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Advantages and disadvantages of wired network and 10 examples

Wired communication refers to the transmission of data, information, or signals between devices or systems using physical cables or wires as the medium. In wired communication, electrical or optical signals are sent through the conductive pathways provided by the cables to facilitate data exchange.

Wired network consists of wired connection between various components of the system. Cables such as copper wires, fiber optic cable, flexible cables and twisted pair are used for wired connectivity. The transport medium in the wired network carry various types of electrical signals. Let us explore examples and advantages and disadvantages of wired networks.

10 Examples of wired network and wired interfaces are as follows :
1. Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) : Ethernet is one of the most common wired networking technologies used in homes and businesses to connect computers, printers and other devices. Different ethernet standard based cables support different cable lengths and cable types. For example, 10Base5 supports 500m/50 ohm thick coaxial cable, 10BaseFL supports 2000 meters/fiber and so on.
2. Fiber optic network : The fiber optic cables are used which carry light signals to transmit/receive data at very high speeds over long distances. LEDs and photodiodes are components used at transmit and receive ends respectively. They are commonly used for high speed internet connections and long distance communication.
3. Coaxial cable network : Coaxial cables are used for cable television (CATV) networks, providing television and internet services to homes and businesses. The different coaxial cables support different characteristic impedances such as 50 Ohm, 75 Ohm, 300 Ohm etc. The various coaxial cable types are RG-58/U, RG-59/U, RG-11/U, RG-214/U, twin lead etc.
4. Powerline network : The powerline networking uses existing electrical wiring in a building to transmit data. It is often used for extending network connectivity in homes and offices. The some of the PLC (Power Line Communication) technologies include X10, INSTEON, HomePlug, Lonworks, KNX etc.
5. Telephone network : Traditional telephone networks use twisted pair copper cables to transmit voice and data. It is also known as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).
6. Firewire : FireWire is a high-speed serial bus standard used for connecting devices like camcorders, external hard drives and audio equipment to computers. It's specifications are defined in IEEE 1394. There are different versions of firewire with speeds up to 3200 Mbps. It supports isochronous real time data transfer.
7. Thunderbolt : Thunderbolt is a high speed interface which combines data, video and power connections. It is used for connecting peripherals to computers including monitors and external drives. It supports PCIe driver, DisplayPort driver and power over cable. It supports daisy chaining for connecting multiple devices (up to 6) on single cable. The different versions of thunderbolt cables have been develoepd viz. Thunderbolt 1, 2, 3 and 4 with each supporting different speeds and unique features.
8. HDMI : It is short form for High Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a common cable standard used for transmitting audio and video signals between devices like televisions, monitors and gaming consoles. It is not used as a networking technology for data communication or internet connectivity in the same way that Ethernet or Wi-Fi are used. HDMI is primarily focused on delivering audio and video content.
9. USB : USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a widely used interface standard for connecting various peripherals and devices to computers and other host systems. While USB is primarily used for data transfer and connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, printers, and external storage devices, it is not a dedicated networking technology.
10.CPRI and eCPRI : CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface) and eCPRI (enhanced Common Public Radio Interface) are both communication standards used in the telecommunications industry, particularly in mobile networks. They define protocols and specifications for the transmission of digitized radio signals between baseband processing units (BBUs) and remote radio heads (RRHs) or radio units (RUs) in cellular infrastructure.

The other wired interfaces include CAN, RS232, RS485, T1/E1 link, automotive ethernet and so on.

Benefits or advantages of wired network

Following are the benefits or advantages of wired network:
➨Wired connections are generally more stable and less prone to interference. ensuring consistent network performance. Shieldings are used to withstand against interference. It offers higher reliability and better quality of service (QoS).
➨Wired networks are less vulnerable to hacking techniques like eavesdropping and packet sniffing, as physical access is required. The wired connection is more secure unless someone breaks the connection and tap the signal.
➨The network offer higher data rate and hence fast transfer of information.
➨Wired networks typically have lower latency or delay in data transmission, which is crucial for real time applications.
➨Unlike wireless networks, wired connections are not affected by electromagnetic interference from other devices or obstacles like walls.
➨It is simple to configure.
➨Cables offer higher bandwidth. Hence it can support high data capabilities, making them suitable for demanding applications and large file transfers.
➨Wired connections can span longer distances without signal degradation, making them suitable for wide area networking.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of wired network

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of wired network:
➨Wired connection does not provide mobility during usage. It requires devices to be connected physically to the network infrastructure.
➨Installation of wired network is very difficult and complex. Moreover it requires more time to install.
➨Diagnosing and troubleshooting issues in wired networks can be more complex due to its physical nature.
➨It requires devices such as amplifiers, regenerators, repeaters, hubs and switches in order to extend the coverage distance.
➨There are more chances of physical damage to cables and infrastructure compare to wireless counterpart due to construction activities, rodents or accidents.
➨Wired networks require regular maintenance which add to its operational cost in addition to higher installation cost compare to wireless networks.
➨Expanding wired networks to accommodate additional devices or locations can be challenging and may require significant investments in infrastructure.

Conclusion: In summary, Advantages of wired networks include their reliability and stability, as they are less susceptible to interference and offer consistent performance. They also provide enhanced security, lower latency, and high data capacity, making them ideal for critical and data-intensive applications. However, disadvantages of wired networks are complex installation, less flexibility for movement and changes, and expensive set up and maintainance charged due to the need for physical infrastructure and cable management. Refer difference between wired network versus wireless network for more information.

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