Sorry, total ignoramus question

[Guest]

When I am watching streaming, I always turn off all the other wireless devices tapping into my router, and it always helps a ton (I don't have QoS set up yet). My question is, providing the connection is not actively being used, is there any point in disconnecting a device connected to the router via ethernet? Does an inactive device connected via ethernet to the router draw much bandwidth (I'm not even sure if this is the right term to use, but hopefully you can figure out what I'm asking).

I know that there are some automatic processes (backups, etc) which might draw on the internet, but besides this, is a computer just generally sitting, but still connected to the router, drawing much from bandwidth, in the way that an iPhone connected via wireless seems to?

[pockyken007]

Depends on the device being connected .

As for your cellphone taking up bandwidth that's because it is most likely running syncs on all your e-mail , facebook etc. accounts thats why you will see wifi usage if your phone is connected to it .

If you have data back up or some other device connected to the router that is constantly sending / receiving info then yes there might be a slow down . A regular device most likely will not cause much traffic on your network ( some devices might send a packet here and there to stay alive ) ... hope this helps

[Guest]

Depends on the device being connected .

As for your cellphone taking up bandwidth that's because it is most likely running syncs on all your e-mail , facebook etc. accounts thats why you will see wifi usage if your phone is connected to it .

If you have data back up or some other device connected to the router that is constantly sending / receiving info then yes there might be a slow down . A regular device most likely will not cause much traffic on your network ( some devices might send a packet here and there to stay alive ) ... hope this helps

Thanks, yes it does! Yeah just my main desktop comp sitting quietly. Now I am going to look up what packet means.

[pockyken007]

packet is what's being send over the internet making you being able to see the websites , receive emails and such let's use regular mail analogy I guess : when you send a package to somebody you put all the stuff inside the box for safe keeping , think of the box being a packet ... a packet is a box for the information, the information is stored in the packet and send across the wire using certain protocols ( dependin on the content of the packet the protocols handling it differ ) one the packet gets from point A top point B it's being unpacked and the information is being transferred by whatever devices you have so that you can see your websites , receive mail , play games etc.... Mind you this is a very simple explanation of what packet is