New
New
Year 7
Wired and wireless networks
I can compare the performance of different types of network connections.
New
New
Year 7
Wired and wireless networks
I can compare the performance of different types of network connections.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Wired and wireless networks have different advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different situations.
- Bandwidth determines how much data can be sent at a time, affecting the overall time taken to complete a transfer.
- Different online activities require different amounts data be transfered.
- Different mobile data technologies provide varying levels of bandwidth, which affects the quality of network activities.
Keywords
Wired - uses a cable to connect a device to a network
Wireless - uses radio waves to connect a device to a network
Bandwidth - the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted at a time
Common misconception
Bandwidth is the speed of data being transmitted across a network. The higher the bandwidth, the faster data can be transferred between points in a network.
Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted at a time, not the time it takes to reach from one point to another. Higher bandwidth reduces the total transfer time of data but this is only noticable when there is a lot to transfer.
You may want to use an analogy of motorway lanes for bandwidth. More lanes mean more cars can travel side by side without traffic jams. Higher bandwidth is like having more lanes on your internet connection.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which of the following is a reason why protocols are important in computer networks?
They make data travel faster.
They prevent users from making mistakes.
They allow devices to connect to any network in the world.
Q2.
Which of the following is a valid IP address format?
192-168-25-1
192.168.25
192.168.25.256
Q3.
Which of the following is an example of a rule used for email addresses?
the use of a password to protect an email account
the ability to attach files to an email
the option to forward an email to someone else
Q4.
What could happen if an email is sent without a valid email address?
The email will be delivered to everyone on the network.
The email will be delivered to the sender's inbox.
The email will be delivered to a random person.
Q5.
What could happen if a website address doesn't follow the correct protocol and is missing http:// or https://?
The website will be slower to load.
The user will be unable to access the internet.
The user's computer might be infected with a virus.
Q6.
What is the main difference between http:// and https:// in a website address?
https:// is used for secure email addresses.
https:// is used for websites with images and videos.
There is no difference.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
If you want a more secure and stable connection for online gaming, what would you use?
wireless connection
Bluetooth connection
Q2.
What does it mean when an online video is "buffering"?
The video is being downloaded too quickly.
The video is being processed too slowly.
The video file is corrupted.
Q3.
Which of the following online activities typically requires the highest bandwidth?
reading an online news article
checking the weather forecast
sending an email
Q4.
Which of these is a disadvantage of wireless networks?
higher bandwidth
more secure
no trailing wires
Q5.
What is bandwidth?
the speed at which data travels
the strength of a wireless signal
the number of devices on a network
Q6.
Which unit is used to measure bandwidth?
meters per second (m/s)
hertz (Hz)
bytes per meter (B/m)