Communications hardware Flashcards
1
Q
Hubs
A
- connects any computers together
- broadcast input signal from one port to all other ports on the hub
- if there’s lots of traffic then the network packets will collide slowing down the network speed
- used to make a star network
- each computer needs its own cable directly to the hub
2
Q
Switch
A
- advanced form of network hub
- when message arrives, it transmits it to the destination device
- by switching the connection between ports, devices can make use of the full bandwidth without collisions
3
Q
Router
A
- will forward data packets between different computer networks
- reads the final destination address of the packet and then sets it to a router that is closer to the destination
4
Q
Modem
A
- Modulator Demodulator - device which modulates a computer’s digital signal into an analogue signal for transmission over an existing telephone line
- allows computers to connect to networks over long distance using the existing telephone networks
- dial-up modems operate at transmission speeds of about 60 kilo bits per second (very slow)
5
Q
Wireless access point
A
- uses wi-fi to connect
- cables don’t need to be laid, but does have security risks
- encryption can prevent outside users from reading the data packets
- wireless networks tends to be slower than wired ones