A network can use wired connections or wireless connections.
Describe why a wireless connection can have a higher latency than a wired connection.
Mark scheme
Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:
- Interference from other devices corrupts the wireless signal (1) so the data has to be resent, which increases the delay (1)
- Devices on a wireless network take turns to use the same channel/frequency (1) so a device may have to wait for the channel to be free before it can transmit, which adds to the delay (1)
- Data on a wireless connection must pass through the access point to reach the wired network (1) so the extra processing/conversion at the access point adds a delay (1)
Do not accept responses that only state that a wireless connection is slower/less reliable than a wired connection, without explaining how this adds latency.
Do not accept 'data is sent through the air' on its own, as this does not explain why latency is higher.
Do not accept responses about bandwidth or speed on their own.
Example answers and how they were marked
Interference from other devices can corrupt the wireless signal, so the data has to be resent, which increases the delay.
Why: Linked point: interference corrupts the signal (1), developed by the delay caused by resending the data (1).
Wireless signals can be corrupted by interference from other devices.
Why: The point that interference corrupts the wireless signal (1) is given, but there is no development of how this leads to a delay.
Wireless is slower than a wired connection, so it has a higher latency.
Why: Only states that wireless is slower, without explaining how this adds latency, so it is not accepted.