← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Wired vs wireless: speed

Wired connections are usually faster and steadier than wireless, because the signal travels in its own cable and is not shared through the air.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Wired and Wireless Networks — Module 23, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 87

Understanding Wired vs wireless: speed in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: A wired link such as Ethernet or fibre can hold a high, steady speed like 1000 Mbps because the cable is not shared with other signals. A cable carries the signal on its own path. It is not shared through the air, so it is less likely to slow down. Wi-Fi signals get weaker with distance, so speeds usually drop the further you are from the router. Wi-Fi uses airwaves that are shared. When many devices and networks use them, speeds can fall and become less steady. Ethernet cables usually give faster and more stable speeds than Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is convenient but is often slower.

Common mistakes: Wired connections such as Ethernet are usually steady because the signal has its own cable. It should be steady ← TRUE. Wired connections are usually fast and steady, not slow and shaky. It should be speed ← "fast and steady".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 54–68) and word search (Modules 13–68).

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Learning
Duo
Which connection is usually faster and steadier?
A wired connection using a cableA wireless connection using Wi-Fi
Matches
Wi-Fi is always faster than a cable because it has no wires.
↓
Wired connections are usually faster and steadier. Wi-Fi has no wires, but its signal is shared through the air and can weaken.
Applying
Meanings
Term
wired speed
Meaning
Wired connections are usually faster and steadier than wireless, because the signal travels in its own cable and is not shared through the air.
Practice
ethernetMbps ← 1000
Testing
Gaps
IF connection = "wired"
Check Answer
Spots
2speed ← 1000
3steady ← FALSE

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Quick Questions

1. Which connection is usually faster and steadier?
A. A wireless connection using Wi-Fi
B. A wired connection using a cable ✓
Wired connections usually give faster and steadier speeds because the signal travels in its own cable.
2. Why can a wired connection stay steady?
A. The signal travels in a dedicated cable ✓
B. The signal is shared through the air with other devices
A cable carries the signal on its own path. It is not shared through the air, so it is less likely to slow down.
3. You walk to the far end of the house while on Wi-Fi. What usually happens to your speed?
A. It stays exactly the same at any distance
B. It drops as you get further from the router ✓
Wi-Fi signals get weaker with distance, so speeds usually drop the further you are from the router.
4. Which cable type can carry data at very high speeds using light?
A. Fibre optic cable ✓
B. Bluetooth
Fibre optic cables send data as pulses of light and can reach very high speeds. Bluetooth is wireless, not a cable.
5. Many people in a flat use Wi-Fi at the same time. What is likely to happen?
A. Shared airwaves can slow everyone down ✓
B. Each device gets its own private cable
Wi-Fi uses airwaves that are shared. When many devices and networks use them, speeds can fall and become less steady.

Match the Pairs

wired speed → Wired connections are usually faster and steadier than wireless, because the signal travels in its own cable and is not shared through the air.
shared airwaves → Wi-Fi devices in the same area share the same radio waves, so more devices means less speed for each one.
Ethernet and fibre cables carry data fast because each cable gives the signal its own path. → wired: 1000 Mbps steady
Wi-Fi speed drops as you move further from the router. → wifi: 1m=300 Mbps, 20m=40 Mbps
Wi-Fi is always faster than a cable because it has no wires. → Wired connections are usually faster and steadier. Wi-Fi has no wires, but its signal is shared through the air and can weaken.
Wi-Fi speed stays the same however far you are from the router. → Wi-Fi speed drops as the distance from the router grows, because the signal gets weaker.

Key Term

wired speed
Wired connections are usually faster and steadier than wireless, because the signal travels in its own cable and is not shared through the air.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF connection = "wired" THEN speed ← "fast and steady" ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts the actions to run when the IF condition is true.
2. distance ← 25 IF distance > 20 THEN speed ← "lower"
Hint: Type the comparison operator that means 'greater than', so Wi-Fi slows when the device is far away.
3. totalSpeed ← 100 devices ← 4 speedEach ← totalSpeed / devices
Hint: Type the variable that counts how many things are sharing the same airwaves.
4. IF fibreSpeed > ethernetSpeed THEN best ← "fibre" ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that closes the IF block.
5. wifiShared ← TRUE IF wifiShared THEN OUTPUT "Speed may drop"
Hint: Type the variable that records whether the wireless airwaves are shared.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A cable ← "Ethernet"
B speed ← 1000
C steady ← FALSE
Line C — Wired connections such as Ethernet are usually steady because the signal has its own cable. It should be steady ← TRUE.
Question 2
A IF connection = "wired" THEN
B speed ← "slow and shaky"
C ELSE
D speed ← "can drop"
E ENDIF
Line B — Wired connections are usually fast and steady, not slow and shaky. It should be speed ← "fast and steady".
Question 3
A PRINT "Fibre is very slow"
B PRINT "Light travels in glass"
C PRINT "Cable is not shared air"
Line A — Fibre optic cable is one of the fastest ways to carry data. It should say Fibre is very fast.
Question 4
A distance ← 20
B IF distance < 15 THEN
C wifiSpeed ← "lower"
D ENDIF
Line B — Wi-Fi speed drops when the device is far from the router. The test should be distance > 15, so a distance of 20 triggers it.
Question 5
A devices ← 10
B IF devices > 8 THEN
C airwaves ← "private"
D wifiSpeed ← "slower"
E ENDIF
Line C — Wi-Fi devices share the same airwaves, so many devices make them crowded. It should be airwaves ← "crowded".

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