INTERNET extd Flashcards
Factors in Choosing an Internet Connection
Factors to consider when choosing an internet connection include reliability, cost-effectiveness, connection speed, and various other considerations unique to individual needs.
Types of Internet Connectivity
Various means of internet delivery exist, including:
*Cable Connectivity: Utilizes cables for fast and reliable broadband internet transmission.
*Satellite Connectivity: Employs orbiting satellite dishes for broadband internet delivery.
*Dial-up Connectivity: Offers analog internet access through landline phones; known for being slower and more affordable.
*Wireless/Fiber Connectivity: Utilizes wireless frequencies, particularly fiber, for modern internet delivery.
Importance of Internet Service Provider (ISP)
An ISP is vital for internet connectivity, providing a gateway to the Internet. Users don’t incur extra charges while communicating with those using different ISPs. ISPs maintain infrastructure, employ technicians, and offer network services to subscribers.
Necessity of Connection Devices
Laptops, smartphones, desktops, watches, and tablets are essential for internet access. They are the tools used to connect to the internet, ensuring a complete connection. Computers used for internet access require a robust system with specific hardware requirements.
Types of ISPs
In the 1990s, ISPs were categorized into:
Dial-up services
High-speed Internet (broadband)
DSL (Digital Line Subscribers) provided by phone companies.
Role of Modems in Internet Connectivity
Modems are crucial hardware for internet connections, facilitating the transmission of internet signals from telephone lines to computers. They convert analog phone line signals into digital computer signals and vary according to the type of internet connectivity.
Connecting to the Internet: Key Requirements
To establish internet connectivity, essential aspects include various forms of internet delivery (cable, satellite, dial-up, wireless/fiber), the role of an ISP, connection devices (laptops, smartphones, desktops, watches, tablets), and specific hardware like modems to convert signals for various types of internet access.
Modem Varieties for Different Internet Connections
Modems are crucial for internet connections and come in various types, catering to specific internet access types:
Telephone modems for dial-up connections
DSL modems for DSL internet access
Cable modems for cable internet
Satellite modems for satellite-based internet access
Router in Internet Connectivity
Routers serve as crucial hardware for internet connections, distinct from modems. They allow multiple devices to connect to a single internet source, enabling the creation of Wi-Fi networks, thus providing wireless internet access without physical cables.
Network Interface Card (NIC) and its Types
NICs are essential for internet connections and are available in two primary types:
Internal Network Cards: Installed in motherboard slots, requiring network cables for access.
External Network Cards: Used in devices lacking internal NICs, available in wireless or USB-based forms, providing access to networks.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
DSL is a broadband service offering internet connectivity via the telephone network. Unlike dial-up, DSL can function through a single phone line without disrupting regular telephone use. High frequencies are utilized for DSL, leaving low frequencies available for standard phone communication, with filtering devices segregating the frequency bands.
DSL Subcategories
DSL comprises various subcategories, including:
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): Allows faster downstream information flow than upstream.
SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line): Supports consistent speed for both upstream and downstream data transfer.
HDSL (High-data-rate Digital Subscriber Line): A high-speed digital line technology.
Broadband ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Broadband ISDN transfers data over fiber optic telephone lines, not traditional phone wires. It relies on SONET as the physical transport backbone. However, it has been supplanted by newer technologies used for internet connectivity.
VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)
VSAT, standing for Very Small Aperture Terminal, is a satellite communication system commonly employed in military and naval applications, ensuring communication in remote areas. The system functions via a satellite that sends and receives signals from an earth station acting as a central hub, establishing a star topology interconnecting end users with the hub station.
Wireless Internet Connection (WIC)
Wireless Internet Connection (WIC) uses radio frequency, allowing internet access from various locations within network coverage. It offers an “always-on” connection and, being relatively new, enables devices to access the internet within Wi-Fi range of routers.
