Compare wired and wireless media.
Wired transmission media uses physical links such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable to carry data in the form of electric or light signals. Optical fiber cables are light weight, have higher bandwidth, and electromagnetic noise cannot affect them. However, they are expensive and unidirectional.
Wireless transmission media allows communication without any physical media as information travels as electromagnetic signals through air. The frequency range available is from 3 KHz to 900 THz. Technologies include Bluetooth, WiFi, and WiMax. Dish-shaped antennas are used for longer distances, and repeaters are installed to regenerate signals as waves become weaker after travelling through air.
Explanation
The textbook context in sections 11.6.1 and 11.6.2 clearly distinguishes between the two media types. Wired media requires physical links (twisted pair, coaxial, fiber optic) while wireless media uses electromagnetic waves through air without physical media. Key comparison points include: wired media carries electric/light signals through cables, wireless uses electromagnetic spectrum (3 KHz to 900 THz); optical fiber is immune to electromagnetic noise while wireless signals weaken over distance requiring repeaters; wireless allows communication without physical connection using technologies like Bluetooth, WiFi, and WiMax.