
70 Data Communications and Computer Networks
Table 4.1 Differences Between Guided and Unguided Media
Guided media Unguided media
• Signal is transmitted by establishing a physical path
between the source and destination.
• No physical path is established between the source
and destination; signals are propagated through air.
• Signals propagate in the form of current or voltage. • Signals propagate in the form of electromagnetic
waves.
• Guided media are well suited for point-to-point com-
munication.
• Unguided media are well suited for broadcast com-
munication.
• Examples of guided media are twisted-pair cables,
coaxial cables and fibre- ...