2.5Gb Ethernet
New generation Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless network，the highest speed has reached 9.6Gbps, far exceeding the 1G speed commonly used in today's wired ethernet, which also drives wired networks to usher in higher bandwidth requirements.
Whilst faster network speeds greatly benefit multi-user environments like workplaces, home users should also demand higher bandwidth to take advantage of faster Internet speeds.
The new 2.5G / 5G/10G Ethernet protocol can already support these higher data rates well. Ankmax provides a USB-C to 2.5G LAN adapter to meet your need for higher speeds!
What is a 2.5G Base-T port ?
In computer networking, Gigabit Ethernet (GbE or 1 GigE) is the term applied to transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second (1 billion bits per second).
1000BASE-T (also known as IEEE 802.3ab) is a standard for Gigabit Ethernet over copper wiring.
Each 1000BASE-T network segment is recommended to be a maximum length of 100 meters (330 feet), and must use Category 5 cable or better (including Cat 5e and Cat 6).
The 1 GE BASE-T standard connecting at 1000 Mbps is widely used today. But if you want more bandwidth from a single port, your options are: Combine two or more 1 GE connections via Link Aggregation, or upgrade to a 2.5GE connection.
IEEE 802.3bz, NBASE-T is standards for Ethernet over twisted pair at speeds of 2.5 Gbit/s. It use the same cabling as the ubiquitous Gigabit Ethernet, yet offer higher speeds. 2.5GBASE-T can automatically negotiate to operate at speeds of 100 Mbit/s, 1, 2.5Gbit/s, depending on the quality of the cable and the capabilities of the equipment at the other end of the cable.
Do you need 2.5Gb Ethernet?
In the last year or so, alongside the economical 1Gbe and business-targeted 10Gbe network solutions, a new middle ground has presented itself in the form of 2.5Gbe network hardware. This new tier of network protocol and bandwidth utilises identical-looking hardware to that of traditional ethernet (Copper/BASE-T/RJ45) that has been around commercially for a couple of decades, but arrives at 2.5x the potential performance, raising max speeds from 100MB/s to 250MB/s. 2.5Gbe networks are technically not new, previously referred to as 2.5GBASE-T, their inclusion in the network hardware market as a viable alternative to standard ethernet has only really existed for the last 18 months. With NAS manufacturers, PC network upgrade cards and router manufacturers starting to embrace 2.5Gbe as the network standard of their hardware, many are wondering if now is the time to make the jump to 2.5Gbe network setups in their home or business environment. Today I want to discuss the feasibility, price and suitability of 2.5Gbe as a choice for you and your data.
If you are working with a lot of large files and backing them up on the network, you’ll appreciate the added speed. The old-fashioned Gigabit Ethernet port copies files at a rate of 125 MBps at best, far short of the speeds you get when backing up to an external SSD.
Upgrading to a 2.5Gbe Network – WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E Support?
One of the most attractive reasons that many users consider upgrading their setup to 2.5Gbe is due to the evolution in Wi-Fi connectivity, most recently in Wi-Fi 6. Otherwise known as 802.11AX, Wi-Fi 6 allows wireless connectivity that exceeds that of traditional 1Gbe LAN. Although the bandwidth and Wi-Fi coverage in Wi-Fi 6 is spread across multiple bands and frequencies (2.5Ghz and 5Ghz air communication, not to be confused with Gb data networks of measurement), it still allows bandwidths of 2.4Gigabits and greater (i,e 240MB/s). Many users who have upgraded their Wi-Fi network to Wi-Fi 6 (or holding out for Wi-Fi 6E) also want to upgrade their wired network to keep up, which is where 2.5Gbe hardware has grown in popularity noticeably. Indeed, a number of new Wi-Fi 6 solutions have arrived on the market in the last 12-months that also factor in dedicated 2.5Gbe ports and even 5/10Gbe in some cases. If you intend to set up your home or business environment wire-free, with a NAS in the centre for backups/sharing and wish to connect wirelessly to this device over Wi-Fi 6, then upgrading your NAS to at least a single 2.5Gbe connection will be hugely desirable and convenient.
What is 2.5Gb Ethernet usually used for?
The shrinking chassis profiles of modern ultrabooks means a loss of port selection, particularly the Ethernet port. While USB 3.1 Type-C and Thunderbolt 3/4 offer great expandability and Ethernet, most USB and Thunderbolt docks on the market are limited to Gigabit speeds.
If your router supports 2.5G or higher throughput, you will lose a lot of bandwidth. Using the 2.5G RJ-45 to USB-C 3.1 Ethernet adapter, you can use the full 2.5G throughput without limitation, allowing you to perform multitasking online quickly and efficiently.
2.5G Ethernet to USB-C Adapter is designed to offer the maximum bandwidth for gamers and power users, who prefer the low latency of Ethernet over Wi-Fi. 2.5G adapter consumes power economically and operates coolly under load, which is great for mobile users.
With 2.5 Ethernet USB-C Adapter, you are not merely adding an Ethernet port to your laptop , offering maximum raw throughput, Rather, you are getting low-latency and high throughput to help you make the best use of available bandwidth for work and entertainment.
Get a 2.5 Gbps speed boost for your applications
2.5 times faster
2.5GbE is 2.5 times faster than standard Ethernet (1GbE), increasing network performance to boost productivity.
Video Streaming
Higher bandwidth improves the playback quality of 4K/8K videos.
Backup and Restore
Increased transfer speeds help save time when backing up computer files.
Better gaming experience
When playing games, the network delay is smaller and the operating experience is the best.
Upgrading to a 2.5Gbe Network – Recommended Products in 2021
As mentioned, there are many new 2.5Gbe pieces of hardware available as 2021 continues, making the ease of choosing the right network components evermore confusing. Below I recommended a 2.5Gbe Plug-n-play laptop adapter to ensure that you are ready to make the jump to 2.5Gbe networking.
Recommended 2.5Gbe adapter for laptop upgrade
If your network is equipped with more compact and portable devices, you can still use a series of USB-connected devices to interact with the 2.5Gbe network. This is what I recommend:
ANKMAX 2.5G Ethernet Adapter works out-of-the-box with full 2.5G functionality in Windows, macOS, iOS, and Ubuntu without having to install any drivers.
Buy the Ankmax 2.5G Ethernet to USB-C Adapter to Amazon
How does a 2.5G Ethernet Adapter work with my laptop?
A 2.5G Ethernet Adapter is an Ethernet port that supports the following connection speeds: 10 Mbps,100 Mbps,1 Gbps,2.5 Gbps.
The 2.5G Ethernet Adapter is backward compatible with standard 100 Mbps and Gigabit devices and supports 2.5 Gbps connections on legacy Category 5E (Cat5E) and Category 6 (Cat6) cables. This means that you take full experience of the capability of your high-performance network devices without upgrading your cables.
With a USB-C 2.5G multi-Gig ethernet adapter, you are able to connect a USB-C laptop, phone, or tablet (such as Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, Dell XPS, Samsung Galaxy S21, and so on) to a multi-Gigabit router/modem, to benefits from speed up to 2500 Mbps.
To connect your laptop (take MacBook Pro 2020 as an example) to the internet using Ethernet, you need to prepare: a USB-C 2.5G Ethernet Adapter, 1 (or 2 with a router) Cat 6 ethernet cable, a multi-Gigabit router/modem.
1. Make sure the modem/router is turned on and connected to the wall jack with the cable that came with the modem/router. *To reach 2.5G speed, please make sure your broadband plan support at least 2.5G data speed.
2. Use the 2.5G Ethernet Adapter to connect to your laptop's USB C port.
3. Use a Cat 6 Ethernet cable to connect the 2.5G Ethernet Adapter to the modem/router
In many cases, you'll automatically connect to the internet. If not, check your Ethernet service settings and set it well.
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