1.5 Communication devices

Question 1

Hub B&L

Answer 1

Receives data packets from a connected device and transfers it to all connected nodes. Its easy to use and cheap but has limited bandwidth and can cause traffic

Question 2

Switch B&L

Answer 2

Receives data packets, processes and transfers them onto a specific device, It has a high bandwidth and is very secure but is expensive

Question 3

Modem B&L

Answer 3

Sends data across a telephone network. It converts digital to analog data and vice versa. Can be very fast depending on cost but is vulnerable to hacking and malware

Question 4

Router B&L

Answer 4

Transfers data packets between networks and uses a routing table to find the quickest and shortest path. Its easy to set up and manage with high security but has a limited bandwidth and range.

Question 5

Wireless Access Point (WAP) B&L

Answer 5

Provides a link between wired and wireless networks. It creates WLAN that allows Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect to a network. It has a broad range of transmission but is very expensive

Question 6

Combined device B&L

Answer 6

Provides functionality of multiple communication devices in a single device. Its is adaptable with increased performance but is expensive and complex

Question 7

Network interface card (NIC) B&L

Answer 7

An internal piece of hardware that is required to connect a device to a network. Its inbuilt and a wireless NIC allows wireless network connection. It is fast and reliable but can be expensive with limited transfer speed.