Using Both Wireless Card and Ethernet Cable at the Same time to Access Internet

Question

Hello,   I am setting up my father's computer (Inspiron laptop) for him to use to access the internet.  It will be located next to our Speedstream wireless router most of the time, but will also be brought into another room on occasion.  Consequently, I currently have the computer wired to the router through an ethernet cable AS WELL AS have the computer set up with a wireless card.  I have a need for the computer to be hard-wired to the router because he will be trading stocks and needs the optimum response time.  Right now both connections are enabled and work, but does this create a conflict?  Also, which connection type (ethernet/wireless) is the computer using to connect to the internet?  Or is it using both?  Is it okay to have both connections on at the same time?   The main purpose of this question is to see if he can unplug the ethernet cable when he gos into the other room and plug it back in when he's near the router?   All the time leaving the wireless card in the computer?  I want to avoid, if possible, having him take the wireless card out because he will have a tough time if the wireless network isn't found or if any network configs need to be made every time he removes the card (Won't be pretty). Right now both connections work fine.  Thanks for the help.      Message Edited by gsmit23 on 02-02-2005 12:24 AM

volcano11 · Answer

It will do no harm to leave the wireless network card in.  Both can be active at the same time.  Normally the wired connection will take prefrence, but you can look at the status of each card and see which one is actually making the connection to the internet.  If there are problems while connected by ethernet, you can just disable the wireless card (right click on the wireless network icon in the system tray and select disable).  Then when you disconnect from the ethernet connection, just enable the wireless card.   Steve

NemesisDB · Answer

is your latency for wireless that different than for wired?   mine are virtually the same

gsmit23 · Answer

Thanks for the info about having both connections active at the same time.  He should be able to handle disabling/enabling the wireless connection if there is ever a problem since this involves little computer knowledge.    There definitely seems to be a latency (albeit slight) intermittently while online with the wireless.  Since the style of trading he will be doing on the computer requires split second executions, the connection that ensures the fastest rate of transmission need to be used (could involve losing thousands of dollars if an order isn't sent immediately)   Thank again for the help

rutgerspsych · Answer

when i am at school we have both a wireless network and a wired network i have unpluged my ethernet cable and did not lose my connection. i do however normally disable one.

NemesisDB · Answer

heh, my school had horrible problems when they first deployed wireless -- apparently some combination of stupid freshmen and automatic XP settings kept bridging the wired and wireless nets on peoples computers-- not pretty ...  it took entire buildings down sometimes ;p

rutgerspsych · Answer

thats why i always disabled one, normally the wireless but im in a graduate psychology program at a medical school there is no undergraduate programs there,  so the number of students is no where near what you find at a university, you know what i mean.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Using Both Wireless Card and Ethernet Cable at the Same time to Access Internet

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