Week 6 (Tech Guide 4 and 5)

1. Describe the basic telecommunications system?

The telecommunication system is a vast network comprising of both the hardware and software that transmit information from a location to another.

2. Compare and contrast the main wired communications channels ? (Ethernet & Fibre Optic)

Ethernet - The Ethernet cable is a series of wires twisted together to form a cable. The Ethernet protocol is IEEE 802.3. The Ethernet is the most commonly used medium for transporting information.
Fibre Optics - The fibre optics is a series of thin glass fibres that are twisted together to form the Fibre Optic cable. The fibre optic cable uses packets light instead of electic currents as the code of the information. This enables the information to travel faster as the speed of light travels faster then the speed of electric currents.
However, although Fibre Optics cables are much more efficient in speed, it is very expensive, which makes the ethernet the more excepted and most used medium to use.

3. What are the main business reasons for using networks?

The reason for businesses using networks is that it allows more communication channels to open up and allows for more quicker, efficient and precise flow of information and data across the business.

4. What is the difference between LANs and WANs?

The main difference between LANs and WANs is that geographical area they cover. LAN stands for (Local are Network) which encompasses a small geographical area. WAN is the abbreviation of Wide Area Network. WANs cover a much larger geographical area then LANs do and enables a global business to communicate with employees across the globe.

5. What is a network protocol?

The network protocol is a set of rules on how the information is transmitted across the internet using a type of hardware. The most common network protocol is the IEEE 802.3 or ethernet protocol. In this protocol the information travels via twisted wires. The protocol defines how the information travels in packets of electricity through the wires. The protocol demonstrates how the data on both ends of the communication intemperate the information given.

6. Describe TCP/IP protocol.

The TCP/ IP protocol is essentially how the internet works. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and the IP (internet protocol) are a set of rules on how devices communicate with one another. Hence creating on what we know as the internet.