Section 2.1: Transmission Basics and Networking Media

Learning Objectives

After completing this section, you should be able to

• describe the various classes of networking media and how data is transmitted in each;
• explain how data are encoded for transmission;
• list and describe the features of networking media and modes of data transmission.

Tasks

• Study Chapter 3 of the TD textbook.
• Complete hands-on Project 3-1.
• Complete Case Project 3-3.

Study Questions

You may want to use the Personal Study Space wiki to answer these questions, which may require some Internet research. You can also post comments and queries in the Unit 2 Forum.

1. At which layer of the OSI reference model does networking media reside?
2. What does the term transmission mean in data networking?
3. What are analog signals?
4. What are digital signals?
5. What is overhead in computer networking?
6. What is modulation?
7. What is frequency modulation (FM)?
8. What is amplitude modulation (AM)?
9. What are simplex, duplex, and half-duplex transmission?
10. What is a communication channel?
11. What is multiplexing?
12. What does a multiplexer (MUX) do?
13. What does a demultiplexer do?
14. How does time division multiplexing (TDM) work?
15. How does statistical multiplexing work?
16. How does wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) work?
17. What does a fiber-optic modem do?
18. What is a point-to-point transmission?
19. What is broadcasting transmission?
20. What is webcasting?
21. What is throughput?
22. What is bandwidth?
23. What is baseband? How is data represented in a baseband communication channel?
24. What is broadband? How is data represented in a broadband communication channel?
25. What is electromagnetic interference (EMI)?
26. What is radio frequency interference (RFI)?
27. What is attenuation?
28. What does a repeater do in data communication?
29. What is the most significant factor you have to consider when choosing transmission media?
30. What cost factors do you need to consider when choosing transmission media?
31. What is latency?
32. What are some general means to protect transmission media from noises?
33. What is the structure of coaxial cables?
34. What are some common types of coaxial cables?
35. What are the main properties of thickwire Ethernet?
36. What are transceivers, MAU, drop cable, and AUI in Thicknet?
37. What are the main properties of Thinnet, or thin Ethernet?
38. What kinds of connectors are used in Thinnet?
39. What is a twisted-pair cable? Why are the wires twisted?
40. What is crosstalk?
41. What are the differences between UTP and STP?
42. How are UTP cables categorized?
43. How are wires in a UTP cable colored?
44. How are computer networks specified in the 10BaseT Ethernet networking standard?
45. What is an enterprise-wide network?
46. What is the general structure of a fiber-optic cable?
47. What is a single-mode fiber?
48. What is a multimode fiber?
49. What are the main features of fiber-optic cable?
50. How are computer networks specified in the 10BaseF Ethernet networking standard?
51. How are computer networks specified in the 10BaseFX Ethernet networking standard?
52. How should network cables be installed in a commercial building according to TIA/EIA structured cabling standard?
53. What are punch-down blocks, patch panels, and patch cables in network cabling?
54. What wires of UTP are used for transmitting data in Thicknet, and what wires are used to receive data?
55. What is a straight-through cable according to TIA/EIA?
56. What is a crossover cable?
57. What are atmospheric transmission media?
58. What is infrared transmission?
59. What is the throughput of infrared transmission, and what is the maximum distance?
60. What is RF transmission?
61. What is narrowband RF transmission?
62. What is spread spectrum RF transmission?
63. How do you choose the right transmission media for your network?