Task: Learning Journal

Open your Learning Journal by clicking on the image below

Good notes will help you organise and process data and information

PAN (Personal Area Network)

A personal area network (PAN) is used to connect personal devices over a very small area. The most common technology used is Bluetooth, which uses short-range radio signals, and limited transmission power, giving it a very short range of up to 10 metres.

You will create a PAN when you connect a smart watch to a mobile phone, or a wireless headset to your laptop

LAN (Local Area Network)

A LAN (local area network) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link to a server. Typically, a LAN encompasses computers and peripherals connected to a server within a distinct geographic area such as an office or a commercial establishment. - source wikipedia

WAN (Wide Area network)

A WAN (Wide Area network) is a computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs). Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. - source wikipedia

The internet

The internet is the interconnection of all the different networks that we have discussed, and that people have created and are using in different capacities. For example:

• Home users with single LANs
• Users around the world connecting to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through smartphones
• Small and large companies with LANs and WANs
• Governments and ISPs with WANs that span the globe

ISPs interconnect with other ISPs, and this connects everything together into a gigantic WAN. This is the internet

Task:

Open your student workbook at page 6 Read through the notes then complete the following task in your book.

1. Task 2

When you are finished screenshot your answer into your Learning Journal

Wired networks

A typical wired network will comprise a range of devices that are connected through a network Switch. Each device will be connected to the switch by a cable. Many switches can be joined together to form a larger network.

Most devices are cabled into switches using UTP cables. This type of cable is usually resilient to interference.

An unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable, as shown below, is a common type of cable for connecting computers. It is often referred to as an 'Ethernet cable'.

A UTP cable consists of twisted pairs of copper wires that carry the electrical signal. The twisting and the way that voltage is used in the cable mean that any interference would affect both wires of the pair in the same way, which cancels out the interference. Therefore, there is no need for any outer braiding to shield the inner conductors, and a simple outer plastic cover holds the pairs of wires together. That is why the cable is named an 'unshielded twisted pair cable'.

UTP cables are usually terminated with modular connectors, see below, and are used to connect computers into a hub or a switch. They can only reliably transmit signals over a maximum distance of 100 metres: while this allows for connecting computers in the same room, it prohibits direct connection to another network miles away.

Cables can be tricky to keep tidy and can cause a safety hazard. At home, if you use cables, you may use cable clips to secure a cable to a wall. In the office, cables are often run inside plastic trunking or work may be done to position cables inside wall and ceiling cavities. Problems with keeping cables tidy can mean that it is tricky to relocate or reposition devices.

The speed of an Ethernet network depends on the category of cable and the other network components. For example, "gigabit Ethernet" requires Cat-5e cable, in which all four pairs of twisted wires are used, as well as a gigabit Ethernet switch and gigabit Ethernet network interface cards.

Wireless networks

A typical wireless local area network (WLAN) is based around a central communications device called a wireless access point (WAP). In your home, the wireless access point will probably be part of the network access device (commonly referred to as "the router") provided by your internet service provider (ISP). In larger buildings, there will probably be several discrete wireless access points that allow a wider area to be covered.

Wireless networks are very convenient because users can move around with their devices. However, they can be subject to interference from other wireless devices and some building materials block radio waves.

Connecting to a wireless network

To connect to a wireless network, you need to scan for networks within range of your device. A list of the names of the wireless networks within range will be displayed. The range of a typical wireless network operating on the 2.4GHz band is around 50m indoors, but this will depend on the properties of the building such as wall thickness.

When you have found the network you want to connect to, you will then need to enter the password (key) for the network. When you use a key, the data that passes between a device and the wireless access point will be encrypted.

An open network is one that has been configured so that a password (key) is not required. Open networks are not secure because your data may not be encrypted. You must make sure that any website you access uses the HTTPS protocol which relies on encryption technology to secure connections.

Comparing wired and wireless networks:

Task:

Open your student workbook at page 8 Read through the notes then complete the following task in your book.

1. Task 3

When you are finished screenshot your answer into your Learning Journal