Network Media - Wired and wireless and WLAN

Wired Media
1. Coaxial cable - RG58
2. Twisted pair cable - CAT 5 , CAT 6 (CAT means category)
There are four pairs of twisted cable within a CAT 5 cable.
3. Fiber Optics


Wireless Medium/Media

Wireless communication is broadcast through free space without using a physical conductor.It is in the form of electromagnetic waves.

The electromagnetic spectrum ranging from 3khz to 900 THz is used for wireless communication.

Radio Waves - The electromagnetic waves ranging in frequencies between 3KHz to 1 GHz are called radio waves. They are used for AM FM radio , television , cordless phone etc.

Microwaves - Electromagnetic waves between 1 and 300 GHz are called microwaves. Applications are cellular phones, Satellite Networks and wireless LAN

Infrared waves - Frequencies from 300 Ghz to 400 Thz . It is used for short range communication.

Components of a Wireless LAN are

1) Wireless Router
2) Wireless Network card
3) Access point or Repeater