Ethernet signal and adaptor.

[S Cee]

Had a look for an answer to this but was unable to find it.

I have a MBA ( M1 chip version ) on order and this will be the first time I have had a laptop with USB-C. I was looking at some adaptors and some have provision for a wired ethernet connection.

My question is does the laptop accept the internet signal through its USB-C port ?

I have a 2011 MBP and occasionally plug it in direct to my wifi. Thats mostly because of the speed of the wifi card in the 2011 machine is poor.

The M1 chip MBA has wifi 6 I believe which may negate the need for ethernet connection.

Apple do a Satechi adaptor (no ethernet on that )so thats a consideration, any recommendations on adaptors welcome.

Steve

 

[profcutter]

You should be able to connect to ethernet using a USB C adaptor, you may just need to wait a moment, or take your chances ordering from a place that takes returns. It’s not guaranteed that adaptors that worked with intel macs will work with M1, it’s still an unknown. WiFi 6 is an improvement, but you would need to have a Wifi 6 router for it to work, otherwise, your new air will default to a slower standard.

 

[S Cee]

You should be able to connect to ethernet using a USB C adaptor, you may just need to wait a moment, or take your chances ordering from a place that takes returns. It’s not guaranteed that adaptors that worked with intel macs will work with M1, it’s still an unknown. WiFi 6 is an improvement, but you would need to have a Wifi 6 router for it to work, otherwise, your new air will default to a slower standard.

Thanks for the reply. I was originally looking at the multi adaptor on the Apple site. Its compatibility with the M1 chip is questionable. I only realised this after checking it out 2 different ways on the site. One way shows it as compatible the other not.
I sent a mail of to the manufacturer based in California but they haven't replied. In the end I bought a usb-c to usb cable from the Apple site. I need to connect my time machine to the new MBA.
Will check my wifi router out to see if its it has wifi 6, only got it last year.

 

[greg5green]

It probably will work out of the box without changing it, but a heads up that you might need to set the service order to prefer the USB adapter over the WiFi adapter. I've attached an image showing the Network preferences there.

On my machine, I have it set to prefer the FireWire and Ethernet connections on my TB3 dock first, then my USB-C Ethernet adapter if I have it plugged in, and then finally the built-in WiFi adapter.

 

[S Cee]

It probably will work out of the box without changing it, but a heads up that you might need to set the service order to prefer the USB adapter over the WiFi adapter. I've attached an image showing the Network preferences there.

On my machine, I have it set to prefer the FireWire and Ethernet connections on my TB3 dock first, then my USB-C Ethernet adapter if I have it plugged in, and then finally the built-in WiFi adapter.

Thats appreciated, having no experience of Apple laptops with only 2 USB-C ports I knew there would be a learning transition involved.
On my 2011 MBP I just turn my wifi off and plug in the cable. Its obvious the ethernet is chosen as it so much faster that the old wifi standards on the 2011 machine.
I shall know doubt struggle a bit with the new M1 MBA and the OS, I have been stuck on High Sierra for a long time.

 

[Modernape]

I have a 2020 i5 Air, so the same ports. As soon as I connect an ethernet cable (via a USB-C dongle obviously), network prefs pane states that the ethernet is the active connection, automatically.

For the present, even WiFi6 will not be as flawless as wired for video calls.