WEEK 6 QUESTIONS

1. Describe the basic telecommunications system?


A telecommunications system consists of hardware and software that transmit information from one location to another. These systems can transmit text, data, graphics, voice, documents, or full-motion video information with two basic types of signals, analog and digital. The main components of a telecommunications system includes devices, communications processors and communication channels and media.
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2. Compare and contrast the main wired communications channels ? (Ethernet & Fibre Optic)


The two main wired communications channels are ethernet and fibre optic channels. Ethernet is a local area network protocol. Many companies use ethernet, usually gigabit, which means the network provides data transmission speeds of 1 billion bits per second. Fibre Optic Cables also transmit information, however the information is transmitted via light pulses generated by lasers.






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


Businesses use networks for many reasons. Some of these reasons include networked computer systems enable organisations to be more flexible so that they can adapt to rapidly changing business conditions; networks enable companies to share hardware, computer applications and data across the organisation and among organisations; networks make it possible for geographically dispersed employees and workgroups to share documents, ideas and creative insights.






4. What is the difference between LANs and WANs?


A Local Area Network (LAN) connects two or more devices in a limited geographical region, usually within the same building, so that every device on the network can communicate with every other device. On the other hand, Wide Area Networks (WANs) are networks that cover large geographic areas and typically connect multiple LANs. They are generally provided by common carriers such as telephone companies and the international networks of global communications service providers






5. What is a network protocol?


The network protocol is the set of rules and procedures governing transmission across a network






6. Describe TCP/IP protocol.


TCP/IP protocol is a file transfer protocol that can send large files of information across sometimes unreliable networks with the assurance that the data will arrive uncorrupted