Wireless Computer Network vs Wired Computer Network

Abstract

The need of wireless and wired networks has become essential because of the advancement of technology. Both wired and wireless networks have certain advantages and disadvantages in terms of speed, cost and security. Wired computer networks have different requirements of hardware, and the benefits and range of these networks are different from wireless computer networks. Wireless computer networks consider the mobility, range, and various types of hardware components in order to set up a wireless network. The aim of this paper is to support the argument that a wired network should convert to wireless network because the speed, the wide area that it covers, and easy access.

Introduction

Organizations largely depend on the ability to distribute information all across the organization in a productive and effective manner. This technology has been allowed by computer network and is now a part of every business. When establishing a network, organization has two available options to go for. They can either make use of completely wired computer network, which makes use of networking cables for connecting computers, or they can make use of wireless network, in which computers are connected with the help of radio frequencies.

Organizations have become much more mobile with the help of the wireless networks, thus, organizations now prefer wireless networks over wired networks. The basic layout of hardware for these two types of networks is somewhat same however, for an organization to switch to wireless network, it requires more components of hardware.

The major differences between these two types of networks are that one makes use of radio frequencies and other makes use of network cables. Wired network are used only for shorter distances. Whereas, wireless networks are more mobile, the range of wireless network is mainly 150-400 indoor and up to 1000 feet outdoor based on the terrain. For wired networks, LANs that make use of hub can suffer delay in performance if computing devices heavily make use of network at the same time (Balakrishnan, 1995).

Thesis Statament

Wireless networks are better than wired networks in terms of cost, speed and reliability.

Wired Networks vs Wireless Networks

Wired computer networks are also known as Ethernet networks, these networks are the most basic type of LAN technology. A wired computer network is mainly a collection of two or more than two computers or other devices that are connected through Ethernet cables.

In the wired network protocols, Ethernet is the fastest one; having connection speeds of 10Mbps-100Mbps. Wired networks can also be utilized as the part of wireless network. Ethernet adapters are used to connect Ethernet cables with the computer network. Ethernet adapters can be installed within a computer or can be housed separately (Perrig, 2003). Some computers have built-in port for Ethernet adapter. For wired network, there are three basic topologies of network that are commonly used today: star topology, ring topology and bus topology. The most simplest type of wired network topology is start network, that has one central hub that connects three or more ...