3.1.10 - Outline the characteristics of different transmission media.

Question 1

What are the four main factors to compare transmission media?

Answer 1

The four main factors are security, reliability, cost, and speed.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) cable?

Answer 2

UTP cable offers OK security (if encrypted), is susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI), costs less than £1 per metre, and has a speed of 100Mbps to 1Gbps.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Fibre-Optic cable?

Answer 3

Fibre-optic cable is highly secure, generally fragile, costs between £2 and £8 per metre, and offers speeds of 5Gbps to 100Gbps.

Question 4

What are the characteristics of wireless transmission via radio waves?

Answer 4

Wireless transmission via radio waves is insecure unless encrypted, susceptible to interference, technically free, and offers speeds of 5Mbps to 200Mbps.