A family uses a wireless network at home.
Describe how interference can affect the performance of a wireless network.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:
- Other electrical/radio devices nearby (1) interfere with the wireless signal so data is corrupted (1)
- Interference corrupts data (1) so the data has to be resent, which increases latency/slows the transfer (1)
- Interference reduces the strength of the signal received (1) which lowers the data transfer rate the connection can support (1)
- Interference makes the connection drop (1) so data transfer stops/devices have to reconnect (1)
Do not accept responses that only name a device (microwave, phone) without saying how it affects the network.
Do not accept responses that only state the network becomes slower without saying what causes the interference or how it affects the data.
Do not accept responses about wired connections or cables.
Example answers and how they were marked
Other electrical devices nearby can interfere with the wireless signal and corrupt data, so the data has to be resent and transfers are slower.
Why: Linked point: other electrical devices interfere and corrupt data (1), developed by the data being resent, which slows the transfer (1).
Other electrical devices nearby can interfere with the wireless signal.
Why: Cause given: other electrical devices interfere with the signal (1), but no development of how this affects the data or performance.
Interference happens when the wireless cable is damaged by other cables.
Why: Misconception about cables; the mark scheme does not accept responses about wired connections or cables.