Last updated: February 8, 2021
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Pretty much all work at home jobs and careers require an internet connection. Depending on your geographical location, a decent wireless Wi-Fi connection may be enough to support any tasks that you do online. However, a wireless connection is weakened the further you are from the router.
If you have a phone support job, where you take calls using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), your employer will require that you have a wired internet connection because a wireless connection to your router’s Wi-Fi provides a weaker and less dependable signal than that of a wired connection. Wired means that you must be connected directly to your internet source, which will either be a modem or a router attached to a modem via an Ethernet cable.
What is an Ethernet Cable?
If you have a router and modem, they are already connected to each other with an Ethernet cable. To make a direct wired internet connection between your computer and router or modem, invest in an additional Ethernet cable. An Ethernet cable looks like a thick telephone cord. However, its end connectors (RJ45) are much bigger. One end connects to a port on your desktop computer or laptop, and the other end connects directly to your router or modem.
Ethernet cables are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased in multiple lengths from a few feet up to 100 feet. You can decide which length to purchase by measuring the distance between your router/modem and where you use your computer. Make sure to add a few extra feet to the overall measurement to leave yourself the ability to move around while still being connected.
No Ethernet port on your computer?
As technology advances, computers become more compact, not leaving much room for multiple ports. Therefore, your computer or laptop may not have a built-in Ethernet port in which to connect. Not to worry! You can use a USB to Ethernet adapter to help you get a direct wired connection to your router. It plugs into one of your USB ports on one end and allows an Ethernet cable to be plugged into the other end.
