Define different Internet bandwidth technologies or link types.
Internet Bandwidth Technologies
A connection to the Internet must precede a connection to a Web site on the Internet. This lesson focuses on the various types of Internet connections. Beyond the various hardware and software used to establish a network connection, you must consider the internet bandwidth technologies or links used to carry the data. They determine how fast Web site data can be sent or received and these bandwidth technologies are the communications gateways between the various LANs of the Internet.
Data is transmitted via Pipes
Data is transmitted throughout a network by a combination of pipes and supporting protocols. "Pipe" is a commonly used word for transmission wire. The measure of how much data can pass through a pipe is known as bandwidth. The size of a communications pipe is measured in terms of how many bits, or binary digits, it can transmit per second.
A pipe is a method used to pass information from one program process to another.
Unlike other types of interprocess communication, a pipe only offers one-way communication by passing a parameter or output from one process to another. The information that is passed through the pipe is held by the system until it can be read by the receiving process.
Pipes are primarily used in programming on Unix systems.
The following series of images below lists the types of pipes organized by speed, slowest to fastest.
Explain the Differences between a Signal, Data, Dandwidth, and Frequency
Here are the explanations for each term:
Signal: A signal is a representation of data that is transmitted from one place to another. It can be in the form of an electrical voltage, sound wave, light wave, or other forms of energy. Signals are used to convey information. They can be:
Analog: Continuous signals that vary smoothly over time, such as a human voice or a radio wave.
Digital: Discrete signals that have distinct levels or values, typically represented by binary code (0s and 1s).
Data:Data refers to any information that is processed, stored, or transmitted by a computer or electronic system. It can be in various forms, including text, numbers, images, audio, and video. Data is the actual content or message that needs to be conveyed, while the signal is the means by which the data is transmitted.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the range of frequencies within a given band that a communication channel can transmit. It is typically measured in hertz (Hz) and indicates the capacity of the channel to carry data. In digital communications, bandwidth is often expressed in bits per second (bps), which measures the data transfer rate. Higher bandwidth means more data can be transmitted over a channel in a given period of time.
Example: If a network has a bandwidth of 100 Mbps (megabits per second), it can theoretically transmit 100 million bits of data every second.
Frequency
Frequency is the number of cycles of a periodic signal that occur in one second. It is measured in hertz (Hz). Frequency determines the pitch of a sound in acoustics or the color of light in optics. In communications, frequency is used to identify different channels and is a key factor in signal modulation and transmission.
Example: The frequency of a typical AM radio signal might be 1,000 kHz (kilohertz), meaning it oscillates 1,000,000 times per second.
Differences and Relationships
Signal vs. Data: A signal is the medium used to convey data. Data is the information being transmitted.
Bandwidth vs. Frequency: Bandwidth refers to the capacity of a channel to carry data, while frequency refers to the rate at which a signal oscillates. Bandwidth is the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies in a given range and determines how much data can be transmitted.
Signal and Frequency: The frequency of a signal determines its properties and how it behaves during transmission. Different signals can use different frequencies to avoid interference.
Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping how communication systems work and how data is transmitted efficiently and effectively.
1) A T1 connection is a leased line generally used to connect companies or universities to the internet. It is recommended for connecting networks and Web servers with high-bandwidth requirements.
2) An E1 is the European equivalent of a T1 line. An E1 line has the greater throughput or data speed at (2.048 Mbps) than a T1 line as a result of less error checking.
3) A T3 connection is leased line operating in similar functionality to the T1/E1 lines. However, a T3 line has a total throughput 9data speed) of 44.74 Mbps, significantly greater than T1/E1.
4) An E3 line is the European equivalent of a T3 line. Like the E1, an E3 performs less frequent error checking and therefore can carry a throughput of 34.64 Mbps.
5) An OC-3 connection provides a throughput rate of 155.52 Mbps. It is sometimes used with ATM technologies.
6) xDSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is a very high-speed connection (greater than 128 kbps) that uses existing copper wires and it is used primarily in the home and small business market.
Bandwidth Technologies
In computer networks, bandwidth is used as a synonym for data transfer rate, the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). Network bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps); modern networks typically have speeds measured in the millions of bits per second (megabits per second, or Mbps) or billions of bits per second (gigabits per second, or Gbps).
Bandwidth is the range of frequencies, the difference between the highest-frequency signal component and the lowest-frequency signal component, an electronic signal uses on a given transmission medium. Like the frequency of a signal, bandwidth is measured in hertz (cycles per second). This is the original meaning of bandwidth, although it is now used primarily in discussions about cellular networks and the spectrum of frequencies that operators license from various governments for use in mobile services.
In business, bandwidth is sometimes used as a synonym for capacity or ability. In this sense, bandwidth usually refers to having time or staffing available to tackle something.
In the next lesson, the various protocols for Internet connection technologies will be discussed in the next lesson.
