Wireless vs Wired Networks

Let’s start with a question: how does data travel from one device to another?

In this lesson, we’ll look at a wireless vs wired network because traffic on Wi-Fi doesn’t behave like traffic on a cable, this difference drives speed, collisions, and security.

In Wired Networks with a Switch

In wired networks with a switch, data travels directly to the recipient:

Figure 1 – Switched Wired Network

When PC1 sends data to PC3, the switch forwards the data only to PC3 based on its destination MAC address.

Figure 2 – Full-duplex communication in a switched wired network

• PC2 and PC4 don’t receive the data because the switch sends it privately to the intended recipient.

• Communication occurs in full-duplex mode, PC1 and PC3 can send and receive data simultaneously without collisions.

In Hub-Based Wired Networks

In hub-based wired networks, data is sent as a broadcast:

• When PC1 sends data to PC3, the hub broadcasts the data to all devices on the network (PC2, PC3, and PC4).

Figure 3 – Data broadcast in a hub-based wired network

• PC3 is the only device that processes the data while PC2 and PC4 ignore it.

• Communication is in half-duplex mode when using a hub meaning devices can only send or receive data, not both at the same time.

This broadcast behavior often leads to collisions when multiple devices, like PC1 and PC4, try to send data at the same time.

In Wireless Networks with an Access Point (AP)

In wireless networks with an Access Point (AP), data behaves similarly to a hub:

When PC1 sends data to PC3, the AP broadcasts the data to all devices within range.

• PC3 processes the data, while other nearby devices ignore it.

• Communication is in half-duplex mode, so devices must wait their turn to send or receive data.

Since the data is broadcast through the air, encryption is necessary to protect it from being intercepted.