Communication devices Flashcards
Hub
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
Switch
Receives data packets, processes and transfers them onto a specific device, It has a high bandwidth and is very secure but is expensive
Modem
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
Router
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.
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
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
Combined device
Provides functionality of multiple communication devices in a single device. Its is adaptable with increased performance but is expensive and complex
Network interface card (NIC)
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.