ethernet+airport=faster connection?

[dchen720]

there are few computers sharing internet connection with me.
so sometimes i lag in games.

my mbp is plugged in with the ethernet cable.
i wonder, if i turn on airport too,,, would that help?

cuz i tried that, it felt like it does speed up a bit, but i m not sure.

can someone clarify this for me.

thanks

[MacGeek7]

That wouldn't help - your computer chooses one connection and stays with it - so it's either AirPort or Ethernet.

[GGJstudios]

That wouldn't help - your computer chooses one connection and stays with it - so it's either AirPort or Ethernet.

Actually, it chooses the faster connection. If you're on AirPort and you plug in an Ethernet cable, it will switch automatically to the Ethernet.

[nomar383]

Actually, it chooses the faster connection. If you're on AirPort and you plug in an Ethernet cable, it will switch automatically to the Ethernet.

Actually, it chooses whatever connection you specify higher in the "Service Order" list :)

[MacGeek7]

Actually, it chooses the faster connection. If you're on AirPort and you plug in an Ethernet cable, it will switch automatically to the Ethernet.

Either way though, it's only one connection - he can't combine the two

[GGJstudios]

Actually, it chooses whatever connection you specify higher in the "Service Order" list :)

If you haven't made custom changes to the Service Order list, open Network Preferences with AirPort active and you'll see AirPort at the top of the list. Plug in an Ethernet cable and you'll see Ethernet automatically move to the top of the list.

[nomar383]

If you haven't made custom changes to the Service Order list, open Network Preferences with AirPort active and you'll see AirPort at the top of the list. Plug in an Ethernet cable and you'll see Ethernet automatically move to the top of the list.

True that. Ethernet is higher by default

[waw74]

Although if i access a shared drive over wireless (without ethernet connected),
and then plug in ethernet. it will access that drive over wireless until i turn airport off.

as to the original question.
Ethernet (even 100) is much faster than your home internet connection. and in good conditions (good signal with one wireless client connected) an airport connection is also faster than most cable or DSL.
so the ethernet is already able to handle much more data then your modem, You'll just have to tell your roommates to stop torrenting all the pron.

think of
ethernet = fire hose
airport = garden hose
cable or DSL = straw

so you only get a straw's worth of water coming in, no mater how big the hose inside your house

[CarlsonCustoms]

Ethernet is way faster then airport in my findings

[nomar383]

Ethernet is way faster then airport in my findings

Faster based purely on internet speed? Or network file transfers?

[winninganthem]

Haha, that'd be awesome if you could combine the two :D

And ethernet is always faster than wireless because it's actually physically connected. Wireless is getting pretty close to being the same as ethernet, but it's not quite there yet.

[waw74]

Faster based purely on internet speed? Or network file transfers?

if you look at my above post, even wireless G is faster than most home internet connections (unless you're paying a substantial amount for it). So the wired or wireless connection inside your home is not the bottleneck in the system, it's the connection between your house and your ISP.

if you have a car that will only go 20 MPH with the pedal to the floor(your cable/DSL modem), it doesn't matter if you're driving on

a 35 MPH city street (wireless connection)
a 45 MPH city street (wired 10Mb Ethernet)
a 75 MPH interstate (wired 100Mb Ethernet)
a 250 MPH race track (wired Gigabit Ethernet)



You're still only going to go 20 MPH. (although i wouldn't recommend driving 20 MPH on the freeway, you'll probably get killed:))

But if you do a network file transfer (Ferrari that will do 150 MPH), you'll definitely notice a difference between the different connections.

And also the same as on a roadway, the more traffic, the slower the speeds on the network

[atszyman]

if you look at my above post, even wireless G is faster than most home internet connections (unless you're paying a substantial amount for it). So the wired or wireless connection inside your home is not the bottleneck in the system, it's the connection between your house and your ISP.

Wireless B @ 11 Mb/s is faster than most home internet connections.

Most cable/DSL connections are 3 - 6 Mb/s. FIOS and other super high speed options are becoming more common but still have a long way to go.

[nomar383]

if you look at my above post, even wireless G is faster than most home internet connections (unless you're paying a substantial amount for it). So the wired or wireless connection inside your home is not the bottleneck in the system, it's the connection between your house and your ISP.

if you have a car that will only go 20 MPH with the pedal to the floor(your cable/DSL modem), it doesn't matter if you're driving on

a 35 MPH city street (wireless connection)
a 45 MPH city street (wired 10Mb Ethernet)
a 75 MPH interstate (wired 100Mb Ethernet)
a 250 MPH race track (wired Gigabit Ethernet)



You're still only going to go 20 MPH. (although i wouldn't recommend driving 20 MPH on the freeway, you'll probably get killed:))

But if you do a network file transfer (Ferrari that will do 150 MPH), you'll definitely notice a difference between the different connections.

And also the same as on a roadway, the more traffic, the slower the speeds on the network

I fully understand this, I was just wondering whether the poster I quoted did