How does your PC connect to the internet?

[dirtyferret]

So my rosewill AC1900 PCI-E wi-fi card bit the dust yesterday. Luckily I had an Asus N300 card that still connected through PCI-E. A quick look on amazon and it seems there is not much choice in brands for PCI-E wi-fi cards; mostly Asus, TP-LInk, and rosewill (rebranded TP-LINK). So I'm wondering what other people use?

 

[Kursah]

Ethernet for main gaming PC.
Built in AC WiFi on laptop.
Built in AC WiFi on work laptop.
Kids PCs use USB 2.0 N WiFi adapters.
Wife's laptop uses built in N WiFi.

 

[FireFox]

Ethernet Main Rig
Ethernet test Rig 1
Ethernet test Rig 2
Ethernet Server
Ethernet Laptop
WiFi phone ( just when need to be updated )

 

[Flyordie]

WiFi 5G. Router is about 350ft from the PC. lol.

 

[windwhirl]

Well, I have 10 mbps ADSL at home. The ISP provides a Wi-Fi router, which is enough for the space it has to cover (a 40 m2 apartment).
My desktop PC is connected through a Wi-Fi AP working as a Client.
All other devices, through Wi-Fi (laptop and cellphones).
My phone tends to use the data plan most of the time, though (I use it mostly for WhatsApp, light browsing and some social media)

 

[AltCapwn]

Docking station gigabit Ethernet for work/personal laptop
Wifi for phone.

I have a usb wifi adapter (1 tp-link, 1 asus) that I use when my friends come to my home for LAN party. Pretty useful, compact and surprisingly reliable.

 

[StrayKAT]

Used to be Ethernet, but living arrangements is now wifi (through pcie).

 

[rtwjunkie]

My rig, file and media server, spouse pc all connect via Ethernet to router, which connects to modem, connected by cable to the internet.

Phones are obviously on WiFi when home.

 

[StrayKAT]

I wish AT&T (my current service) just hurried up and rolled out the fiber in my part of the city. Then I wouldn't care either way how I connected.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

My PC connects via gigabit lan, My laptop via Wifi because I put in an Intel Wireless-AC 7260 which runs quite a bit faster than the onboard 100mb/s ethernet NIC.

I transfer files anywhere between the sizes of 1-40GB quite often on my laptop so having a faster option was important.

 

[Tomgang]

Every thing in my house that can be connected to internet is connected with a good old lan cable accept for my smartphone.

I hate wireless. Its to dam unstable and useless for online game.

With a 600/600 mbits fiber optic connection and a ping at 5 ms. Wireless cant compete on ping with a cable.
Yes i am aware that upload is to low. Al ready have informed my ISP.

 

[StrayKAT]

My PC connects via gigabit lan, My laptop via Wifi because I put in an Intel Wireless-AC 7260 which runs quite a bit faster than the standard 100mb/s ethernet

Does it really? I put a 9260 in my desktop (with a pcie adapter). But either way, my service isn't that fast anyways.

 

[Vayra86]

Real gangstas ethernet everything yo

Wait, let me plug my ethernet into my phone

 

[bogmali]

Main PC-Wired Ethernet
Hand-held and Portables (iPad's and Cell Phones)-WI-Fi
HTPC and Kiddos rigs-Power line Ethernet

 

[FireFox]

I hate wireless. Its to dam unstable and useless for online game.

Just in case you are old enough.

You complain about wireless been unstable and useless for online games but don't forget the early days 90s 28.8 kbps, 33 kbps and the super speedy 56 kbps

 

[Tomgang]

Just in case you are old enough.

You complain about wireless been unstable and useless for online games but don't forget the early days 90s 28.8 kbps, 33 kbps and the super speedy 56 kbps

Oh my good. I had just forgotten about the slow 56K modems days. Thanks for reminding me. Now im gonna have nightmares again about it, but properly aprecciate my fiber connection even more now. I came on the internet back in 2001 or the 56 KBPS days and i dont miss it.

About wireless yeah i am not a fan of wireless. I dont have happy memory´s about it. Maybe its just because the router i had back the where some crappy one, but what i remember it for is unstable and high ping compared to a lan cable connection and high ping is not good for online game.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Does it really? I put a 9260 in my desktop (with a pcie adapter). But either way, my service isn't that fast anyways.

It does for me. I have a AC1900 Wireless access point. Im getting anywhere between 10-15mbps more than built in ethernet.

 

[StrayKAT]

Modems were frustrating sometimes, but I didn't really do much back then that required the bandwidth. Not until I got into downloading music and experimenting with alternative OS's (but even then, getting *nix on CDs was pretty common back then..).

edit: Hah.. remember Real Video? That was about the best type of streaming you'd get.

 

[John Naylor]

In our SOHO, we use the most common option: ... On Board MoBo LAN

-Main PC / Data / Media Server - On Board MoBo LAN (Has on board MoBo WiFi installed but only time used was when on workbench)
-All Other PCs - On Board MoBo LAN
-Laptops - Both On Board LAN / Wifi, depending where sitting
-Large Format Plotter - On Board LAN
-Multi-Function Printer - On Board LAN
-Photo Printer - USB
-MicroCell - LAN
-Phones - MicroCell / WiFi

 

[Papahyooie]

Just bought a house, and spent a couple weekends wiring all the rooms with Cat6. Also, ran a Cat6 across the house to a wifi extender, but mainly only for phones and a smart TV for netflix.

Still have a couple more rooms to do, and also going to run Ethernet over Coax out to a second building (play house where I keep my pool table and beverage bottles...) But it's getting there... waiting for it to cool off a bit before going back up in the attic lol.

Nothing beats wired ethernet, if you are able to put in the work.

 

[dorsetknob]

So I'm wondering what other people use?

no poll place for Phone wifi tether
No poll place for i Bludge / mooch off of neighbours wi fi ( some do )

 

[AsRock]

Ethernet, keep off WiFi as much as possible. it has it's uses every so often though.

 

[phill]

I like cables.. I've 1Gb switch at the moment, when I networked my home, I only put in 16 ports, I should have considered 24 but that would have been too easy.. Next time I think as it'll be a one off cost, I'll consider making sure I put in more.. Current plans are 10Gb network with 10Gb 48 port switch with Cat 6E cable as I believe it's good up to 55m or 100m depending on the cable.. It'll be a fun project to do and I'm looking forward to it

The Plus.net router is there to support the switch lol It is used as a wireless access point as well but that's only really for phones and any laptops. Every PC in this house, Server or Desktop, is hardwired in
I just wish my internet was better to make the most of the network

 

[theFOoL]

It's All about Wi-Fi these days so I use a Realtek RL8811AU (Mostly preferred) and RL8188EU

 

[Papahyooie]

Current plans are 10Gb network with 10Gb 48 port switch with Cat 6E cable as I believe it's good up to 55m or 100m depending on the cable.. It'll be a fun project to do and I'm looking forward to it

If/when you do this, make sure you research the cable you buy. There's technically no such thing as CAT6e. It's not a real standard, it's just companies putting the "e" on there to make it sound like they support a higher standard. The "e" could mean anything, or even nothing, and those who label their cables as CAT6e are already intentionally trying to mislead you. So that makes them automatically untrustworthy to me, because what else could they be lying about? So research your cable, and don't pay extra for the "e".

(CAT5e is a real thing, but not CAT6e)