Ethernet V's USB ???

marcus · 7 Jan 2005, 03:23 (Ref:1194926)

Ive been on broadband for probably 4 or 5 months now but have just come across an interesting thing.

Im not super computer techie so alot of it i dont understand.

I have a standard modem which has both Ethernet and USB connections , all this time i have been using the USB connection because thats how I first hooked it up and it worked , so i just left it

now cleaning out my drawer I found my rhternet connection that came with the modem as well and thought I would give that a try to see what the difference is.

im using Ethernet right now and so far havent noticed much difference in speed or anything else.

so my question is , whats better ??

USB or Ethernet ???

what one should I be running or is better to be running ???

no big drama really as they both work fine Im just curious to know tis all

Kicking-back · 7 Jan 2005, 07:58 (Ref:1194999)

USB for broadband is more the "standard" - I've never found any reason to do anything other than stick with that.

Where was I · 7 Jan 2005, 08:30 (Ref:1195014)

Ethernet = 100Mb/s
USB = 12Mb/s

If you're using ethernet leave it as that

Kicking-back · 7 Jan 2005, 10:05 (Ref:1195090)

Given that the broadband connection itself is generally not more than 2Mb/s it makes little difference

neil_davidson2 · 7 Jan 2005, 10:34 (Ref:1195118)

But it does free up a USB port for plugging other things into if you use the ethernet port.

**Aysedasi** · 7 Jan 2005, 13:24 (Ref:1195207)

Having said that, I've got 6 USB ports.........

pirenzo · 7 Jan 2005, 13:27 (Ref:1195210)

Me too, but they're all full

wheel, joystick, scanner, wireless reciever, mp3 player link, PocketPC link.

TwoSheds · 7 Jan 2005, 13:40 (Ref:1195219)

I recently changed from dialup to broadband and my ISPs (ntl) advice was to use Ethernet.

spanner · 7 Jan 2005, 13:45 (Ref:1195220)

I think that usb uses more system resources, wherras ethernet uses hardware to control the traffic, so in theory using ethernet should be better especially if you dont have a fast PC.

Cougar · 7 Jan 2005, 14:51 (Ref:1195255)

in general USB uses your PC to connect to the internet while with ethernet your modem/router will be connecting. (in most cases)

So having a network at home is easier and you can leave the internet "on" while you switch any PC off. This is a very simplistic view though...

Dani Filth · 7 Jan 2005, 14:59 (Ref:1195262)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Where was I

Ethernet = 100Mb/s
USB = 12Mb/s

If you're using ethernet leave it as that

Ethernet . can go up to 1000
USB 2.0 . 480 .
IFAIK ..

flor · 7 Jan 2005, 19:30 (Ref:1195443)

afaik ethernet allows much longer cables

Speck · 7 Jan 2005, 21:53 (Ref:1195529)

Ethernet allows you to create a Local Area Network (LAN) by plugging the modem to a hub/switch.

Mave · 7 Jan 2005, 22:07 (Ref:1195539)

Ethernet is generally more troublefree, but if it works fine it doesn't really matter.

**Spudgun** · 7 Jan 2005, 23:38 (Ref:1195595)

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanner

I think that usb uses more system resources, wherras ethernet uses hardware to control the traffic, so in theory using ethernet should be better especially if you dont have a fast PC.

Absolutely spot on there. If you've got access to both options use ethernet. Communications is what it's built for.

I remember when I first got broadband I used USB and I kept losing my connection. The machine I had at the time wasn't that good at all. All the lights on the hardware showed everything was okay. After numerous calls to NTL support it turned out that if the available system resource dropped below a certain percentage the internet connectivity would just grind to a halt.

NTL did tell me (this was 3 years ago) that they had only tested the performance of ethernet and not the USB which was only added at the last miunute due to customer demand. That stance may have changed since though.

marcus · 7 Jan 2005, 23:45 (Ref:1195601)

interesting , thanks for the response guys.

i really dont have much of a clue about it but as I said they both seem to work fine so its not a huge issue.

i guess it just depends on what I feel like using on any given day

marcus · 8 Jan 2005, 00:00 (Ref:1195612)

actually I do have one more question guys.

I find it odd that my ethernet connection simply plugs into a USB point on my comp.

I dont really get this , I have two leads 1 USB to USB and one Ethernet to USB.

so what is the difference there then ?

**Tim Falce** · 8 Jan 2005, 08:58 (Ref:1195753)

What's an Ethernet?

**Aysedasi** · 8 Jan 2005, 09:00 (Ref:1195754)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pirenzo

Me too, but they're all full

wheel, joystick, scanner, wireless reciever, mp3 player link, PocketPC link.

But surely you don't leave everything connected all the time? I only connect my scanner when I need it, for example.......

rdjones · 8 Jan 2005, 10:51 (Ref:1195787)

I use Ethernet. But then I again I am all networked up and modem is in a different room and is plugged into the router so that me and my old man can share the connection.

pirenzo · 8 Jan 2005, 14:43 (Ref:1195889)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

But surely you don't leave everything connected all the time? I only connect my scanner when I need it, for example.......

I like to leave everything plugged in, because 4 of the 6 sockets are on the back, and I hate crawling round the back of the desk to unplug stuff, and indeed find wires lying about to plug in...
There is other stuff that need USB, but those 6 are the 6 we use most, so they're plugged in nearly all the time, except for the wheel and joystick which sometimes get removed for other stuff.