Define serial transmission.
Serial transmission is where one bit is sent after the other down a single data line.
Define parallel transmission.
Parallel data transmission is where multiple bits are sent simultaneously down several data lines.
What are the benefits of serial over parallel transmission.
Cheaper = there is only one wire in single data transmission but parallel requires multiple wires so it is more expensive than serial
More reliable = Parallel experiences:
Define asynchronous transmission.
Data is transmitted when it is available, rather than at specific intervals or according to a clock signal. This means that there can be periods of time when the transmission channel is idle.
Define synchronous transmission.
In synchronous data transmission, streams of bits are transferred over a communication channel at a constant rate.
The transmitter and the receiver are synchronised using a common clock signal.
Compare synchronous and asynchronous transmission.
Asynchronous
Synchronous
What are the purposes of start and stop bits in asynchronous data transmission?
Synchronise the receiver’s clock signals to the transmitter clock
OR start the receiver’s clock ticking
Define bit rate.
The rate for the number of bits transmitted across a communications channel per second.
Define baud rate.
The rate for the number of times the signal changes per second.
A symbol corresponds to a set of bits that are transmitted with every signal change.
So baud rate represents the symbol rate of a channel
Define bandwidth.
The range of signal frequencies that can be transmitted across a transmission medium.
Define latency.
The delay from the time that a signal is sent, to the time that it is received.
Define protocol.
A protocol is a set of rules that govern the communication between devices
Define broadband.
A multiple data channel system in which the bandwidth of the transmission medium carries several data streams at the same time.
Define hand-shaking protocol.
The sending and receiving devices exchange signals to establish that they are each ready to initiate data transfer.
When is there a difference in bit rate and baud rate?
Bit rate can be higher than baud rate if more than one bit is encoded in each signal change.
What is the relationship between bit rate and bandwidth?
Bit rate is directly proportional to bandwidth.
Describe in detail the principles of a physical star topology.
What is a logical bus topology?
Differentiate between physical and logical topologies.
A physical topology is the arrangement of wiring between devices in a network.
A logical topology is how data packets flow in a network/the architecture of communication mechanisms in a network.
Explain peer-to-peer networking with situations it is used in.
Explain client-server networking with situations it is used in.
What is WiFi and its purpose?
Describe a wireless network adapter as a crucial component for wireless networking.
It is a physical device which is required to connect to a wireless network.
It is use to convert data into a form so that it can be transmitted across the network and in a wireless network the data needs to be converted into radio waves.
(In wired it would be voltages through a wire or pulses of light through fibre)
Describe a wireless access point as a crucial component for wireless networking.