Ethernet (twisted pair): copper wire pairs twisted together to reduce interference. Cat5e, Cat6 cables. Fast, reliable, affordable for LANs.
Fibre optic: data transmitted as light pulses through glass/plastic fibre. Very high speed; long distances; immune to electromagnetic interference. Expensive to install.
Coaxial: copper core with shielding. Used in older networks and cable TV. Less common in modern LANs.
Wired: faster, more secure, more reliable — but less flexible (devices can't move)
Wireless Connections
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi: uses radio waves (2.4GHz or 5GHz) to connect devices to a WAP. Range ~50m indoors. Standards: 802.11n, 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).
Bluetooth: short-range radio (~10m). Used for PANs — connecting peripherals (headphones, keyboards, mice, smartwatches).
Wireless: flexible, no cable clutter, mobile — but slower, more interference, less secure (radio signals can be intercepted)
Comparing Wired vs Wireless
Key Differences
Speed: Wired (fibre/Ethernet) typically faster than wireless
Security: Wired more secure — signals can't be intercepted without physical access; Wi-Fi can be sniffed
Reliability: Wired less prone to interference; wireless affected by walls, other devices, distance
Give two advantages of using a wired network connection over a wireless connection.
2 marks
Any two: faster data transfer speeds [1]; more secure as signals cannot be intercepted without physical access [1]; more reliable — not affected by interference or obstacles [1].
Key Takeaways
What to Remember
Twisted pair (Ethernet): cheap and fast for LANs; Fibre: very fast, long distance, expensive
Wi-Fi: 2.4/5GHz radio; ~50m range; Bluetooth: 10m PAN connectivity
Wired: faster, secure, reliable; Wireless: flexible, mobile, less secure
Fibre optic transmits light — immune to EM interference, ideal for long distances