YEAR 8: MAKING CONNECTIONS

Making Connections

Connections to the internet can be made through wires and wirelessly.
For a network to function correctly, they need different pieces of hardware. Each hardware has it own very important role.

Hardware

The important network hardware include:
a) Servers e)Ethernet cable
b) Network Interface Controller d) Fibre-optic cable
c)Switch
d) Wireless Access Point
e) Router

QUESTION

Write down the role of each of the mentioned networking hardware, use your learner's book only , pg 14-15

Disadvantages of wired connections

a) Wired connections are expensive to install.
b) Devices connected by cabling are not portable, as they can only move as far as the wire can allow.

Wireless Connections

​Method of wireless transmission	​Bandwidth
​Wi - Fi	​9.6 Mbps
​Bluetooth	​2 Mbps
​3G	​3 Mbps
​4G	​8 - 10 Mbps
​5G	​100 Mbps

​Disadvantages

1. Wireless networks are often subjected to interferences.

2. Data transmitted through wireless connection can be intercepted easily

3. Wireless networks are often slower than wired networks

​Types of wireless networks

Different types of wireless networks fit into three categories::
a) WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network)
b) WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)
c) WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network)

TYPES OF WIRELESS NETWORK

wireless personal area network
This is a type of PAN that can be connected using wireless technology only. This is most often bluetooth , as PANS usually does not need to connect devices 10 meters away.

TYPES OF WIRELESS NETWORK

Wireless Local Area Network
Is often used in homes and in small businesses located in one building over a small geographical area. Here devices connect to WLAN using Wi-Fi, as transmission distance of wi-fi is 9 meters without obstruction.

TYPES OF WIRELESS NETWORK

Wireless Wide Area Network
Are types of wide area network that are often used for telecommunication by mobile devices using 3G,4G,5G. Devices connect to mast or tower, which can be done over a distance of up to 15 kilometers