1st February 2022

Wired and wireless transmission methods

Starter

1. Simplex, half duplex, full duplex.

UTP/STP

UTP- unshielded twisted pair. Made up of number of copper wires which are twisted together.

STP- shielded twisted pair. It’s the same however there is a plastic coating around the copper wires.
This reduces interference.

Advantages

Less interference due to the wires being twisted.

Cheap and effective.

Reliable

Disadvantages

Can be slow low capacity

Coaxial

Thick copper core with thick shielding.

Advantages

Fast

reliable

disadvantages

can be more expensive

not as flexible

susceptible to noise

Signal degenerates over time

Example uses

Connection to cable TV/ internet

Tv aerial/ satellite dish to TV

Fibre optic

Cables which use plastic or glass filament to transmit light

Advantages

Higher bandwidth
Works over long distances

Little interference

Disadvantages

Expensive

Complex

Does not carry power

As more services are carried over the line’s failure could have larger impact.

Example uses

fibre cable is currently used to carry data from exchanges to the street cabinets.

Question

Helen works from home and has three teenage children. She is considering having fibre optic
broadband installed.

Explain one advantage to Helen of having fibre optic broadband installed. (2)

One advantage is there is little interference because it’s coming straight from the street cabinet to
your house.

The following answer is not accepted: faster/quicker on its own (must include
upload/download/bandwidth or comparison to normal broadband)

Infrared

Is an early example of wireless data transmission that is still in use today. The light is invisible to
human eyes. The IR LED is turned on and off to send code.

Advantages

Works well over short distances

Inexpensive compared to other opinions

Reliable

Disadvantages

Only works over short distances

Needs line of sight to work

Microwave

Microwave uses short radio waves to send data. And example of this is Bluetooth.

Allows devices around 10 metres away to exchange data.

Advantages

Worldwide standard so any Bluetooth devices are compatible

Does not require line-of-sight, unlike infrared

Can use passwords to only authorised people to connect.

Disadvantages

Can suffer from interference from other devices.

Short range technology (10 metres)

Satellite

Satellites in space received data from ground stations then relay this to the destination ground
stations.

Advantages

Works over extreme distances

Disadvantages

Expensive

Question

Digital devices can transfer data using different transmission methods.

(a) Give 2 wireless connection methods. (2)

Infrared
Microwave
(b) Give 2 drawbacks of wireless transmission. (2)
Only works over short distances from the source
Can be a slower connection type.

Wireless networking

What components do we need for a wireless network?

Router, WAP, wireless adapter.

Where might you use a wireless network?

Public spaces

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a wireless network?