[MLB-WIRELESS] Whats Faster ??

Steve Smithies steve42 at gmx.net
Tue Aug 12 16:49:42 EST 2003


MP> I am wondering what is faster for transfering data. ie. Out of Wireless
MP> (2.4Ghz), Copper (Cat5e etc) and Fibre Optic, which signal travels the
MP> fastest from point A to point B ??

A bit of googling reveals that the propogation speed of a signal
through copper is 2x10^8m/s.  The speed of light is 3x10^8m/s.  Light
through glass (refractive index of 1.5) is 2x10^8m/s (divide the speed
of light by the refractive index to get the speed of light in
something)... So through copper and through fibre are essentially the
same.

As a side note, the actual flow of electrons in copper is much much
slower. I've gone and forgotten the formula, but remember at high
school calculating that for something carrying like 2 amps through
2mm wire, the electrons were only moving about 6cm/second.

SStteevvee (procrastinator extraordinaire).


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