Comparing Wired and Wireless Networks
In a wired network, any two devices that need to communicate with each other must be
connected by a wire. (That was obvious!) The “wire” might contain strands of metal or
fiber-optic material that run continuously from one end to the other. Data that passes
over the wire is bounded by the physical properties of the wire. In fact, the IEEE 802.3
set of standards defines strict guidelines for the Ethernet wire itself, in addition to how
devices may connect, send, and receive data over the wire.
Wired connections have been engineered with tight constraints and have few variables
that might prevent successful communication. Even the type and size of the wire strands,
the number of twists the strands must make around each other over a distance, and the
maximum length of the wire must adhere to the standard.
Therefore, a wired network is essentially a bounded medium; data must travel over whatever
path the wire or cable takes between two devices. If the cable goes around a corner
or lies in a coil, the electrical signals used to carry the data must also go around a corner
or around a coil. Because only two devices may connect to a wire, only those two devices
may send or transmit data. Even better: The two devices may transmit data to each
other simultaneously because they each have a private, direct path to each other.
Wired networks also have some shortcomings. When a device is connected by a wire, it
cannot move around very easily or very far. Before a device can connect to a wired network,
it must have a connector that is compatible with the one on the end of the wire.
As devices get smaller and more mobile, it just is not practical to connect them to a wire.
As its name implies, a wireless network removes the need to be tethered to a wire or
cable. Convenience and mobility become paramount, enabling users to move around
at will while staying connected to the network. A user can (and often does) bring along
many different wireless devices that can all connect to the network easily and seamlessly.
Wireless data must travel through free space, without the constraints and protection of
a wire. In the free space environment, many variables can affect the data and its delivery.
To minimize the variables, wireless engineering efforts must focus on two things: