Why does it take so long to copy files from one PC to another on my home network?

If you transfer a lot of large files from one PC to another on your home network, you may be surprised at how long it takes. Naturally, the bigger the file, the longer it takes to copy. But the time it takes to copy a file is also affected by the type of home network you have.

In general, wireless networks are slower than wired Ethernet networks. Most newer Ethernet networks transfer data at 100 megabits per second (Mbps), which is pretty fast. The typical WiFi network is a lot slower, often running as slow as just 11 Mbps. At these speeds, it could take up to ten times as long to copy a file over a wireless network than it does over a wired network.

That said, there are significant speed differences between different types of wireless networks. The speed of your network depends on which version of the WiFi standard your network supports:

802.11b is the original WiFi standard, transferring data at 11 Mbps .

802.11g is a newer and faster WiFi standard, transferring data at 54 Mbps.

802.11a is an alternate WiFi standard that uses the less-crowded 5.0 GHz RF band for reduced interference with other wireless devices; this version of WiFi also transfers data at 54 Mbps.

In September 2008, look for a new WiFi standard, 802.11n, which can transfer data at over 200 Mbps. So, if your network seems sluggish to you, you should upgrade to faster equipment. If you're running the original 802.11b wireless equipment, upgrade to 802.11g, and you'll see a five-fold increase in speed.

Michael Miller is a writer and commentator on technology and digital lifestyle topics.