Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What are the three types of network media and how do they transmit data?
Copper carries electrical impulses, fiber carries pulses of light, and wireless modulates electromagnetic waves.
* Three media, three signals: electrical impulses on copper, light in fiber, electromagnetic waves over the air. *
| Media Type | Transmission Method |
|---|---|
| Metal wires (copper cables) | Electrical impulses |
| Fiber-optic cables (glass/plastic fibers) | Pulses of light |
| Wireless | Modulation of electromagnetic waves |
The medium carries the message from source to destination; choice of medium drives speed, distance, and interference resistance.
Go deeper:
Transmission medium (Wikipedia) — covers guided copper (electrical), optical fiber (light), and unguided wireless (radio waves).- Network Media (NC State E 115) — beginner-friendly breakdown of copper, fiber, and wireless with their interference/distance trade-offs.