Networks

Networks

1. LAN

   • Connection Types
     • WiFi
       • WiFi is a wireless connection type to connect to a LAN, it uses radio waves at around 2.4 GHz to provide a way to send and receive data to and from a device. Any device that has a network interface card can create a network with WiFi such as when using a phone with hotspot enabled. WiFi is generally slower than Ethernet
       • No need for cables and can be used in small devices such as mobile phones
       • Generally slower than Ethernet
       • Connection speeds slow with distance
     • Ethernet
       • Ethernet is a wired connection type used to connect to a LAN using an Ethernet cable to send and receive data. Ethernet is generally faster than WiFi as it isn't limited by transmitting over air.
       • Faster than WiFi
       • Need for Ethernet cables limits mobility and can be annoying to install into walls or ceilings
       • Not affected by distance
   • Hardware
     • Routers
       • A router is a device that connects multiple devices and also manages their connections, most routers today have both WiFi and Ethernet available and have built in modems to connect to the Internet
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     • Switches
       • A switch is a peice of hardware that can connect multiple devices and can connect to other switches which is useful in building large networks of computers.
     • Ethernet Cable
       • The Ethernet cable is a cable that can connect 2 computers together on a network or can be put into a switch or router to connect multiple computers and other devices
     • Network Interface Card
       • The network interface card is found in computers or other devices to be able to connect to the LAN via a Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection. Ones found in computers often have a Ethernet port or has a wifi antenna while smaller devices have very small network interface cards and often use Wi-Fi
     • Peripherals
       • Peripherals are devices that connect to your computer and can be put on a LAN so it can be accessed from different computers e.g. printers
     • Modem
       • The Modem is a device that modulates and demodulates the siginal in the telephone cable and makes it usable in a LAN with a Ethernet cable or for use in Wi-Fi, The phone cables siginal is analog and the ethernet and wifi are digital so they need to be converted

2. WAN

   • Connection Types
   • Hardware
     • Modem
       • A Modem (Modulator Demodulator) is a device that converts (De/Modulates) the analog siginals in phone cables into digital used in your router and Ethernet cables (WiFi uses radio waves has its own modulator)
     • Phone Line Cable
       • The phone line cable is used to connect to an Internet Service Provider which connects lots of computers together creating a WAN (in this case the internet)
     • Servers
       • Web Servers are servers on the internet that provide web services
   • A Wide Area Network is a type of network where lots of LAN networks can connect. The Internet is a WAN and contains the World Wide Web where people can host web pages on servers. To connect to a WAN (The internet in this case) you need an Internet service provider and a network to connect to with a modem that connects to the phone line. The internet is the largest WAN but there are other WANs that work differently
   • Phone Networks
     • A phone network is a network of Cell Towers that provides Internet access while you are not connected to a LAN. A Cell Tower is a tower with radio anntenas attached to communicate using microwave frequency radiowaves a device such as a mobile phone

3. WPAN

   • A Wireless Personal Area Network is a short range network where peripherals pair to a host device and are often used to increase the functionality of the host device. The host is called a Bluetooth enabled device
   • Connection Types
     • Bluetooth
     • Others exist too
   • Because it is connected to the device directly it can be slightly faster because it does not need to go though a switch or router
   • A Bluetooth device cannot be used by multiple devices at once and can only be connected to one single device
   • It stops possible interferance and stops your LAN from growing too large due to peripherals that are only used on one device

4. GPRS

   • GPRS is the protocol that mobile networks operate on, they use radio waves and a cell tower that transmits to and from the phone to connect. GPRS Provides a connection to a mobile network to provide telephone access and provides also internet access

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