Transcript Sending and receiving devices

Term 2, 2011
Week 3
CONTENTS
• Home networks
– Ethernet network
– Phone line network
– Power line network
– Wi-Fi network
• Questions
• Multiple computers in a home or home office can
be connected via a home network.
• Advantages include: simultaneous access to the
internet and access to files on other machines,
computers can share peripherals (i.e. scanner,
printer etc.), each computer can then play
multiplayer games with players on other
computers in the house.
• Four types of home networks: Ethernet, phone
line, power line and Wi-Fi.
Ethernet
• Requires connecting each computer to a
cable.
• Cables can be ran through walls, ceilings and
floors.
• Hardware and software can be difficult to
configure for the average home user.
Phone line network
• More popular in the US than Australia.
• Easy-to-install and inexpensive. Uses existing
telephone lines. You connect one end of a
cable into a computer, and the other into a
telephone jack.
• Does not interfere with voice transmission
over the telephone line (i.e. you can talk on
the phone and use the internet at the same
time).
Power line network
• The existing low-voltage power lines in homes
and organisations can be used to transmit
data.
• Uses the electricity cables in the premises.
One end of the cable plug into the computers
USB port, and the other into a power socket.
• The data transmits through the existing power
lines to another networked computer.
Wi-Fi network
• Uses radio waves to send signals over a distance
of up to 50m. Each computer accessing the
network needs built-in wireless networking
capabilities or a wireless networking card, which
communicates with a combination routerwireless access point.
• Even in this situation, one computer will often
connect to the router via a cable.
• Advantageous as computers can access the
network from different parts of the house,
however strength of signals do become weaker
and this reduces transfer rates.
• Many vendors offer home-networking
packages that include all the necessary
hardware and software.
• Some also offer intelligent networking
capabilities. An intelligent home network also
extends the basic home network to include
features such as lighting control, thermostat
adjustment and a security system
Questions
• Describe the advantages of setting up a home network.
• There are three common types of home networks.
What are they? Which one would you choose and
why?
• Suggest a home network for the Jacksons who live in a
suburban area and have three teenage children.
Include what security measures they will need to
consider, and provide them with a quote for the setup
of the overall network (including desktops/laptops,
other necessary hardware, cables, modems/routers
etc.).