How it works
A cable offers consistency; wireless offers reach. The right answer depends on what the connection is being asked to carry and where the device has to sit.
Recommend based on the requirement in the scenario. A stationary device carrying steady traffic is a poor argument for wireless, and a device that must move is a poor argument for cable.
Common error
Faster is not automatically better. A recommendation that ignores placement, cost, or interference has answered a simpler question than the one asked.
Worked example
Choose connectivity for a stationary recording station and tablets that move between rooms.
Evidence
Recording station: large continuous uploads
Tablets: frequent movement
Cable available at recording deskUse the available wired connection for the recording station to reduce radio interference and shared-airtime variability. Use managed wireless for the mobile tablets. The choice follows workload and mobility; a nominal wireless speed rating alone does not determine effective performance.
Exercises
2.4.1
A stationary exam computer repeatedly loses wireless service in a crowded room. Name a suitable alternative and one verification measure.
Show solution
Use an approved wired Ethernet connection if the room permits it. Verify stable access to the exam application and measure loss or response time under the expected workload.
2.4.2
Why might adding wireless bandwidth fail to solve a client problem caused by poor placement behind a concrete wall?
Show solution
Propagation and obstruction can limit signal quality regardless of advertised throughput. Evaluate access-point placement or an approved additional coverage point and test in the actual location.