Wired and Wireless Networks

  • Understand that networks can be wired or wireless.
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wireless networks as opposed to wired networks.

Wired Networks

  • Use either copper network or fibre-optic cables to physically connect the devices.
  • Often found in office networks where the devices tend to be in fixed positions and do not move around. 

Copper Cable

  • Individual copper wires that are arranged as twisted pairs.
  • The twisted pair reduces interference from other signals, improving transmission.
  • Different categories of cable have different transmission rates and ranges.
  • Most computers have built-in ethernet ports and ethernet cable is inexpensive, so for offices wired networks are relatively cheap and reliable to implement.

Fibre-Optic Cable

  • Made of many thin glass strands (fibres), which transmit data as pulses of light.
  • They do not suffer from electical interference.
  • Very high bandwidth, up to 100 terrabits/second.
  • Capable of transmission distances of 100 km.
  • Used to connect wide area networks (WAN).
  • More expensive than copper cable.

Wireless Networks

  • Use radio waves to connect devices, usually WiFi and/or Bluetooth.
  • The strength of the signal decreases with distance from the source.
  • This makes them suitable for networks covering a small area.
  • Ideal for mobile devices: smart phone, headphone, laptop.

Advantages

  • The speed of data transmission is fairly quick.
  • The connections are stable and reliable.
  • It is easier to maintain security as all data packets pass through a single point.
  • Relatively hard to hack from outside the network.
  • Cheap to set up, do not require cables.
  • Easy to set up, most devices connect automatically.
  • Users can connect and move around as long as they are in range.
  • Additional devices can quickly and easily be added to the network.

Wireless

Wired

Disdvantages

  • Computers can only be used in fixed locations.
  • Can be costly to install due to the specialist hardware required.
  • Specialists may be needed to maintain the network.
  • The transmission speed is slower.
  • The transmission range is limited by walls and other obstacles.
  • Can be less stable, the connection may 'drop out'.
  • Less secure, data packets can be intercepted during transmission.

Wireless

Wired

Questions

  1. Identify two ways in which a desktop computer may be connected to a home network.
  2. Identify a type of medium suitable for connecting WANs across large geographic areas.
  3. State two advantages of using a wireless network.
  4. State two disadvantages of using a wireless network.

Questions

  1. Identify two ways in which a desktop computer may be connected to a home network.

Ethernet cables or using WiFi

Questions

  1. Identify a type of medium suitable for connecting WANs across large geographic areas.

Fibre-optic cable

Questions

  1. State two advantages of using a wireless network.
  • Generally cheap to set up.
  • Most devices connect automatically.
  • Users can move around as long as they remain in range of the signal.
  • Additional devices can be added easily.

Questions

  1. State two disadvantages of using a wireless network.
  • The speed of data transmission is slower than wired networks.
  • Obstacles can cause the connection to drop out.
  • Connections are often less stable than wired connections.
  • Data packets can be intercepted and read if not encrypted.
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