Modes of connection

Wired:
- Uses physical cables such as Ethernet (twisted-pair copper cables with RJ45 connectors).
- Ethernet cables transmit data via electrical signals.
- Typically faster and more secure due to direct physical connection.
Wireless:
- Uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radio waves to transmit data without cables.
- Wi-Fi connects devices to wireless access points that broadcast an SSID, whereas Bluetooth is for short-range device communication.
WiFi frequency bands and channels: WiFi uses radio waves to transmit data, primarily over two frequency bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
- The 2.4 GHz band contains 13 channels, each spanning 22MHz, but most channels overlap, leading to signal interference. Only 3 channels (1, 6, and 11) are non-overlapping, limiting performance in crowded environments.
- The 5 GHz band contains 24 non-overlapping channels. This allows for more networks to operate simultaneously with minimal interference.
Encryption:
- Wireless networks use encryption to secure transmitted data. This prevents unauthorized users from reading wireless transmissions.
- WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 - Pre-shared Key) is the most secure means of authenticating devices on wireless networks.
Standards: a set of agreed rules or specifications that ensure compatibility between hardware and software from different manufacturers. Without standards, devices wouldn’t work together properly.

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