Does an Ethernet Cable Affect WiFi? (Explained)

The ethernet cable is the classic connection that we can rely on the most when gathering needed bandwidth to maximize your internet usage. Routers were originally intended to provide a wired connection on a network of computers and to route internet connection from the modem to several computers. WiFi was added to routers due to popular demand but still provides ethernet connectivity.

Your ethernet connection, or Local Area Network connection, does not disconnect your WiFi when connecting your router to a PC. However, it can still affect certain factors such as internet status and speed. The effects of connecting an ethernet while the LAN is on can be negative or positive.

Routers are the main subject of this topic as it creates your LAN and WiFi network. In this article, I will explain everything there is when it comes to the router’s overall functionality when there is an ethernet cable connected to it.

I will also provide ways to share your WiFi even if you are using LAN on your PC. You will also learn how to control the connection to focus more on providing internet to your LAN connection.

How Does Ethernet Cable Affect WiFi?

Ethernet cable affects your WiFi in a way where it shares everything the WiFi has in the router. With enough expertise with networking, you can do a lot like a network between your LAN and WiFi connections.

This unlocks a lot of extra features that you can play with. At the same time, it can also affect your internet connection either negatively or positively, depending on the situation.

If your router has an internet connection with its WiFi activated, and you plug in your ethernet cable to your computer, the internet bandwidth will be shared with the LAN device. This is just the same principle on how a WiFi network distributes data to all users connected and using the internet.

It’s just that the ethernet connection is added to also share bandwidth with the people connected to the router.

The ethernet connection does not steal a lot of bandwidth, unlike what most suspect. Depending on the data being downloaded by the PC, the ethernet connection receives a fair share of data from the rest of the users connected to the WiFi network.

Even if you are using a powerful LAN cable, it will never steal all the bandwidth and slow down those connected to WiFi

Those who download from a source that uses a high amount of bandwidth, or those who know how to control the router’s bandwidth, can hog the internet connection.

Later on, as we move further, I will provide you some tips to control your router’s internet connection if you want to have a higher bandwidth for your LAN connection.

Can You Use More Than One Ethernet Cable?

You can connect more than one PC with an ethernet cable, like how you can connect multiple users to your WiFi connection.

At the back of the router, there are more than 2 ethernet ports that are categorized by the same color, with a single ethernet port for routing your internet connection. Those ports that are grouped in the same color-coding are meant for PC and laptops.

Plugging in another ethernet cable to a PC will not disconnect WiFi users, but will add up to one of the devices sharing an internet connection from the router. This divides the internet connection once more if it is also actively using the internet.

On the other hand, it provides the two PCs the benefit of getting connected via LAN connection. This lets them play multiplayer offline games together, as well as share files, and a whole lot more.

There is also a way for you to set up file sharing using WiFi for Windows 10 computers. This also gives you the benefit to share files within the router’s network with all devices connected to both ethernet cable and WiFi.

Does Ethernet Cable Affect WiFi?

Ethernet affects those connected to WiFi in a lot of ways. Setting up a WiFi network on your own by accessing your router will make you familiar with it.

Since I have explained a summary of how the ethernet cable works when WiFi is on, it’s time for you to learn what are the pros and cons of LAN connection when there are WiFi users around.

How Does It Affect Your WiFi Negatively?

There are known drawbacks when a LAN connection and WiFi connection are both present in a router. Here are the following:

Lower Internet Speeds

Depending on the number of people connected, an ethernet connection can effectively lower the internet speed of everyone in the network.

If the person connected via ethernet cable knows how to control the router bandwidth, or is downloading a huge file at a source that uses a high amount of data, except those connected to WiFi will experience slow speeds.

Gladly, if you happen to use WiFi, there is a way to control the bandwidth of your router’s internet connection. Later on, I will provide you those very easy steps so then you can completely control your WiFi connection.

This is great if you need to have more internet than the others!

PC Users Have More Control

If you are the WiFi owner, but someone is using the ethernet connection of your PC, there is a high chance where they can control the router more than yours.

Take note that the router’s dashboard interface is easier to access and navigate on a computer. PC users have faster access to all of the information present in your router.

The reason why is simply because a computer has a larger screen and has an easier screen or page to scroll. Typing on a keyboard is also easier done than tapping on your phone keypad.

It’s best to set up your admin username and password to avoid this issue.

What Advantages Can You Get With It?

There are also benefits of using the WiFi and LAN connections at the same time. Here are the following:

File Sharing

With the right setup, you can share files with laptops and PCs even if your laptop is connected to WiFi while the PC is connected via ethernet cable.

This lets you install apps on another computer, such as sharing your anti-virus program or game installer. You can also copy files with one another, which is great for backing up.

WiFi Also Acts Like A LAN With Ethernet-Connected PCs.

The WiFi connection will start to act like a LAN once it is set up to have a shared connection with the LAN networks in the router.

This enables you to play offline multiplayer games with another computer connected to the same network. This is also crucial for setting up a workplace network at home or office if laptops need to be connected to WiFi instead.

A Network Boost!

You can make your network connection much better as well. If you’re a network specialist, connecting WiFi and LAN networks in a single router can help you add more network features to all PCs and laptops connected to that router in question.

These features include network security, more control over accessible sites, a control on the flow of the internet connection, and many more. It is best to understand networking to get more details regarding this advanced benefit.

Should You Turn Off WiFi When Using Ethernet?

You do not need to turn off your WiFi when using the ethernet if someone is also in need of staying online via WiFi.

But if you ever need to use your PC for some serious work that needs a high amount of bandwidth, or if you are working using a VPN that does not allow WiFi connection, then look at the tips I provided below:

Disable Wi-Fi

Disabling the WiFi connection is important if you are going to use your PC for some serious work. This is also beneficial if you need to work using a VPN that strictly requires an ethernet connection only.

Here are the steps based on the device that needs the WiFi disabled:

Phones

• Go to your phone’s Settings app.
• Depending on your phone’s make and model, choose Network/Internet/Connections. iPhone users do not need to go to this step.
• Turn the Wi-Fi slider off.

PC

• Press the WiFi signal indicator found at the System Tray on the lower-right hand side of your screen.
• Turn the WiFi button below the menu to turn it off or hit Airplane Mode.

NOTE: There are other ways to do this on a PC. But this is the most user-friendly step.

Mac

• Click the WiFi icon on the menu bar of your Mac.

Router

• Enter the IP Address of the router (located at the manual or router label) on your browser once connected to the router via Ethernet.
• Enter the admin username and password.
• Look for the WiFi or Wirelessoption of your router’s dashboard.
• Turn the SSID broadcast and/or Wireless Networks/Wireless Access Point off.
• Press Save.

NOTE: Take note that the steps vary depending on the make and model of your router. You may refer to this list to find the right steps meant for your router.

Change Wi-Fi Password

• Enter the IP Address of your router on your browser, then enter the admin username and password once prompted.
• Go to Wireless or WiFi
• Change the SSID/WiFi Name and/or Network Key/Password on their respective fields.
• Press Save.

How to Control Your Bandwidth?

• Do the same steps mentioned above to access your router dashboard.
• Go to Bandwidth Control Settings
• Look for Ingress Bandwidth and Egress Bandwidth, with its values entered automatically by your internet provider. You will edit those details later.
• Go to Rules List to see a table of registered IP addresses in your router.
• Go to Add New Rule, Add New or New Rule.
• Enter your preferred IP address range.
• Change the Min and Max Egress Bandwidth and Ingress Bandwidth.
• Press Save.

Take note that the following steps are meant to control the bandwidth and internet speed of your router. In this way, you can be at peace if you need to use more data than usual than the others connected to your device.

This is beneficial for your work, or for your desire to get more bandwidth.

Conclusion

Just keep in mind that it is perfectly safe to use your ethernet cable even if a lot are using WiFi at home. What’s good to know is that you can get advantages, not just drawbacks, when connecting a PC via ethernet on your wireless router.