ᐅ Are Ethernet ports still relevant today? Wi-Fi and wireless connections are the future!

Created on: 29 Jan 2020 21:06
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Bauherr am L
Hello fellow cable enthusiasts and Wi-Fi addicts,

I already confessed in the SAT discussion that I consider coax outlets and satellite dishes completely outdated since entertainment is streamed nowadays, and I’m not planning to include them in our new build (more on that in the SAT discussion). But that’s not what this is about.

Right now, I’m trying to smartly distribute LAN duplex Cat 6a and Cat7 cable outlets throughout the rooms (1st floor: 2 kids’ rooms, kids’ bathroom, master bedroom, dressing room, master bathroom, hallway; 2nd floor: open living/dining/kitchen area, hallway, entrance area, guest restroom).

On one hand, I feel like none of the rooms really fit the outlets perfectly, like: “the desk could go here…” But what if the TV ends up in that corner instead?

On the other hand, I’m looking at our current devices and very few still have LAN ports: MacBooks, iPhones, tablets, or devices that have LAN options but mostly connect via Wi-Fi anyway, like Sonos, printers, TVs.

So the question arises whether LAN ports in rooms are still that important today. I’m not talking about the Wi-Fi access points, which of course should be connected via LAN in a convenient location, or special cases like PoE cameras and door intercoms. I’m mainly referring to the LAN outlets in individual rooms. Most end devices are mobile anyway, and the outlets will be in the wrong place 99% of the time.

I read (yes, I spent some time researching this) that the cost of LAN outlets is negligible. Well, if I install duplex outlets in all those questionable locations, the cost for switches and everything else adds up to a nice chunk.

I would be interested in your opinion on this. Since I am straightforwardly skipping any traditional TV (in our case only satellite would be possible) and the corresponding connections, wouldn’t it be consistent to also counteract the outlet overload regarding LAN?

Looking forward to your comments, thanks!
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Nordlys
26 Feb 2020 10:51
Oh God... I don’t know a single one.
Mycraft26 Feb 2020 11:21
please provide the latest figures:

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Nordlys
26 Feb 2020 11:29
Well, as you get older, you become a bit unusual, as the statistics also show....
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Stefan2.84
26 Feb 2020 11:32
I think I'll reconsider the network connections... I just hope I don't end up gaming as well...
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Evolith
26 Feb 2020 12:15
Nordlys schrieb:

When I read this, I had to smile a little. Because I remembered sitting with my grandpa on New Year’s Eve watching ski jumping in Garmisch in black and white. At my grandpa’s, since my parents didn’t have a TV yet due to financial reasons. – And now I learn that husbands have Xboxes in the garage. I usually imagine these devices belong to teenagers. – Well, everything flows, as they said in ancient times.

My husband collects consoles. His very old Xbox holds his music collection. When he’s working in the garage (which is also his workshop), he listens to music through it.
We still have two Xboxes stored in the attic. So far, I refuse to put them out as decoration. The only system in active use is the PlayStation. Obviously for gaming, but primarily as a Blu-ray player. Since my husband has to use headphones with his hearing aid, he also streams music through the PlayStation.
So no, it’s not just for teenagers anymore.
Golfi9026 Feb 2020 12:23
Mycraft schrieb:

Here are the latest figures:


This probably also includes Solitaire players...