The Cable vs No-Cable Story
The Cable vs No-Cable Story
Understanding wired vs wireless is about understanding their fundamental differences:
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Exam Tips - Wired vs Wireless
Most common exam questions:
- "Advantage of wired over wireless?" → Faster speeds / more secure (can't be intercepted wirelessly) / more reliable (no interference)
- "Advantage of wireless over wired?" → Freedom to move around / convenient (no cables) / easy to connect devices
- "Why use wired for gaming?" → Low latency (minimal delay) / fast speeds / reliable connection
- "Why use wireless for laptop?" → Mobility / can work anywhere in WiFi range / no cable needed
- "What is WAP?" → Wireless Access Point - device that broadcasts WiFi signal
- "Security difference?" → Wired requires physical access to cable. Wireless can be intercepted by anyone in range.
Key comparison facts to memorize:
| Aspect | Wired | Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Faster (1-10 Gbps) | Slower (50-1200 Mbps) |
| Security | More secure | Less secure (use WPA2/WPA3) |
| Mobility | None (tethered) | Full mobility |
| Reliability | Very reliable | Can have interference |
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Saying "wireless is always worse" - it has advantages (mobility, convenience)!
- Forgetting WHY wired is more secure (physical access needed vs broadcast to all)
- Not mentioning specific use cases (gaming = wired, laptop = wireless)
- Confusing WiFi security standards (WPA2 is current, WEP is insecure)
- Not explaining interference for wireless (walls, microwaves, other networks)
Perfect exam answer structure:
"Explain why a school might use wired connections for desktop computers but wireless for laptops" (4 marks):
Desktops don't move, so wired is suitable (1 mark).
Wired provides faster speeds for school applications (1 mark).
Laptops need mobility to work in different rooms (1 mark).
Wireless allows laptops to connect anywhere in WiFi range (1 mark).
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 15
What does WAP stand for in networking?
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This topic in real past papers
Every real exam question we've found on wired & wireless networks, with a full worked answer.
AQA Paper 2
Both sittings we have full papers for ask a networking-characteristics question worth 2 to 3 marks. June 2022 compares LAN to WAN and separately asks for wireless networking advantages; June 2023 compares PAN to WAN and separately asks about bus versus star topology.
OCR Paper 1
Two of the three sittings we have full papers for, June 2023 and June 2024, ask you to weigh wired connections against wireless access for a real LAN scenario, worth 6 to 7 marks combined across two adjacent sub-questions each time.