Samsung hasn’t let the competition slip away from them when it comes to smart homes and smart devices. The Samsung SmartThings line of devices helps elevate your home to the next level and provide security that homeowners have easy access to in this day and age. One device, in particular, stands out among the SmartThings devices: the SmartThings Wi-Fi Hub, but since it’s a Wi-Fi-centric device, is there an option to connect with an ethernet cable?

The Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Hub can be connected to ethernet:

  • Setup the Wi-Fi Hub with the wireless connection.
  • Once it has been added to the network, disconnect it from power and connect it to your router or gateway Wi-Fi hub by ethernet via the port marked “IN.”
  • Finally, plug the device back in.

Opting for an ethernet backhaul can show improved performance in the connection strength and speed of your devices on wireless, and it is something worth considering if you’re already part of the Samsung SmartThings ecosystem.

Can You Connect Samsung SmartThings to Ethernet?

Though the Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Hub is more portable when it is connected to a wireless network, that isn’t the only way that you can connect it. With an ethernet connection and a few SmartThings Wi-Fi Hubs, you can set up a mesh network system in your house to help strengthen coverage in your house (Source: Samsung). This is perfect for addressing those areas in your house that have a weaker Wi-Fi signal.

You can also connect the Samsung SmartThings Hub (which is a slightly different device) with ethernet. While the SmartThings Wi-Fi Hub can produce the mesh coverage in your house, the SmartThings Hub is aimed more at connecting your smart devices to each other, the SmartThings cloud, and the SmartThings app.

In both cases, performing an Ethernet backhaul allows for a direct connection from your Samsung SmartThings Hubs. This will allow for a much more stable connection (as is the case when connecting your desktop via ethernet versus via Wi-Fi). This may be something worth considering if you have numerous devices in your house streaming and taking up bandwidth.

How to Connect Samsung SmartThings to Ethernet

To connect the Samsung SmartThings Hubs to ethernet, you’ll need an ethernet cable and either a modem or router. Having multiple hubs will allow you to perform the ethernet backhaul. The Hub that is connected to the modem or router by ethernet is your “Gateway” unit. From here, just follow these five steps:

  • Setup your Hubs by using wireless to backhaul traffic to the Gateway unit.
  • Add the Hubs to the network.
  • Disconnect the Hubs from power.
  • Connect the Hubs to your router or the Gateway SmartThings Hub by Ethernet. The port marked “IN” is the one you’ll use for the backhaul connection.
  • Plug in the Hubs and enjoy the improved performance that comes with an Ethernet backhaul.

(Source: Plume)

Once this is all set up, you’ll be able to have a stronger wireless connection (if you opted for the ethernet backhaul on the SmartThings Wi-Fi Hub) or boost the connection to the other SmartThings devices you have set up in your smart home.

Do You Still Need Wi-Fi to Connect to Ethernet?

As you can see in steps 1 and 2, you’ll still need Wi-Fi before you perform the ethernet backhaul because this is how you’ll add the SmartThings Hubs to the network. However, once that happens, you’ll be able to run on ethernet alone. This can be advantageous if you prefer not to have a wireless network showing up for neighbors to potentially use or if you just prefer the stability of a wired connection.

However, an ethernet backhaul is still just a wired connection. There’s no wireless required to get the mesh system up connected and running, and this will consist of an ethernet cable connecting your gateway unit to the other SmartThings Hub that you own. In this sense, you won’t need Wi-Fi for your SmartThings Hubs.

Final Thoughts

Even though we’re in the age of wireless everything, the benefits of having an ethernet connection cannot be understated. If you own SmartThings devices and notice them responding somewhat slowly or even not at all, it may be due to a weak wireless connection. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to try opting for an ethernet backhaul. Though mobility is limited, connectivity is boosted – this seems well worth the trade.

Another reason that an ethernet backhaul may be worth looking into (and has been an improvement for the SmartThings Hub since firmware version 2.2.0-12 came out) is because sometimes, a wireless connection is unstable. If you’re not getting the speed you paid for, setting up the mesh system via an ethernet backhaul may be the fix you’re looking for; the same can be said for increased responsiveness in your SmartThings devices by backhauling the SmartThings Hub.