Ethernet registers as 2.4ghz or 5ghz wifi connections on different PCs, same network.

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KMG5402

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Apr 17, 2017
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As a precursor, this is rather strange and I have never seen this before. I understand ethernet is a wired connection, and it's abnormal (imo) to see ethernet connections named after the SSIDs.

I think the people in these two threads were more concerned with calling out the OP for not understanding ethernet vs wifi and failed to uncover the true issue:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2363644/4ghz-5ghz-network-modem-choose-connect-ethernet.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3326712/4ghz-5ghz.html

Check out my screen shots:

http://imgur.com/a/lYSbX

http://imgur.com/a/BgP9h

I have a desktop and a laptop that are connected to the same network via ethernet. The desktop has no wifi capability, and the laptop's wifi card is disabled. As you can see in the screenshots, the laptop shows to be somehow connected to a 2.4ghz connection while the desktop is connected to the 5ghz connection. I understand ethernet isn't supposed to operate this way, but it's hard to ignore the clarity of what it's doing here. The speeds appear to be somehow effected by and are consistent with the ghz level of the supposed connection.

Does anyone know what's going on here?

 
Solution
Ralston18
There are many factors that affect performance: wired and wireless.

In addition, unfortunately, the terminology can be confusing on its own merits. Add in "marketing speak" and it all gets more jumbled.

And I do not place much faith in the results of most speed tests per se. Maybe over time to note some trend thus screening out anomalies....

First here is a very recent link discussing private and public IP addresses:

http://www.steves-internet-guide.com/internal-external-ip-addresses/

And this link that goes into additional detail:

http://www.brainbell.com/tutorials/Networking/Identifying_The_Differences_Between_Public_And_Private_Networks.html

Do not mean to insult your intelligence but my sense is that something is a bit...
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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Interesting. To be honest I am not sure about the full context of your question.

Will crawl out on the proverbial limb to at least get some discussion started.

Consider this: I can name my network and my wireless SSID's anything I wish.

Wired does not use "frequencies" but I certainly could name my wired network "Free 5 GHz Internet" if I wished.

Or name my wireless network "The fastest ethernet connection ever". Names do not matter.

The root of it all is the router. Any device connecting with that router and thus being assigned an IP (DHCP or static) must only recognize the network/SSID names being used, the necessary protocols, and passwords. The truth of those names, per se, is not relevant. Electrons and electromagnetic waves do not care.

And your screen shots show "Public Networks". No telling who or what is behind them....


 
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K

KMG5402

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Apr 17, 2017
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Thanks Ralston. You make a good point about the names of the networks having nothing to do with the connection itself, I agree. What's interesting though is the one named 2.4ghz is operating at half the speed the 5ghz connection is, even though they're both hardwired to the same router. It's an Arris 4 port router supplied by Xfinity. I've never known a router or switch to supply different speeds than other ports- have you?

Also, does the fact I have them registered as a public network matter? This is all on a home network. The laptop is a work laptop and I have more peace of mind keeping the laptop on a "public" listing to prevent any private info being accessed by my company. I don't think they would care to do so, and I don't even know if listing it as a public network would prevent the flow of private data but I feel better about it myself, lol.

 
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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There are many factors that affect performance: wired and wireless.

In addition, unfortunately, the terminology can be confusing on its own merits. Add in "marketing speak" and it all gets more jumbled.

And I do not place much faith in the results of most speed tests per se. Maybe over time to note some trend thus screening out anomalies....

First here is a very recent link discussing private and public IP addresses:

http://www.steves-internet-guide.com/internal-external-ip-addresses/

And this link that goes into additional detail:

http://www.brainbell.com/tutorials/Networking/Identifying_The_Differences_Between_Public_And_Private_Networks.html

Do not mean to insult your intelligence but my sense is that something is a bit mixed up.

Wired ethernet performance is established via the 802.3 standards. Wireless performance is likewise established by the 802.11 specifications.

What you may be seeing with respect to your Arris is that the handshake between the router and results in an "agreement" where one device communicates at a different speed that the other device. Generally easier to see with wireless.

For wired the ethernet cable being used may be the culprit slowing things up. May even be the correct standard but of substandard quality. Slow. No matter what specification is printed on it.

Your wireless network adapter settings may be set to automatic. But because the router and wireless network adapter are not playing well together a slower speed may result. So setting the wireless standard manually may help. Or vice versa.

Or some router QoS setting may be in place to restrict bandwidth availability to certain users. QoS is limited in scope for many home grade/retail routers but it may be available and enabled to establish device priorities.

What may help get everything sorted out is for you to create a simple network diagram of all your devices; wired and wireless.

Note their respective IP assignments (static and dynamic). Use "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) from the command prompt on each computer. The results can be very helpful in understanding both the computer and your network.

And there are other commands that can be used to learn more about a network..... Will make this even more TLDR.

 
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Solution
jsmithepa

jsmithepa

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Jun 14, 2014
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You can name your ethernet anything you want, am not sure if its name matter that much in everyday functioning of your LAN. Giving it a name is better than ethernet 0, ethernet 1 I suppose. At the same time a SSID is only significant as this is the ID that the radio broadcast to announce availability and shouldn't crash with an ethernet name if they are happen to be the same, albeit needlessly confusing.
 
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