Unit 2 COMPUTER NETWORK

At the end of this unit, learners will be able to:

ƒExplain transmission media.
ƒDescribe telecommunications network.
ƒExplain mobile and cellular communications.
ƒAnalyze satellite networks.
ƒDiscuss data communication.
ƒConceptualize the use of Internet protocols
(IP).
 What is computer network
• computer network is the connection of two or
more computers or communication devices
connected by transmission media and guided
by a set of rules for communication purposes
that allow users to communicate with each
other and share applications and data.
• The fundamental components of a network are
devices, media, messages and protocols.
 Network Media (Transmission Media)
• For data to be transmitted from one location to another, a
physical pathway or medium must be used.
• These pathways are called transmissions media and can be
either physical or wireless.
• The physical transmission use wire, cable, and other
tangible materials; wireless transmission media send
communications signals through the air or space.
• The physical transmission media are generally referred to
as cable media (example, twisted pair wire, coaxial cable,
and fiber optic cable).
• Wireless media include cellular radio, microwave
transmission, satellite transmission, radio and infrared
media.
 Three types of media
• ƒCopper cables
• ƒGlass or plastic fibers (fiber optic cable)
• ƒWireless transmission
Categories of Network Media (Transmission
Media)
• The transmission medium can be divided into
two broad categories:
• wired or guided media and
• wireless or unguided media
 Guided (Wired) Media
• Guided media are those that provide a conduit from
one device to another.
• These include twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable and
fiber-optic cable.
• A signal traveling along any of these media is directed
and contained by the physical limits of the medium.
• Twisted-pair and coaxial cables use metallic (copper)
conductors that accept and transport signals in the
form of electric current.
• Optical fiber is a cable that accepts and transports
signals in the form of light
 Twisted-pair Cable
• A twisted pair consists of two conductors
(normally copper), each with its plastic
insulation, twisted together.
• One of the wires is used to carry signals to the
receiver and the other is used only as a ground
reference.
• In addition to the signal sent by the sender on
one of the wires, interference (noise) and
crosstalk may affect both wires and create
unwanted signals.
 Cont…
• Fundamentally, twisted pairs are classified as
• unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) and
• shielded twisted-pair (STP)
• Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) isthe most common
form of network cable.
• This cable format is used for the Ethernet wiring
standards which are managed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
• These wiring standards are referred by code 802.3.
• The Ethernet standards include specifications of
cable configurations and the types of connectors
used to plug cables into devices.
 Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP)
• Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) is the most
common form of network cable.
• This cable format is used for the Ethernet wiring
standards which are managed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
• These wiring standards are referred by code 802.3.
• The Ethernet standards include specifications of
cable configurations and the types of connectors
used to plug cables into devices.
 UTP Cable Connectors
• The most common UTP connector is RJ45. RJ
stands for registered jack, implying that the
connector follows a standard borrowed from the
telephone industry
• The RJ45 is a keyed connector, meaning the
connector can be inserted in only one way.
• UTP cabling, terminated with RJ45 connectors, is
a common copper-based medium for
interconnecting network devices such as
computers with intermediate devices like routers
and network switches.
Cont…
 Cont…
• UTP cables are wired according to different
wiring conventions.
• The individual wires in the cable have to be
connected in different orders to different sets of
pins in the RJ45 connectors.
• Ethernet straight-through and Ethernet crossover
are the main cable types that are obtained by
using specific wiring conventions
Cross-over cable
Straight through
 Cont…
• The straight-through is the most common type
and is used to connect computers to hubs or
switches (connect different network devices).
• They are most likely what you will find when
you go to your local computer laboratory.
• Crossover Ethernet cable is more commonly
used to connect a computer to a computer
(connect similar network devices) and may be a
little harder to find since they are not used
nearly as much as a straight-through Ethernet
cable.
• When electromagnetic signals are conducted on copper
wires that are nearby (such as inside a cable), some
electromagnetic interference occurs.
• This interference is called crosstalk.
• Twisting two wires together as a pair minimizes such
interference and also provides some protection against
interference from outside sources.
• Unshielded twisted pair is subject to external
electromagnetic interference, including interference
from nearby twisted pairs and noise generated in the
environment. In an environment with several sources of
potential interference (for example, electric motors,
wireless devices and radio frequency (RF) transmitters),
a shielded twisted-pair (STP) may be a preferred
 Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)
• This type of cable, consists of a special jacket
to block external interference. It is used in
fast-data-rate Ethernet and voice and data
channels of telephone lines.
 Coaxial Cable
• Coaxial cable, or coax, is designed to carry
higher frequency signals compared to twisted
pair cable due to its unique construction.
• It consists of a central core conductor made of
copper, surrounded by an insulating sheath and
an outer metallic conductor that acts as both a
shield against noise and a second circuit
conductor.
• This outer layer is also insulated and protected
by a plastic cover.
 Cont…
• Coaxial cables come in two main types:
• thick and thin, with diameters ranging from
approximately 4 mm (thin) to 6-18 mm (thick).
• Thick coaxial cables, which carry broadband signals,
provide better noise immunity and are often used for
transmitting analog data like video channels.
• In contrast, thin coaxial cables offer limited noise
isolation and typically carry baseband signals.
• To connect these cables to devices, the most common
connector is the Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC)
connector, which has various types, including the
BNC T connector and BNC terminator.
 Fiber-optic Cable
• Fiber-optic cabling utilizes glass or plastic fibers to transmit
light impulses, encoding data as light rather than electronic
signals, which reduces electrical interference.
• This makes fiber-optic ideal for environments with high
interference and for connecting networks between buildings,
as it is also resistant to moisture and lightning.
• Fiber cables can transmit signals over longer distances and at
higher speeds than coaxial or twisted pair cables, enabling
advanced services like video conferencing.
• There are two main types of fiber cables: single mode, which
allows for greater distances but is more expensive, and
multimode, which has a larger diameter.
• Common connectors for fiber-optic cables include
Subscriber Channel (SC), Straight-Tip (ST), and Mechanical
Fiber optic cable and Fiber-optic cable connectors
 Unguided (Wireless) Media
• Unguided media transport electromagnetic waves
wirelessly, meaning signals are broadcast through free space
and can be received by any compatible device.
• There are three main propagation methods:
• Ground Propagation: Low-frequency radio waves travel
close to the Earth's surface, influenced by signal power.
• Sky Propagation: Higher-frequency waves reflect off the
ionosphere, allowing for greater distances with lower power.
• Line-of-Sight Propagation: High-frequency signals travel
directly between antennas, requiring them to be aligned
and sufficiently tall or close together.
 Radio waves and microwaves
• Radio waves, ranging from 3 kHz to 1 GHz, are
typically omnidirectional, and can travel long
distances, making them suitable for broadcasting
(e.g., AM/FM radio).
• In contrast, microwaves (1 to 300 GHz) utilize
unidirectional communication, requiring alignment
between antennas, which minimizes interference.
• Common antenna types include omnidirectional
antennas for radio waves and
unidirectional( parabolic dish or horn antennas )for
microwaves, both designed to optimize signal
transmission and reception.
Categories of wireless transmission waves and Propagation
methods
 Omnidirectional Antenna vs

Unidirectional Antenna
Omnidirectional Antenna
Microwaves need unidirectional
Radio waves use omnidirectional antennas that
antennas that send out signals in one
send out signals in all directions.
direction.
Based on the wavelength, strength and
Two types of antennas are used for
purpose of transmission, we can have
microwave communications:
several types of antennas
parabolic dish
and horn
 Applications of Microwave Technologies

• Microwaves are ideal for unicast (one-to-one)

communication due to their unidirectional
properties, making them widely used in cellular
phones, satellite networks, and wireless LANs.
• Infrared waves, or infrared light, have longer
wavelengths than visible light and are invisible to
the human eye.
• An example of infrared technology is the remote
control used to change channels on a TV.
 Telecommunications Network
• Telecommunications encompasses all forms of long-
distance communication, including voice, data, text,
images, audio, and video, facilitated by common
carriers like telephone, radio, and television.
• It plays a crucial role in modern organizations,
enabling seamless communication across global
networks, especially for multinational businesses
operating around the clock.
• A telecommunications system consists of compatible
hardware and software that enables the transmission
of information between locations.
• Key components include:
• Hardware: Computers and communication processors (e.g.,
modems).
• Communications Media: Physical channels for signal
transfer, both wired and wireless.
• Communications Networks: Links among computers and
devices.
• Communications Processors: Specialized devices for data
communication functions.
• Communications Software: Controls the transmission
process.
• Data Communications Providers: Entities that offer data
communication services.
• Communications Protocols: Rules for information transfer.
• Communications Applications: Services like EDI,
 Cont…
• A telecommunications system must perform
several key functions to effectively transmit and
receive information, including:
 Transmitting information.
 Establishing the interface between sender and receiver.
 Routing messages efficiently.
 Processing messages to ensure accurate delivery.
 Checking for errors and formatting as needed.
 Converting messages between different speeds and
formats.
 Controlling information flow and maintaining network
information.
 Securing information at all times.
 Cont…
• Telecommunications media can carry two types of signals:
analog and digital.
• Analog signals are continuous waves that vary in amplitude
and frequency, historically used in devices like radios and
telephones. However, there is a shift towards digital signals,
which are discrete on-off pulses represented by 1’s and 0’s.
• Digital signals are less susceptible to interference and easier to
process, particularly in computer systems.
• Communications processors, such as modems, multiplexers,
and concentrators, support data transmission.
• A modem converts digital signals to analog for transmission
over traditional phone lines, a process known as modulation,
with the reverse called demodulation.
• Modems are used in pairs for this conversion.
 The Importance of telecommunications
• Advances in telecommunications technology enable rapid
communication and distance learning, benefiting both the
education and business sectors.
• These technologies facilitate faster information transmission,
essential for effective business operations.
• The range of telecommunications applications includes telephony,
video conferencing, faxing, interactive television, instant
messaging, email, and various web-based communications.
• Telecommunications significantly impact daily life worldwide,
allowing people to develop solutions and support global causes,
contributing to a safer and more connected world.
• For instance, Ethio-telecom is enhancing connectivity by
installing 4G LTE advanced networks across all regions.