What is an advantage of using serial transmission in networking?

Using serial transmission in networking offers several benefits, and one significant advantage is that it typically requires less expensive cabling. This is largely due to the fact that serial transmission sends data one bit at a time over a single channel, allowing for simpler and often cheaper cables to be used compared to parallel transmission, which needs multiple wires to transmit multiple bits simultaneously.

In addition, the design of serial cabling can be more straightforward and less bulky than parallel cabling, which can lead to reduced costs in terms of materials and installation. This economical aspect makes serial communication a popular choice in many applications, especially in longer distances where the challenges of signal degradation come into play.

While other advantages such as improved signal integrity and reduced complexity regarding hardware components are also associated with serial transmission, the cost-effectiveness of cabling is a pivotal reason why many network configurations favor it. The reduced material requirements and operational simplicity make an encompassing economic case for using serial transmission in a range of networking environments.