Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the three major types of guided media (twisted pair, coaxial copper, and optical fiber)?

Answer 1

Twisted pair

Advantages:

1.Easy Instalation.

2.Good perfomance.

3.Supports both analog as well as digital transmission.

4.Cheap.

Disadvantages:

1.Less Protection from Interference.

2.Difficult to manufacture.

3.Low bandwidth comparing to other guided medias.

Coaxial Cable

Advantages:

1.High bandwidth.

2.No distortion during data transmission.

3.High noise immunity.

4.Can be used in long distant telephone lines.

Disadvantages:

1.If a single cable failes the entire network would collapse.

2.Difficult to install.

3.Expensive compared to twisted pair.

Optical Fiber

Advantages:

1.High bandwidth.

2.Light weight.

3.Have high immunity to tapping.

4.less signal attenuation.

Disadvantages:

1.Very Expensive.

2.Unidirectional.

3.Maintanance