In this daily age, the cost of connecting to the internet potentially reflects an ever dropping curve with telecom operators reducing the price of their respective data packages, making it easy and affordable for every subscriber to connect. Well, as modems had an amazing price trend on the market during their glory days as the ultimate connection options, and now with the emergence of several wireless network providers, the term WiFi rules the airwaves.
From Mobile WiFi devices to the futuristic Li-Fi connection, several routers exist on the market fronting the same functions in different suits. Henceforth, what’s the core difference between a Mi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi router, and an ordinary wired router —Let’s find out.
The difference between MiFi router, Wi-Fi router and a wired version
A Mobile Wi-Fi, aka MiFi, allows you to connect multiple devices like smartphones and laptops to a single 4G data SIM and get online anywhere at any time as long as you have a steady telecom signal. Unlike your smartphone’s data capabilities, Mi-Fi routers are designed with strong signal capabilities to the point that your device can rarely slip to 2G unless in a remote area. Derived from the term WiFi router, a Mi-Fi simply implements a minimal router interface unlike the rest of the two routers.
A Wi-Fi router, on the other hand, is a mid-sized console that is usually mounted in a single stable place or corner pumping strong signals to all connected devices. Although the device is relatively bigger as compared to its mobile version. The gadget implements multiple features that are simple Mi-Fi can’t pull off for a stable internet connection. However, in most cases, the device is never gifted with a sim slot as compared to the Mi-Fi router but instead distribute internet connectivity to connected devices from a Mother wired router.
A Wired router or an Ethernet router is one unique internet connection gadget that is in most cases beautified with lots of network cables connected through its ports. Different from the WiFi and Mi-Fi routers. You have definitely seen long cables transported on electric like poles or underground potholes to homes & offices. The destination point always has a wired router ready to receive a point to point signal from an internet service provider. Even when, wired routers may sound expensive, DSL routers, on the other hand, are the most common versions of the clean connection wired routers. Therefore, wired routers never have sim slots unlike the former that can have ISP specific SIM cards inserted.
Connection speeds
Smartphone Junkies always upgrade from one device to another for reasons embedded in either class or performance upgrades dominated by speed. Connection wise, telecom operators in Uganda offer both data and voice packages to subscribers. However, companies like Smile communications and Roke Telkom only offer data services to customers with multiple focus to speed. As several routers pose sim slots. Here is a connection chart respective between a Mi-Fi router, WiFI CPE router, and a wired router.
| DEVICE | Base Speeds |
|---|---|
| MIFI | 54 Mbps |
| Wireless Router (CPE) | 100-150 Mbps |
| Wired Router | 1000 Mbps |
Internet speeds are usually affected by climatic factors and ISP capped speeds. And then, the story is no different when it comes to all 3 router types since magnetic fields in your area code can cost you the super exciting 4G LTE internet speeds pumped by your wireless router.
A basic 4G LTE MiFi router can broadcast approximately 54 Mbps in a close range as the speeds depreciate with every step you bump away from the source device. Unlike a wired router gifted with multiple network points and the inevitable Gigabit Ethernet ports, you can feed on approximately 1000Mbps via a fiber ethernet dressed cable to the router GB port. While a basic wireless router or CPE grants you between 100-150Mbps with reference to signal strength. All 3 routers are capable of pumping 100Mbps depending on the ports connected or the type of MIFI router in question. Therefore the next time you look out for a router be it wireless or a DSL version, the merits powered by each of these are endless as you add up any to your next gadgets shopping list.
