Communication and Internet Technologies Flashcards
Give examples of different transmission media
Cable, Wireless
State the different options of cables
Twisted Pair, Coaxial, Fibre Optic
Which cables use copper for data transmission?
Twisted Pair and Coaxial
What factors need to be taken into account when looking at the suitability for choosing cable for an application
Cost, Bandwidth/Data Rate, Attenuation at high frequency, Interference, Need for Repeaters
Which 2 factors of cabling can lead to poor performance?
THe likelihood of interference affecting transmitted signals and the extent of attenuation (deterioration of the signal) when high frequencies are transmitted.
What can you do to combat the 2 factors that can lead to poor performance?
Repeaters/Amplifiers or transmission lines
State the factors for Twisted Pair cabling
Cost - Lowest Bandwith - Lowest Attentuation at High Frequency - Affected Interference - Worst Affected Need for Repeaters - More Often
State the factors for Coaxial cabling
Cost - Higher than twisted
Bandwith - higher than twisted
Attentuation at High Frequency - Most affected
Interference - Less Affected than Twisted
Need for Repeaters - More Often
State the factors for Fibre Optic cabling
Cost - Highest Bandwith - Much higher Attenuation at High Frequency - Least affected Interference - Least Affected Need for Repeaters - Less Often
Which cabling works best for new installations?
Fibre-Optic.
Why would copper cabling be used?
Where copper cable is already installed the cost of replacement may not be justified
Where is twisted pair cabling used?
Phone lines
Where is coaxial cabling used?
Cable television companies.
Where is fibre optic cabling used?
Long distance communication (replaced coaxial)
State the 3 types of wireless transmission?
Radio, Microwave, Infrared
What are the differences between the wireless transmissions?
The frequency of the waves
What are the factors discussed when deciding on wireless media?
Bandwidth, attenuation, need for repeaters, directional focusing capability, penetration through a wall, interference
State the factors for radio transmission
Bandwidth - lowest Attenuation - lowest Need for repeaters - lowest Directional focusing capability - lowest Penetration through the wall - best Interference - N/A
State the factors for microwave transmission
Bandwidth - middle Attenuation - middle Need for repeaters - middle Directional focusing capability - middle Penetration through the wall - middle Interference - N/A
State the factors for infrared transmission
Bandwidth - highest
Attenuation - highest
Need for repeaters - highest
Directional focusing capability - highest
Penetration through the wall - lowest (Worst)
Interference - N/A
Give situations where infrared is most useful
Indoor applications due to the increased attenuation
What is the most common form of data transmission
Microwave
What is guided and unguided media
Guided - Cable
Unguided - Wireless
What are the advantages of using transmission through a cable
- As wireless transmission frequencies is regulated by government agencies and so permission has to be obtained before wireless transmission is used
- Interference is much more significant for wireless transmission
What are the advantages of using wireless transmission
- You need permission to have cables put into the ground from the landowner
- Repeated are needed less often for wireless transmission
- Mobile phones dominate internet use - and these use wireless
Give examples of how wireless or wired transmission could be used for a scenario
Global communication where fibre optic cables are laid underground or on the sea bed whilst wireless use satellite transmission.
Home or small office
What is the difference between a WAN and the internet
Internet - a network of networks that allow computers to communicate using protocols.
WAN - A network over a large distance
What is a problem with the internet?
It has no design plan as it is evolving so has no defined structure.
What is the function of an ISP?
It is a hierarchical structure for the internet where it gives internet access to an individual or company (an access ISP).
How do ISPs work
Access ISP connects to Middle Tier (Regional ISP) which is connected to Tier 1 ISPS (backbone ISPS - content providers)
State what is meant by an ISP
It is a network and connection between different ISPS which are handled by Internet exchange points.
State what is meant by a PSTN
Public switched telephone network - uses fibre optic cables to help people send and receive data
How has the introduction of fibre optic cables helped PSTNs?
Improved leased line services to ISPs but has also allowed PSTNs to provide their own ISP service.
State the two different services that PSTN ISPs can provide
- Broadband network connection for traditional network access
- WiFi hotspot technology which allows people to access the internet, t through their mobile device if they are are near a specified hotspot
How do users of mobile phones gain access to the internet?
Mobile phone companies act as an ISP.
The mobile phone is equipped with appropriate software that communicates with a cell tower to access the wireless telephone network which then provides a connection the internet
State the 3 different types of communication satellites
GEO (geostationary earth orbit - the highest over the equator); MEO (medium-Earth orbit); LEO (low earth orbit)
State how GEO satellites are used
Long distance telephone and computer network communication.
How many GEO satellites do you need?
3
State how MEO satellites are used
Provide our global positioning system (GPS)
How many MEO satellites do you need?
10
State how LEO satellites are used
Support mobile phone networks (like a constellation)
How many LEO satellites do you need?
50 but we have several hundred
What is the advantages of using satellites?
Due to being high above the ground it can act as a component in a network and can connect with other components that are separated by great geographical distances - something that ground components would find hard.
What are the disadvantages of using satellites?
The greater the distance = the greater the transmission delays which cause problems
What is meant by the world wide web (www)?
a distributed application which is available on the internet.
It consists of an enormous collection of websites and web pages which contain hyperlinks.
The internet is a mesh structure. What device acts as a node?
The router
What device is needed when networks of a different underlying technology need to communicate?
Gateway which provide the same function of a router
What is the definition of a server?
A specialised type of computer hardware designed to provide functionality when connected to a network. The server provides a service for the users
Give different examples of the different types of servers
Application Server Web Server Domain Name Server File Server Proxy Server
State what is meant by a server farm
File server functionality is often provided by a server farm - where a number of servers work together in a clustered configuration