Knowledge Organiser: Wired and Wireless Networks
Key Terms
- Ethernet: Standard wired networking technology using Cat5e/Cat6 cables
- WiFi: Wireless networking using radio waves (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)
- WAP: Wireless Access Point — device that broadcasts a WiFi signal
- NIC: Network Interface Card — hardware that connects a device to a network
- WPA2/WPA3: WiFi encryption standards that secure wireless transmissions
- Interference: Disruption to wireless signal from walls, other devices, or competing networks
Must-Know Facts
- Wired: faster (1–10 Gbps), more secure, more reliable, but no mobility
- Wireless: mobility and convenience, but slower and less secure
- Wired is more secure — attacker needs physical access to the cable
- Wireless is less secure — radio waves broadcast in all directions, can be intercepted
- WPA2 is current minimum standard; WPA3 is strongest; WEP is broken and insecure
- Wireless can suffer interference from walls, microwaves, other WiFi networks
- Modern networks use both wired and wireless (hybrid approach)
Key Concepts
- When to use wired: Stationary devices needing speed/reliability — desktops, gaming PCs, servers, smart TVs
- When to use wireless: Mobile devices — laptops, phones, tablets, smart home devices
- Why wireless needs encryption: Radio waves travel in all directions — without WPA2/WPA3 anyone nearby can intercept data
- Latency difference: Wired has lower, more consistent latency — critical for online gaming
Common Mistakes
- Saying wireless is "less secure" without explaining why: Wireless signals travel through the air and can be intercepted by anyone in range — this is why encryption (WPA2/WPA3) is essential; simply saying "less secure" without a reason loses marks
- Forgetting interference as a wireless disadvantage: Wireless signals can be disrupted by walls, other Wi-Fi networks, and devices such as microwaves — this reduces speed and reliability
- Saying wired is always faster than wireless: Modern Wi-Fi 6 can exceed 1 Gbps in ideal conditions — the key advantages of wired are consistency and reliability, not always raw speed
- Confusing bandwidth and speed: Bandwidth is the maximum data transfer rate; actual speed depends on interference, distance, number of users, and network congestion