internet increases every second; thus, security strikes here as a major concern for everyone. There are chances of WiFi getting hacked easily as it is publicly available. No matter how secure the system you connect to is, there are always chances that anyone could easily hack into your device. These attacks are not possible to carry out remotely via an ethernet network, because for that an attacker would require physical access to do so. Thus, ethernet cables are more secure and reliable than WiFi.
Invariance: If you have a wired connection, you can only control and connect to your network on your device. This is because the router connects only a single person with a device in it.

Latency
This is the process of distortion caused by the back and forth traveling of the signals from your device to the router. The WiFi connections can have remarkably high latency. However, the latency becomes much lower when you choose the cat5e cable. Here, with an ethernet adapter, you can still use the maximum available bandwidth whenever you require high-speed internet. Various companies use ethernet cables to maximize their productivity.

Energy-Efficient
Congratulations! Connections established through the ethernet cables won't take an enormous toll on your monthly expenses and are energy efficient. Even the ethernet adapter consumes less energy and works for a long period. Additionally, such cables and devices benefit the environment in the long run. So, you are helping nature and yourself both.

Bottom Line
An ethernet adapter provides complete peace of mind as you can easily stay away from several internet issues in the long run. People who use WiFi can change the router every day and adjust its speed and locations to catch the signals. Adapting cat5e cable will allow you to enjoy HD streaming without any server issues. And when you have a non-buffer series session and uninterrupted work meetings, your day would likely be good and non-frustrating.

Jennifer Truong is the owner of SF Cable, a California based online retailer of all kind of cables, wires, cords, and other related accessories for computers and other consumer electronics. SF Cable is well known in the market for providing high-quality products at low prices by sourcing them directly from manufacturers. Jennifer has extensive experience in the cable industry and has been instrumental in the growth of SF Cable and in establishing it as one of the leading providers of cables online.