Connecting To The Internet Flashcards
What’s the main difference between analogue and digital signals?
The difference between analogue and digital signals is that analoge signals can take any value within a range whereas digital signals can only be on or off.
This makes a digital wave jump up in steps, whereas an analoge wave changes gradually.
What does ADC stand for?
Analogue-to-digital converter
What does bandwidth mean when talking about radio waves?
Bandwidth means the width of the spectrum that a signal occupies within any signal there are waves that are different frequencies.
What does bandwidth mean when talking about an Internet connection?
When talking about an Internet connection, bandwidth is another word for bit rate, the speed of connection, e.g. megabits per second
What are the advantages and disadvantages of analogue signals?
Analog signals are good for measuring physical quantity is as they change gradually, however analogue signals are more prone to interference and take up more bandwidth than digital signals.
What are the advantages of digital signals?
Digital signals are more reliable as they do not suffer from interference as much as analog signals. Digital signals can carry much more information offering data Internet speed, more TV channels and more interactive opportunities through the TV.
What is a modem?
A modem is a device which is connected between a computer and a phone line or cable connection. A modem is an analogue to digital converter as well as a Digital to analogue converter, it converts signals both ways
What does modem stand for?
Modulator/demodulator
When would you need a wireless router instead of a modem?
If signals are sent to your home as digital signals (a more expensive service), then a modem is not required at is and is replaced with a wireless router.
What does ISP stand for?
Internet service provider
What are three main types of broadband?
- Mobile broadband through the mobile phone network.
- ADSL broadband through traditional phone
- Cable broadband through fibre-optic cables
What is the slowest of all broadband connections?
Mobile broadband
What is a broadband dongle?
And advice which connects to the Internet through the mobile phone network. It is a good backup for when ever your main broadband service may fail.
Why are broadband dongles good?
They are convenient for when travelling, and they are very versatile as they can’t be moved quickly between one device and another as they will work in any device that has a USB connection
What does ADSL stand for?
It stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line, and is the most common form of broadband which uses a phone line
