Similarities between wired and wireless networks

[TheTazeeShow]

Hello,

I am wondering what the are the similarities between wired and wireless networks

 

Thank You

 

[Arty]

They both connect computers together.. 

[mikat]

they are exactly the same except for one thing: the way the devices connect to the router

[TheTazeeShow]

3 minutes ago, mikat said:

they are exactly the same except for one thing: the way the devices connect to the router

what are those ways though?

[Lurick]

Wired is much more resilient and reliable when it comes to connecting devices compared to wireless which is much more susceptible to interference such as EM, walls, concrete, etc.

[Lurick]

The signaling is also different, Wireless converts it to radio waves on a specific frequency and blasts it out in all directions whereas wired sends an electrical signal over copper wire and is directional. Most wireless is subject to a round-robin type of broadcast, it's been forever since I did wireless so it's not technically right but still close-ish, whereas ethernet in todays world with modern switches can send at the same time as other devices and the switch can listen and forward. Additionally the device can send and receive data when operating at 100Mbps full duplex and above. When you go further back on things like hub and spoke topoligies and ring topologies the computers would wait and listen before sending data.

[schizznick]

Wireless

Half Duplex - Can Send or Receive not Both

More overhead - Less Room in packets for Payload

More Susceptible to interference and construction materials

Not all protocols supported or efficient

Less Secure since packets can be watched w/o physical access to network

 

Wired

Full Duplex - Can send and receive at the same time

Less Overhead - More room for payload in packets

Supports Jumbo Frames - More Room For payload

Less Interference, indifferent to building materials

Supports All Protocols

More secure since physical access to network medium is required

 

These are just some I am sure others could add plenty more.

[TheTazeeShow]

Thank you for all the responses they are very useful but what are the similarities that both of them have?

 

[Mikensan]

In a normal use case by today's standards, your connection to the overall network uses the same protocols. 

 

So basically when your computer for example pulls data from a website, it'll more than likely use the IP protocol version 4 (IPv4). Your wireless signal starts out as 802.11(x) standard and gets converted to Ethernet. 

 

Protocols are a standard method of communication. Like if I told you I'm going to switch to using the NATO alphabet to spell a word, you would understand.

[Lurick]

15 minutes ago, TheTazeeShow said:

Thank you for all the responses they are very useful but what are the similarities that both of them have?

 

IPv4 and IPv6 support and the conversation of data packets into some sort of signaling is really the main similarities and the fact both support the security standard 802.1X Authentication. 802.1X Authentication should not be confused with 802.1 (x) where x would be A,B,G,N,AC,AD, etc..

[LAwLz]

53 minutes ago, Lurick said:

802.1X Authentication should not be confused with 802.1 (x) where x would be A,B,G,N,AC,AD, etc..

You're thinking of 802.11.

802.1 = Security, network management and LAN/MAN stuff on layers 3 and above.

802.11 = Local wireless specifically.

 

 

OP, it is really hard to answer your question but it is pretty weird. Wired and wireless are exactly the same all the way down to the last stage before a packet gets sent.

 

It is much easier to tell you about how they are different because like 95% of how things work over wired and wireless are exactly the same.

It's kind of like asking what the similarities between a car and a motorcycle are. It is easier to list the handful of things that make the different, than to list the infinite list of ways they are similar.

[Lurick]

Just now, LAwLz said:

You're thinking of 802.11.

802.1 = Security, network management and LAN/MAN stuff on layers above layer 2.

802.11 = Local wireless specifically.

 

 

OP, it is really hard to answer your question but it is pretty weird. Wired and wireless are exactly the same all the way down to the last stage before a packet gets sent.

 

It is much easier to tell you about how they are different because like 95% of how things work over wired and wireless are exactly the same.

It's kind of like asking what the similarities between a car and a motorcycle are. It is easier to list the handful of things that make the different, than to list the infinite list of ways they are similar.

D'oh, I thought something was off but my brain is tired. Good catch