Transmission Medium / Guided Unguided Media (Computer Network)

                          { Transmission Medium }

As a matter of fact, media are what the message is transmitted over. In other words, a communication channel is also called as a medium. different environments for different purpose. The purpose of the physical layer is to transport a raw bit stream from one computer to another.

Classification of Transmission Medium -

                           As a matter of fact, we can classify the transmission media as shows in figure into two categories.

Media are roughly grouped into two classes 

1. Guided media 
2. Unguided media 

Guided Media -

          Guided media is a communication medium which allows the data get  guided along it. For this the media need to have a point physical connection.

Unguided Media -

           The wireless media is also called unguided media. 

The Examples of Guided Media are Copper Wire and Fiber-Optics;

   Similarly radio are lasers through the air are example of unguided media as shown in figure.

 

                                              In computer networking, the medium affects nearly every aspect of communication. Most important, it determines how quickly and to whom a computer can talk and how expensive the process is.

Performance Comparison of Wired and Wireless Media 

Table below gives the performance comparison of wired and wireless media.

Wired Media -

• A wired network uses wires to communicate.

• Wired networks are easy to set up and troubleshoot.

• Wired networks make you. immobile.

• Wired networks prove expensive when covering a large area because of the wiring and cabling.

Wireless Media -

• whereas a wireless network uses radio waves.

• where wireless networks are comparatively difficult to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot.

• while wireless ones provide you with convenience of movement.

• while wireless networks do not involve this cost.