Chapter 5: Telecommunications, Wireless Technologies, and Computer Networks Succeeding with Technology: Second Edition

Chapter 5: Telecommunications, Wireless Technologies, and Computer Networks

Succeeding with Technology: Second Edition

Succeeding with Technology 2

Objectives

Understand the fundamentals of data communications and the criteria for choosing a communications medium

Explain how networking media, devices, and software work together to provide data networking services, and describe the benefits of various types of media


Objectives (continued)

List and describe the most popular forms of wireless telecommunications technologies

List the different classifications of computer networks and their defining characteristics, and understand the basics of wireless home networking


Fundamentals of Telecommunications Communications

Transmission of a signal by way of a medium

Signal

Contains message comprised of data and information

Communication medium

Anything that carries a signal between a sender and a receiver



Telecommunications and Data Communications Telecommunications

Electronic transmission of signals for communications

Data communications Electronic transmission and reception of digital data

Telecommunications network Connects communications and computing devices

Networking media Anything that carries an electronic signal



Characteristics of Telecommunications Analog signal

Fluctuates continuously Digital signal

Discrete voltage State is either high or low

Bandwidth Data transmission rate Measured in bits per second (bps)

Broadband Connection that is always on or active




Networking Media, Devices, and Software – Networking Media Twisted pair cable

Consists of pairs of twisted wires covered with an insulating layer

Coaxial cable Consists of an inner conductor wire surrounded by

insulation, a conductive shield, and a cover Fiber-optic cable

Consists of thousands of extremely thin strands of glass or plastic bound together in a sheathing



Networking Devices

Modems Modulates and demodulates signals Cable modem

Provides Internet access over a cable television network

DSL modem Provides high-speed Internet service over

telephone lines Network adapter

Computer circuit board, PC Card, or USB device



Network Control Devices

Hubs Used as a central point for connecting a series of

computers Switches

Fundamental part of most networks Repeaters

Connect multiple network segments Bridges

Connect two or more network segments



Network Control Devices (continued) Gateways

Network points that act as an entrance to another network

Routers Can divide a single network into two logically

separate networks Wireless access point

Receives and transmits data to wireless adapters Firewall

Device or software that filters the information coming onto a network


Industrial Telecommunications Media and Devices Microwave transmission

Also called terrestrial microwave Line-of-sight medium

Communications satellite Basically a microwave station placed in outer space




Industrial Hardware

T1 line Carries twenty-four 64-Kbps signals on one line

T3 line Carries 672 signals on one line

Devices commonly used to control and protect industrial-level telecommunications: Multiplexer Communications processor Encryption devices


Networking Software

Monitors the load, or amount of traffic, on the network

Can provide data security and privacy Network administrator

Person responsible for setting up and maintaining the network


Networking Software (continued) Network Operating Systems

Perform same functions for network as operating system software performs for a computer

Network Management Software Facilitates monitoring of individual computers and

shared hardware

Communications Protocols and Standards Ethernet: most widely used network standard for

private networks


Wireless Telecommunications Technology - Cell Phone Technologies Cellular network

A radio network Geographic area is divided into cells with a

transceiver antenna and station at the center of each cell

Cellular carrier Company that builds and maintains cellular network Provides cell phone service to the public



Cellular Service Plans

Calling plans are defined by usage in three time frames: Whenever, or anytime, minutes with no time

restrictions Weeknight minutes

Monday through Friday, 9:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. or 6:59 a.m.

Weekend minutes Saturday 12:00 a.m. to Sunday 11:59 p.m.



Pagers

Small, lightweight devices that receive signals from transmitters

Types of paging systems National and regional systems

Set up transmission towers to cover large geographic areas

On-site paging systems Use small desktop transmitters to send pages over

a small wireless network


Global Positioning Systems

Uses satellites to pinpoint the location of objects on earth

Using a GPS receiver and a network of 24 satellites GPS can tell exact location of receiver on the earth’s

surface GPS

Originally developed for national security and later extended for public use



Wireless Fidelity and WiMAX Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)

Makes use of access points to wirelessly connect users to networks within a range of 250–1000

Standards Known as the 802.11 family of standards Developed by the Institute of Electrical and

Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Developed to support wireless computer networking

within a limited range at broadband speeds



Wireless Fidelity and WiMAX (continued) WiMAX

Known as IEEE 802.16 Faster and longer range than Wi-Fi WiMAX antenna has 31-mile range

Perfect for city-wide Internet access Seattle’s Space Needle has a WiMAX antenna Intel and Nokia are strongly supporting WiMAX


Bluetooth

Enables digital devices to communicate directly with each other wirelessly over short distances

Communicates at speeds of up to 1 Mbps within a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters)

Can connect devices to a computer network using access points like Wi-Fi

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Compete in some areas, but have unique qualities




Infrared Transmission

Involves sending signals through the air via light waves

Slower than both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Uses light rather than broadcast technology Ideal for secure data transmissions


Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Uses tiny transponders in tags that can be

Attached to merchandise or other objects Read using an RFID transceiver or reader for the

purpose of identification Primarily used to track merchandise from supplier to

retailer to customer



Networks and Distributed Computing Within a private network

Computing resources are shared in order to maximize computing power

Computer Includes devices for input, processing, storage, and

output Components can be distributed throughout a

computer network



Computer Networking Concepts Nodes

Devices attached to a network Workstations

Computers attached to a network Local resources

Files, drives, or other peripheral devices connected to the workstation and accessible via the network

Network resources Workstation accesses over the network

Distributed Computing Multiple remote computers working together


Network Types

Personal area network (PAN) Interconnecting personal information technology

devices Local Area Network (LAN)

Connects computer systems within same building Intranet

Uses protocols of the Internet and the Web within the confines of a private network

Virtual Private Network (VPN) Enables private Internet communications



Network Types (continued)

Metropolitan area network (MAN) Connects networks within a city or metropolitan-size

area into a larger high-speed network Wide area network (WAN)

Connects LANs and MANs between cities, across country, and around the world

Global Networks A WAN that crosses an international border

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Connects corporate computer systems



Home Networks

Allow residents to Share a single Internet connection Share a single printer between computers Share files such as images, music, and programs Back up copies of important files to another PC for

safekeeping Participate in multiplayer games. Share output from devices such as a DVD player or

Webcam


Summary

Telecommunications Refers to the electronic transmission of signals for

communication Types of cables used in telecommunications

Twisted pair cables, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable

Networking devices include Modems, network adapters, network control

devices, RFID devices, and pagers


Summary (continued) Cellular network

Radio network Geographic area is divided into cells with a

transceiver antenna (tower) and station at the center of each cell

Server computers Used to distribute data, files, and programs to users,

or clients, on the network Home networks

Used to share hardware, files, and a common Internet connection

Documents

Chapter 5: Telecommunications, Wireless Technologies, and Computer Networks Succeeding with Technology: Second Edition