Resolved Wi-Fi vs Ethernet

My Internet provider is AT&T. I signed up for the "up to 3 Mbps" plan, but because I live almost 2 miles from the Central Office, I am usually able to get no more than 1.75 Mbps; rarely, I can get 2.0 Mbps. AT&T has tried a number of ways to boost my download speed, but nothing has worked. A few days ago, I spoke to an AT&T 2nd tier support technician and asked whether changing from Wi-Fi into Ethernet would increase my download speed. He said yes. I asked, "How much of an increase?" He said, "It will be faster than 1.75." I asked, "How much faster?" He said, "It will be faster." He started to tell me how do make the switch to Ethernet, but it seems more complicated than I can handle and I won't make the switch until I know whether it is worthwhile. Don't even know if I have whatever hardware is needed to use Ethernet. "If you're wondering why I was speaking to a second-tier technicians at AT&T, it is because I spent more than 2-1/2 frustrating hours with two 1st-tier technicians who obviously didn't know what they were doing. ")

Yesterday, I had a problem with my computer and spoke to a 2nd tier Dell technical support person and asked him the same question. I got the same kind of non-answer from him. (Again, the ist-tier support technicians did not know what they were doing.)

Is this a big secret? Does anyone know what kind of download increase I can expect if I change to an Ethernet connection? I do not do a lot of downloading, but as streaming films requires at least 6 Mbps, I won't make the change unless Ethernet gives me more than 6 Mbps. (Concerned about being able to download HBO when it ditches 3rd party providers like DirecTV and Dish.) Or, is the maximum download I can expect with an Ethernet connection limited to the 3 Mbps my plan offers?

I am using Windows 7, Firefox browser.

Thanks in advance for help.

 

Thanks, Tony. I'm glad I didn't waste my time.

David