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Computer Networks · Class 12 · Transmission Media
networksboard questions⏱️ 10 min read

Board Questions

Transmission media turns up in two places on the paper: a 1-mark question about a wireless medium, and one part of the 5-mark network case study that asks for a wired medium. These are the questions CBSE has actually set, with a few from KV pre-boards. Try each before opening the answer.

1How this topic is asked

What is askedMarksSet in
Best wired medium between cities / to head office1 (case study)Board 2024; compartment 2023, 2025; sample paper 2025-26
Best wired medium within a campus1 (case study)Sample papers 2022-23, 2024-25; compartment 2024
Name wired or wireless media1Board 2026; compartment 2025
Which wireless medium: microwaves / radio1Board 2023, 2026; compartment 2026; sample paper 2023-24
Differences: fibre vs co-axial; wired vs wireless2Compartment 2023
The two words that decide a case-study answer
Between cities, high-speed or fast and effective → optical fibre. Economically inside a campus → twisted pair (Ethernet) cable. A wireless link between far-off places → microwaves (or a satellite).

2Wired media

1
Which fast and effective wired transmission medium should be used to connect the prime office at Bengaluru with the Chennai division?CBSE board exam 2024 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Optical fibre cable — the highest bandwidth over long distances.

Revise: Fibre-Optic Cable

2
The organisation plans to provide a high-speed link with its head office using a wired connection. Which of the cables will be most suitable for this job?CBSE sample paper 2025-26 · the same idea in the CBSE compartment exams 2023 (Noida–Bengaluru) and 2025 (Patiala–Delhi)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Optical fibre — CBSE’s marking scheme answer.

Revise: Which Cable, Where?

3
Suggest the best wired medium and draw the cable layout (block to block) to economically connect various blocks within the Kashipur Campus.CBSE sample paper 2022-23 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Ethernet cable (twisted pair) — CBSE’s marking scheme answer, for the word economically. The layout earns the other half mark.

Revise: Twisted Pair Cable

4
Draw the cable layout to efficiently connect various buildings within the MUMBAI campus. Which cable would you suggest for the most efficient data transfer over the network?CBSE sample paper 2024-25 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

CBSE’s marking scheme gives co-axial cable, and its next answer mentions optical fibre. Name one with a reason: co-axial for better shielding and more bandwidth than twisted pair, or optical fibre for the highest speed.

Revise: Which Cable, Where?

5
Name any two wired media that can be used to connect various computers of a block inside the campus.CBSE board exam 2026 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Any two of twisted pair, co-axial and fibre-optic cable.

6
Write any two differences between fibre-optic cable and co-axial cable.CBSE compartment exam 2023
2 marks
▶Show the answer
  1. Fibre-optic cable carries light through glass; co-axial cable carries electric signals through copper.
  2. Fibre-optic cable has higher bandwidth, reaches longer distances and is not affected by electrical noise; co-axial has lower bandwidth and uses a braided shield against noise.

Revise: Which Cable, Where?

7
Which of the following transmission media has the highest bandwidth? (A) Co-axial cable (B) Fibre optic cable (C) Twisted pair cable (D) None of theseKV pre-board 2024-25, Ahmedabad region
1 mark
▶Show the answer

(B) Fibre optic cable

3Wireless media

8
________ is used for point-to-point communication or unicast communication such as radar and satellite. (a) Infrared waves (b) Bluetooth (c) Microwaves (d) RadiowavesCBSE board exam 2023
1 mark
▶Show the answer

(c) Microwaves

Revise: Microwaves

9
Which of the following networking media is uni-directional and most appropriate to be used for long distance wireless communication? (A) Radio waves (B) Infrared (C) Bluetooth (D) MicrowavesCBSE compartment exam 2026
1 mark
▶Show the answer

(D) Microwaves

Revise: Microwaves

10
Which fast and very effective wireless transmission medium should preferably be used to connect the head office at DELHI with the campus in CHENNAI?CBSE sample paper 2023-24 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Microwave — CBSE’s marking scheme answer.

Revise: Microwaves

11
The University will provide its own 24 × 7 FM channel within the campus. Which communication medium is used by FM? (A) Radio Waves (B) Micro Waves (C) Infrared WavesCBSE board exam 2026 (case study)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

(A) Radio Waves

Revise: Radio Waves

12
Write names of any two wireless transmission media.CBSE compartment exam 2025 (part of a 2-mark question)
1 mark
▶Show the answer

Any two of radio waves, microwaves and infrared waves.

4Wired vs wireless

13
Write one advantage and one disadvantage of wired over wireless communication.CBSE compartment exam 2023
2 marks
▶Show the answer

Advantage: more reliable, secure and faster, with less interference, because the signal is guided along a cable.

Disadvantage: cables must be laid to every device, which is costly and difficult over long distances, and devices cannot move about.

Revise: Wireless Compared, and Wired vs Wireless

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⚖️ Wireless Compared, and Wired vs Wireless