---
title: "Wired and wireless communication systems"
subject: "Basic Electronics Engineering"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_2/basic_electronics_engineering:wired-wireless-systems"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/basic_electronics_engineering/wired-wireless-systems
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Wired and wireless communication systems

Basic Electronics Engineering · Chapter 5: Communication System

- Asked in: 2067 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_2/basic_electronics_engineering/wired-wireless-systems
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_2/basic_electronics_engineering/chapter-5

## Question

Explain and enlist wired and wireless communication systems.

## Short answer

Wired systems use physical cables like twisted pair, coaxial, or fiber; examples include telephone lines, Ethernet, and cable TV. Wireless systems transmit via electromagnetic waves through free space using antennas; examples are radio, TV, mobile networks, Wi-Fi, and satellite.

## Answer

A **communication system** can be classified on the basis of its channel into wired and wireless systems.

#### Wired communication systems

The signal is carried through a physical conductor or cable that connects the transmitter and the receiver.

Examples:
- Telephone line (twisted pair)
- Coaxial cable (cable TV, early Ethernet)
- Optical fiber (internet backbone, FTTH)
- Ethernet LAN cable (UTP)
- Power line communication

Features: more secure, less interference, high speed (fiber), but costly to install, no mobility, and limited to cable routes.

#### Wireless communication systems

The signal is sent as electromagnetic waves through free space using antennas, with no physical connection.

Examples:
- Radio and FM/AM broadcasting
- Television broadcasting
- Mobile cellular networks (GSM, 4G, 5G)
- Satellite communication
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared remote
- Microwave links, radar, GPS

Features: mobility, easy to set up in difficult terrain, wide coverage; but more interference, less security, limited bandwidth, and affected by weather.

```text
 Wired:     Tx ======cable====== Rx
 Wireless:  Tx ))) ~~ EMW ~~ ((( Rx
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the channel of a wired system?
   A. A physical conductor or cable
   B. Free space
   C. The ionosphere
   D. Air only
   Answer: A. Examples are twisted pair, coaxial cable, optical fiber. (Key point: Wired channel)

2. What carries the signal in wireless systems?
   A. Copper cable
   B. Optical fiber
   C. Electromagnetic waves through free space
   D. Power lines
   Answer: C. Antennas radiate EMW. (Key point: Wireless)

3. Which is a feature of wired systems?
   A. More secure, less interference, but no mobility
   B. High mobility, low cost
   C. More interference, less security
   D. Weather affects them heavily
   Answer: A. Wired links are fixed and costly to install. (Key point: Wired features)

4. Which is a wireless system?
   A. Ethernet UTP
   B. Optical fiber backbone
   C. Wi-Fi
   D. Coaxial cable TV
   Answer: C. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM, satellite are wireless. (Key point: Examples)

## Close variants set in other exams

- [Differentiate wired and wireless systems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fbasic_electronics_engineering%3Awired-vs-wireless-diff) — Basic Electronics Engineering, chapter 5, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Wired vs wireless media; four-wire and hybrid](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Awired-wireless-four-wire-hybrid) — Telecommunications, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Regulatory issues in wireless communication](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fwireless_communication%3Aregulatory-issues) — Wireless Communication, chapter 1, asked 6×
- [Trends in wireless communication beyond 3G](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fwireless_communication%3Atrends-beyond-3g) — Wireless Communication, chapter 1
- [Benefits of wireless communication and 4G](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fwireless_communication%3Awireless-benefits-4g) — Wireless Communication, chapter 1