Ethernet or Wifi?

[TheA2Z]

Which is best for eisy network?  Anyone seeing any differences that would pick one over the other? I can do either.

[Techman]

They both work well, I prefer ethernet as being more stable and easier to implement.

[larryllix]

No actual experience with that comparison but I use hard connected Ethernet to my router to operate most of the lighting in my apartment. These are mostly WiFi lighting, but I wouldn't want any WiFi competition between HA devices and other

I feel it should make my HA control over devices more secure. However I do share my WiFi with two 4K streaming TVs and a VR headset that connects at 1200 Mbps, all using WiFi 6, which is miles ahead of WiFi 5 for arbitrating bandwidth between devices.

IOW: I would think it would be a close call between the two and very router quality dependent.

Edited April 29, 2023 by larryllix

[lilyoyo1]

9 hours ago, TheA2Z said:

Which is best for eisy network?  Anyone seeing any differences that would pick one over the other? I can do either.

I hardwire everything that I can. Like Tech man said, It gives you the most stable connection 

[TheA2Z]

Thanks all.  I too hardwire everything I can.  Didnt know if anyone had any good use case for the wifi other than they cant get a cable to it.

[bpwwer]

Some node servers don't currently work if the eisy is on wireless. 

To implement the wireless driver on the eisy, it runs a Linux VM with the wireless driver in the VM and sets up the firewall rules to forward TCP traffic between the VM and the eisy's internal network.  Thus, any node server that relies on broadcasts tend to not work as broadcast type packet don't typically get routed.

For example, the WeatherFlow node server won't work in local mode as it will never see the UDP packets being broadcast by the WF hub.

[TheA2Z]

@bpwwer Thats good to know as well.  Thanks

[randyf]

Like others, I would suggest hardwire if that a reasonable option.  Even without VM's getting in the way, there are lots of things that can interfere with wifi networks (number of clients, walls, AC wiring, etc.), and while there isn't likely a lot of data going through the LAN/WAN to justify bandwidth, streaming apps on other devices can cause starvation for low-bandwidth devices.

If, however, wifi is the best connection option, I also suggest ensuring that the EISY connect to the 2.4GHz link; it will be slightly more reliable, and streaming apps prefer the 5g links, so there is lower chance of interference.

Since my hubs are static devices (they don't move around), they live close to a switch or router so they are not only easy to connect (or re-connect), they can share a small UPS to keep infrastructure up in power outages.

[larryllix]

13 hours ago, randyf said:

Like others, I would suggest hardwire if that a reasonable option.  Even without VM's getting in the way, there are lots of things that can interfere with wifi networks (number of clients, walls, AC wiring, etc.), and while there isn't likely a lot of data going through the LAN/WAN to justify bandwidth, streaming apps on other devices can cause starvation for low-bandwidth devices.

If, however, wifi is the best connection option, I also suggest ensuring that the EISY connect to the 2.4GHz link; it will be slightly more reliable, and streaming apps prefer the 5g links, so there is lower chance of interference.

Since my hubs are static devices (they don't move around), they live close to a switch or router so they are not only easy to connect (or re-connect), they can share a small UPS to keep infrastructure up in power outages.

...and 5Ghz is typically the last protocol fired-up when routers are rebooted.