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Ok, for some years now I've used a laptop and my iPhone with a BT homehub router, but now I've got a new computer that sits about two feet from the homehub. Would I be better off connecting with an Ethernet cable and leaving the wifi for the phone and (very) occasional laptop use?
Will probably not seem any quicker but if the computer has an ethernet port it should be quicker, cheaper and more reliable in my experience, to have a wire.
I'd go wired just for reliability. I doubt there'll be much difference in speed but wireless can be a bit hit and miss sometimes.
i go wired for my iMac i found it much more reliable, nothing more frustrating than wifi on a desktop, it makes a mockery of technology imo, i still have wifif in the house for phones etc bu they never seem to wobble and drop quite like my desktops did ?
I've always found wifi a right pita. Also tend to plug in the wire for finance stuff.
personally ill put up with the odd router wibble out over another freakin cable in my life
I assume you'll still want to use wifi for the iphone though, so what are you gaining by reverting to wire?
wifi shouldn't be a pita.
But... I don't know the BT router specifically but unless it's dual channel then it's likely to be governed by the slowest unit you have connected to wifi (eg if you use a wireless G device then any wireless N devices will also only run at G)
I'd try wifi and see how well it works. Personally I have found some devices aquire network addresses quickly and work faultlessly, others (mainly Windows based PC's) are a PITA, work OK for months, then stop working for no reason.
It aint gonna cost anything to try, and within a few days you'll have a much more meaningfull answer than you can get from an internet forum.
Also go wired if you have the option. WiFi is for when you can't run a cable, or you need to move around.
Dave
If it is computer not a laptop and so not removable, and is only 2 feet from the router then use a cable - why use wifi and add overhead to the connection that isn't needed, thereby slowing it down.
Ethernet should be quicker, I also use a powerline with my BT Hub to create a LAN, works like a dream. You might want to change the wireless channel you're on, you can do this via your browser BT help page.
If it's a desktop then defo wire. Theoretically there should be no speed difference as both wifi and ethernet have much more capacity than your BB can deliver, but in reality the little delays and signal fluctuations that wifi encounters makes it seem slower.
Powerline stuff is really good. I've just added one of these to my existing powerline setup - plugged the Apple TV into it via ethernet and extended our house wifi coverage in a single unit.
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Yep, I have my main desktop PC and printer on ethernet (and I'll eventually stick a NAS box on ethernet too) but I also have wifi active for iPhones, iPads and netbooks.
Ethernet is definitely more reliable. Considerably better for playing games on or streaming/downloading large files.
If your desktop is right next to the router anyway then why add another device to share the more limited wifi bandwidth (potentially slowing it down for your other wifi devices).
Cheers everyone, that pretty much supports my thinking. It's a Mac Mini I've got, it sits under the telly on the stand plugged into the tv as a monitor with a TOSLINK into the amp. The router is the other end of the tv stand behind the tv, so I figured using a cable between the two would simplify things, and free up bandwidth for the phone, and laptop when/if I decide to use it. Thanks again.