reply.

It is the only way to confirm whether the message received is well understood or
DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING not.
Communication:
9. Noise. It is anything/factor that distracts, disturbs, confuses or otherwise interferes with
Refers to the sending, receiving, and sharing of messages through a given medium. It is the communication at any stage in the communication process. Such distractions include a
technology that holds societies and organizations together and enables them to operate efficiently. moving taxi, train, bad weather like rainfall, fog, storm, ambiguous symbols, bad
Therefore; handwriting, poor telephone connection, inattention, prejudices/bias, and others
Data communication is the transmission of electronic data over some media. The media may be 10.
Noise
cables and microwaves. 11.
Or 12. Encoding Message Decoding
Data communication involves transferring a digital message from one device to another. [Link] Medium Recipient
Data Communication Software 14.
15. Feedback
These are programs used for channeling data via telecommunication lines. They include; 16.
 Microsoft Outlook.
Data Communication tools
 Express Outlook.
 Netscape Navigator. These are objects that help us to communicate or transfer data from device to another.
 Internet Explorer. Some of the tools are electronic and others are manual or mechanical.
 Eudora
Some of the manual data communication tools are;
Elements of Data Communication
Drums
1. Sender/Addresser The computer or device that is used for sending data is called sender, These could transfer messages to nearby areas by sounding.
source or transmitter. In modern digital communication system, the source is usually a
computer. Bells
2. Transmission Medium. The means through which data is sent from one location to Some local bells were used and are still being used in some places to call people and also inform
another is called transmission medium. If the receiver and transmitter are within a building, them about change of programs.
a wire connects them. If they are located at different locations, they may be connected by
telephone lines, fiber optics or microwaves. Threads and containers
3. Receiver/Recipient The device or computer that receives the data is called receiver. The This occurs when two containers are tied together at both ends along with a thread and then you
receiver can be a computer, printer or a fax machine. talk to another person on the other end through the container and thread.
4. Protocols. There are rules under which data transmission takes place between sender and
receiver. The data communication s/w are used to transfer data from one computer to
another. The s/w that the follows same communication protocols can communicate and
Messengers
exchange data.
5. Messages. It is the actual idea/point or real words being communicated as the cause or These can be people moving from door to door carrying messages of a certain sender.
purpose for communication. It may be in terms of text, sound, picture, verbal, non verbal,
etc, which the receiver can read or write. It could be oral or written. This is the Some of the electronic data communication tools are;
information sent out through the system. Popularforms of information include text, Computers
numbers, pictures, audio, and video.
6. Encoding (Modulation). This changes the outgoing digital signals into analog form Mobile phones
readable by a modem. Internet
7. Decoding/Demodulation. This changes in-coming analog signals into a digital format
understood by the processor. Fax machines
8. Feedback. It refers to the receiver’s reaction or reply to the sender’s message.
Communication is effective or complete when the receiver understands and sends back a Radio calls
Radios

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Televisions  You will probably see message telling you that you are entering a networked system when
you logon.
E-mails
 Sometimes you will have the choice to use a selection of printers.
Social networks like facebook, Twitter, WatsApp, Viber, Skype and others  If you have a file server you are also likely to have some space on the server’s disk reserved
for you to save your work.
Other Related Communication terminologies
Telecommunication
NETWORKING TERMS
It describes long distance communication by use of TV signals ie Tele-means far or at a distance.
Servers.
There Tele-communication means communicating or hearing at a distance.
These are computers that provide services to other computers on a network. These network
Telephone computers contain the hard drives, printers, and other resources that are shared with other network
It is a more specific term that describes the long distance conversation between two parties over a computers.
mobile or fixed medium/line.
Clients
Teleprocessing These are computers which use the services provided by the server computer.
This refers to the use of computers and other communication equipment to process, access and use
Gateway
other computer hardware and software located elsewhere.
It establishes communication between host computers and local area networks.
Television- Seeing
Bridge
It means looking at something from a distance only brought nearby by electronic equipment like
satellites, computers, TV signals etc It established communication between different networks.
Telecommuting Standard
It is the ability of individuals to work from home and communicate results with their office It is a way of rating data communication devices and media.
counterparts by using PCs and other communication channels. Telecommuting is virtually moving
to and from office without necessarily having to travel there in person. Client- server systems
This refers to networks that rely on dedicated servers which performs no other task besides network
Teleconferencing/Video-conferencing
services.
This to the use of video and TV cameras to transmit images and sound of participants to a remote
location that has compatible equipment. Peer to peer networks
This refers to networks where any computer on the network can function as both a client and a
COMPUTER NETWORKS
server. Thus, any computer can share its printers and hard drivers with other computer on the
A computer network is a group of computers connected together with the aim of sharing resources, network and can serve other functions like word processing.
such as data/information, software and peripherals like printers, scanners, digital cameras, fax
machines, photocopiers, modems, diskettes etc. Workstation

Networking is a logical grouping or connecting of computers that will share a single or multiple This refers to a computer connected to a network.
resources. IP Address
Note: This interconnection can be by physical medium eg cables or by light- infra-red or by It is a number that uniquely identifies a computer on a network.
another wireless medium.
Link
Characteristics Of A Computer Connected To A Network
It is a physical communication pathway that transfers data from one device to another.
 It allows to send and receive messages
Media Access Control (MAC) Address

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It is a number hard-wired into every network device by the manufacturer so that no two network  Shell Protocol
devices made by any manufacture anywhere in the world can have the same address. It provides a way for the computer to act as a terminal by looking into the programs running on
the ISP’s computers.
Host
 Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)
This refers to a network computer whose main purpose in life is to host shared hard drives and can
It makes the subscriber’s computer become a real node on the computer.
also be called a file server.
Latency  Point to Point Protocol (PPP)
It offers better performance and additional features over SLIP.
This refers to the delay between the time a frame first starts to leave the source device and the time
the first part of the frame reaches its destination.  Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Noise It is a suite of communication protocols used to connect hosts on the internet.

This refers to undesirable signals in a communications system. Noise can originate from natural It uses several protocols namely;
and technological sources, and is added to the data signal in communications systems causing an  TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
interference. TCP enables two hosts to establish a connection and exchange streams of data.
Ethernet It guarantees delivery of data and also guarantee that packets will be delivered in the same order
It is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies that rely on baseband signaling, in which they were sent.
which uses the entire band width of the transmission medium.  UPD (User Datagram Protocol)
Baseband This works alongside the Transmission control Protocol.

This refers to a digital transmission of data within networks.  IP (Internet Protocol)

It specifies the format of packets, also called datagram, and the addressing scheme.
Broadband
 FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
This refers to an analog-based transmission of data within networks. It allows exchanging and manipulating files over any TCP/IP based computer network.
Protocol  TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)
It is a common set of rules and signals used by computers on a network when transmitting and It works alongside the file Transfer Protocol
receiving data.
 HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
TYPES OF PROTOCOLS It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and
browsers should take in response to various commands.
TCP/IP- Transmission Control Protocol/ internet protocol
 SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
This protocol is designed for internet work. It is a protocol for sending e-mail messages between servers.
IPX/SPX- Internet work Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange.
 SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol)
It’s designed mainly for Novell’s Netware Environment. It is a TCP/IP protocol used for communication between two machines that are Previously
configured for communication with each other.
Net BEUI- NetBios Extended User Interface
For example, your internet service provider may Provide you with a SLIP connection so that the
It’s designed for use on small networks with 20to200 computers. provider’s server can respond to your requests, pass them on to the internet, and forward the
Protocol Options requested internet responses back to you.

These are rules and standards used by ISP’s computers to communicate with the subscriber’s Others include;
computer. These include; DNS- Domain Name System

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DHCP-Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol  Data is transferred at a high speed

 They are relatively error free.
ARP-Address Resolving Protocol
 They are effective even over simple communication media like telephone lines.
RARP- Reverse Address Resolving Protocol Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
This uses the technology known as WI-FI. This technology allows electronic devices to exchange
data/information when they are not connected to each other. The device that connects devices in a
Terminal wireless network using a WI-FI technology is known as a Wireless Access Point (WAP).
It’s an electromechanical device used to input and out put data on a communication system.
ADVANTAGES OF A WLAN OVER PYHSICAL LAN
ETHERNET:
 WLAN is cheap compared to LAN because there is no need of buying cables.
This protect is used on local Area networks (LANS).  It is the best over temporary networks.
 It is very good in hard areas like rural and mountainous areas
TYPES OF TERMINALS
 It can serve a wide area since there is no cabling.
Intelligent Terminal  It is a flexible network whereby the user can leave one place in working area to another
and still access the network.
It has the processing power and memory to perform special display operations. A personal
Disadvantages of WLAN over LAN
computer can work as an intelligent terminal.
 It is not so speedy
Smart Terminal
 It can be affected by the environment especially when there tall buildings
It has an independent processing capability and cannot function as a standalone device.  It is complex when setting it up
 It can be affected by hackers since people around can access using their PCs.
Dump terminal
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
It does not have an independent processing capability and cannot function as a standalone device.
This is a network that generally restricted to a specific metropolitan area e.g. towns, cities etc.
TYPES OF NETWORKS A MAN is a network that is smaller than a typical WAN but larger than a LAN.
Typically, a MAN connects two or more LANs within the same city or location but are far
Local Area Network (LAN) apart that the networks cannot be connected using a simple cable or wireless connection.
This is a network that is confined to a relatively small physical area such as a single office or CHARACTERISTICS OF MANs
buildings that are separated by a road. The LAN can extend to several buildings on a campus
provided the buildings are close to each other. here computers can be joined together either by  They are very expensive to build.
cables or wireless means.  They are more sophisticate and complex than LANs.
 They function over greater distances than LANs.
Once the computers are connected together into a LAN, many people (users) can share and use the
same resources at the same time. They can share files, software, hard disk and peripherals such as  They are capable of sending data, video and audio across the network.
a printer or CD-ROM. User can also use the LAN to communicate with each other by e-mail. Data  They are able to link up many LANs
can be transmitted very quickly between networked computers. A file server is often used to store  They don’t cover the same great distance as WANs.
each person’s data files. This means that people can log onto any machine on the network and 
access their files. Wide Area Network (WAN)

To log onto a LAN, you usually need a user name and password. The user name identifies you to It is a collection of networks that span a very large geographical area such as an entire city, region,
the file server so that it can ‘serve’ you the correct files. The password ensures that the user name country, continent or even the entire world. WANs are typically used to connect two or more LANs
really does belong to you. that are relatively far apart and the largest WAN in existence is the internet, which links very
many MANs and LANs together.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LANs
CHARACTERISTICS OF WANs
 They are built and maintained at a low cost.
 Data must travel through a limited distance.  They are capable of covering a very wide area even across continents.

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  They are slower than LANs and MANs because of the great distance they cover. In a networked environment several computers can share a single printer or programs hence
 They are prone to more errors than LANs and MANs. minimizing on the costs of maintenance and makes upgrades easier.
 They link LANs and MANs together. Reliability
Personal Area Network (PAN)
If one computer breaks down in a networked environment, other computers take over its work.
This is a network type that is made on a personal computer. Here you can network folders and files
for easy access and organization. Scalability
Intranet A network of computers is scalable in a sense that it can grow with the organization may start with
one computer connects to another in due course without destructing the performances of the
This is a large form of a local Area Network restricted to only authorized users. network, that is to say the network never fills up.
Extranet Economical
This is a large area network whose accessibility is limited to only authorized users. With a network it’s possible to connect it to the internet through a single link.
Devices Required For Networking Remote Access
i. Router You can access your work from any workstation on the network or even from a computer on a
Routers are intelligent devices that can receive information from the network, analyzes packets, different network.
and then directs it to the appropriate destination, usually between network segments, through the Multiple Access
fastest way to get there.
Data can be shared by all users at the same time. Many people can access or update the information
ii. Switch held on a database at the same time. Thus information is up to date and accurate.
A switch is a device that filter the network packets and then forwards the packets through the Communication
network and determines the destination computer
User can communicate with other on the network by sending messages (emails) and sharing files.
iii. Repeater
Network Security
It is a network device that boosts and amplifies an analog signal in the network. It is used to
concentrate and amplify the signal on the extended network segment. Networks provide security. A user must have the correct password and User ID in order to be able
to access the information on the network. Private areas on the network can be set up that allows
iv. Bridge each user to store their personal files. They only other person who can access these files is the
It is a network device that provides a communications path between two network segments to form ‘system administrators’ who looks after the network.
one logical network. It is used in larger or corporate networks to break the large network segments
into parts and separate it into isolated collision domains.
Disadvantages of Networks
v. Hub
 Networks can expensive to set up. They often involve taking up floors and ceilings to lay
It is a network device that receives signals from the connected devices, and then rebroadcasts, the
hundreds of metres of cables.
signals to other devices on the network. It is used to extend the network.
 The file server needs to be a powerful computer, which often means that it is expensive.
vi. NIC  If the main file server breaks down, then whole system becomes useless and no-one can
carry on working.
A network interface card is a device that connects a computer to the network. The network card
 Because networks are often complicated, they need expensive expert staff to look after
accommodates all the electronic components, and often network control software (drivers) used to
them.
configure the network card.
 As the number of users increase on the network, the performance of the system can be
Advantages of Networks affected and things start to slow down.
Sharing resources

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Many of the disadvantages of networks involve gaining illegal access to the network and carrying It controls network access by passing an electronic token sequentially to each host. When a host
out malicious activities. Attacks can be categorized into two receives the token, that host can send data on the network. If the host has no data to send, it passes
the token to the next host and the process repeats itself. Two examples of networks that use token
ACTIVE ATTACKS passing are Token Ring and Fiber distributed Data interface (FDDI).
a) Vandalism or Interruption Physical Topology
This is the common form of attack. The person attacks the server or any network resource and It is the actual layout of the wire or media and configuration of cables, computers and other
renders it unavailable through either total destruction or temporary disconnection. peripherals on a network.
b) Data Modification Types of Physical Topologies
The intruder may intercept data being transported and delay it for sometime while he/she modifies
1. Bus
it and later transmits the modified version. Solution, encrypt data before transmission.
This is one method of connecting computers together and is the simplest. In this arrangement, a
c) Fabrication/Resource stealing single cable joins all of the workstations, Printer, file server and other components together. At
The attacker gets to know the password of a legal user of the system and he/she gets access to the each end of the bus is a ‘terminator’, which is a piece of hardware that prevents signals bouncing
network using this password. The intruder can then do anything that he /she desires within the back and forty (echoes).
permitted powers of the stolen password. Solution, keep deep secret of your password
d) Delay/Replay
Data is intercepted / delayed for a while and without any modification, the intruder may make a
copy of the data being transmitted and reply it later without making any modifications. This
normally works for real time systems.
e) Indirect Infiltration/penetration
These include viruses, worms and Trojan horses
PASSIVE ATTACKS
These include eavesdropping or interception of data on transmission. The intruder just taps into
the data channels and listens without making any modifications or copies. They may use it for
gainful purposes if there is an opportunity. Advantages

NETWORK TOPOLOGY  Easy to install

 Easy to add extra workstations
Topology is the geometrical arrangement of computer systems in a network. There are two parts  Uses less cable than a other networks
of network topology. The physical topology and the Logical topology  Best choice for temporary networks
Logical Topology
It’s the method used to pass information between workstations. It defines how the media is Disadvantages
accessed by the hosts for sending data. The two most common types of logical topologies are;  If there is a problem with the central cable, the entire network stops working
1. Broadcast Topology  If there are a lot of workstations on the network, data can travel slowly.
 Data collisions can happen as the network becomes busy.
It simply means that each host sends its data to all other hosts on the network medium. There is no  Low security- every workstation can see all of the data in the network
order that the stations must follow to use the network. It is first come, first serve.  Limited cable length and a maximum number of workstations
2. Token Passing  It’s difficult to identify the problem when the entire network shuts down.
 Terminators are required on both ends of the backbone cable.
2. Ring

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 In a ring network layout, all of the computers are connected to one another in a circle. The  Very few data collision as each workstation has its own cable to the server
data passes from one computer to the next one and then all the way around the ring layout  Good security –no workstation can interact with another without going through the server
until it reaches the destination computer. first
 Less expensive than a mesh topology. In a star, each device needs only one link to
connect to any number of others, this factor also makes it easy to install and reconfigure
 Far less cabling is needed as compared a mesh topology.
 Additions, moves, and deletionsare only between that device and the hub.
Disadvantages
 Installing the network usually needs experts to set it up
 Extra hardware such as hubs and switches may be needed
 If the server crashes or stops working then nobody will be able to access their files or use
the network.
Advantages  There is a central point of failure.
 Nodes cannot communicate directly with each other instead it’s through the hub which
Transmission of data is fairly simple as it only travels in one direction
may lead to delays at peak hours.
No data collisions
4. Mesh Topology
No central point of failure
Easy to install and reconfigure. To add or remove a device requires moving only two In a mesh topology, every device has a dedicated point-to-point link to every other device.
connections. The term dedicated means that the link carries traffic only between the two devices it
 Fault identification is easy connects. A fully connected mesh network therefore has n(n-1)2 physical channels to link n
Disadvantages devices. To accommodate that many links, every device on the network must have n-1
input/output (1/0) ports.
 If a single machine is switched off, the network doesn’t work
 If a cable breaks, the network doesn’t work
 Data must make it slower than other network layouts.
 If there are any problems with the network, they can be difficult to identify the cause.
3. Star
A star topology connects all cables to a central controller usually called a hub. The devices are
not directly linked to each other. Unlike a mesh topology, a star topology does not allow direct Advantages
traffic between devices. The controller acts as an exchange; if one device wants to send data to
another, it sends the data to the controller, which then relays the data to the other connected Elimination of traffic problems that can occur when links must be shared by multiple devices
device. since each connection can carry its own data load.
 Robustness i.e. if one link breaks down it does not affect the entire system.
 Privacy or security i.e. when a message is sent it travels along a dedicated line and it’s
only the intended recipient who sees it.
Disadvantages
 Because every device must be connected to every other device, installation and
reconfiguration are difficult.
 Hardware required to connect each link is expensive.
 It is hard to locate a failure.
 Additions, moves, and deletions are hard.
Advantages
5. Extended Star topology
 Star networks are very reliable. If one connection fails, it does not affect other users

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An extended star topology links individual stars together by connecting the hubs and /or In this mode both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously. The full duplex mode is like
switches. This topology can extend the scope and coverage to the network. a two-way street with traffic flowing in both directions at the same time. In full-duplex mode,
signals going in either direction share the capacity of the link. This sharing can occur in two
This topology is used for larger networks and it’s created by combining star topologies with ways: either the link must contain two physically separate transmission paths, one for sending or
bus topologies. Usually a bus can be used to connect several stars. In this case, two or more the other for receiving, or the capacity of the channel is divided between signals traveling in
hubs or switches are connected to each other using a bus. Each to these hubs or switches is opposite directions. One common example of full-duplex communication is the telephone
then the center of a star that connects two or more computers to the network. network. When two people are communicating by a telephone line, both can talk and listen at the
same time.
Data Transmission media/Networking Media
It is the actual path over which an electrical signal travels as it moves from one component to
another ie from the sender to the receiver.
There are two types of transmission media namely;
Physical and Wireless transmission media.
The common types of Physical transmission /network media are.
1. coaxial
This cable with thin net and thicket as its different types is specifically for use as Ethernet
backbone cable, because it has a greater transmission length and noise rejection characteristics.

Advantages Advantages

 It allows more devices to be attached to a single central hub  Its nature in build reduces the amount of outside electro-magnetic interference.
 It allows the network to isolate and prioritize communications from different computers.  It can be run for longer distances in LANs than shielded twisted pair, STP, and
For example, the computers attached to one secondary hub. In this way, the network unshielded twisted pair, UTP, cable without the need for repeaters.
designers and operator can guarantee that time- sensitive data will not wait for access to  Coaxial cable is less expensive than fiber-optic cable, and the technology is well known.
the network.  Coaxial cable comes in a variety of sizes so serving various services.
Disadvantages  The thinnet is useful for cable installations that require the cable to make many twists
turns, making it cheap to install.
 It shares the same disadvantages with a star topology. Disadvantages
TRANSMISSION MODE
 The thicket cable increase the difficulty in working with it.
This term refers to the direction of information flow between two linked devices. There are three  This type of cable can be too rigid to install easily in some situations.
types of transimission modes namely:  Coaxial cable is more expensive to install than twisted-pair cable.
1. Simplex  Thicket cable is almost never used anymore, except for special purpose installations.
 Thinnet is prone to many connection problems in the installation resulting into electrical
In this mode communication is unidirectional, that is data travels in one direction. Only one of noise that interferes with signal transmittal on the networking media.
the two stations on a link can transmit; the other can only receive. Keyboards and monitors are 2. Twisted- pair Cable
both examples of simplex devices. The keyboard can only introduce input; the monitor can only It is a type of cabling that is used for telephone communications and most modern Ethernet
accept output. networks. A pair of wires forms a circuit that can transmit data. The pairs are twisted to
2. Half- Duplex provide protection against crosstalk, the noise generated by adjacent pairs. Twisting the
wires can enhance the cancellation effect. The two basic types of twisted-pair cable are:
In this mode each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time/ simultaneously. unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded twisted pair (STP_.
When one device is sending, the other can only receive and vice versa.
UTP
3. Full - Duplex

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Unshielded Twisted pair cable consists of pairs of thin wire twisted around each other then Commonly use types of UTP cabling are as follows:
covered in an insulating jacket. Ethernet used two pairs of wires, or four wires altogether but the
number of pairs in a UTP cable varies and is often more than two. They are used in Ethernet  Category 1 (Cat 1)
network installations. It is used for telephone communications. Not suitable for transmitting data.

Advantages  Category 2 (Cat 2)

It is capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).

Unshielded twisted-pair cable is easier to install

It is lighter.  Category 3(cat 3)

It is more reliable It is used in 10BASE-T networks. It can transmit data at speeds up to 10 Mbps.

It offers more flexibility in how networks are designed.  Category 4(Cat4)

UTP cable is cheaper than coaxial cable and optical fiber. It is used in Token ring networks. It can transmit data at speeds up to 16Mbps.

This type of wiring is often used with modern phone systems.

UTP cable comes in various grades called Categories and therefore can support faster  Category 5(Cat5)
networks. It can transmit data at speeds up to 100mbps
Disadvantages  Category 5e (Cat5e)
 It is prone to electromagnetic interferences. It is used in networks running at speeds up to 1000Mbps (1gigabit per second (Gbps)
 UTP limits signal speeds, and has a shorter maximum cable-segment length than STP.  Category (Cat 6)
 UTP is usage is generally limited to usage I home and business networks. It consists of four pairs of 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG) copper wires. Category 6 cables are
 UTP wire is very susceptible to noise generated by fluorescent light ballasts and electrical currently the fastest standard for UTP.
machinery.
STP 3. Fiber optics (Optical Fibers)

Shielded twisted-pair cable (STP) combines the techniques of shielding, cancellation, and These are long, thin strands of very pure glass. They are arranged in bundles called optical
twisting of wires. Each pair of wires is wrapped in metallic foil then the four pairs of wires are cables and used to transmit light signals over long distances. Optical fibers come in two types:
wrapped in a overall metallic braid or foil. It is specified for use in Ethernet network Single-mode fibers
installations.
Light amplification by stimulated emission radiation (LASER) a light source producing a thin
Advantages beam of intense infrared light usually with wavelengths of 1310nm or 1550nm is used with

This cable has a high degree of immunity to line noise and enables extended transmission single-mode fiber.
distances. The single-mode core is eight to ten microns in diameter while a standard multimode
 STP provides high-speed transmission for long distances. fiber-optic cable is 125-micron in diameter.
 STP reduces electrical noise from within the cable such as pair to pair coupling and  An infrared laser is used as the light source in single-mode fiber while infrared light
crosstalk. Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or Vertical Cavity surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are the
 STP also reduces electronic noise from outside the cable, e.g. electromagnetic two types of light source usually use with multimode fiber.
interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI).  The laser ray of light generated in single-mode fibers enters the core at a 90-degree angle
Disadvantages while multiple rays from LEDs are generated in multimode and enter the core on
different angles.
 STP is more expensive and difficult to install than UTP.
 Because of its design, single-mode fiber is capable of higher rates of data transmission
 STP needs to be grounded at both ends because it is susceptible to major noise problems.
(bandwidth) and greater cable run distances than multimode fiber.
 STP cable cannot be run as far as other networking media, such as coaxial cable or
 Single-mode fiber can carry LAN data up to 3000 meters. Multimode is only capable of
optical fiber, without the signal being repeated.
carrying up to 2000 meters.
 More insulation and shielding combine to considerably increase the size, weight , and
 Lasers and single-mode fibers are more expensive than LEDs and multimode fiber.
cost of the cable.
Why fiber-optic systems are preferred to conventional copper wire:
 The shielding materials make terminations more difficult and susceptible to poor
workmanship. i. Less expensive

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Several miles of optical cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. This Bluetooth
saves your provider (cable TV, internet) and you money.
This is a transmission medium where data is transferred to another mobile device in a short
ii Thinner distance by using a short wave length radio transmission in the Industrial Scientific and Medical
(ISM) radio band.
Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire.
Bluetooth devices include cellular phones, notebook computers, printers, desktop computers and
iii Higher carrying capacity others.
Because optical fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-
Broadcast Radio
diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or
more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box. This transfers radio signals through the air
iv. less attenuation (signal degradation) Cellular Radios
The loss of signal in optical fiber is less than in copper wire. This is another form of broadcast radio that is used by the majority in mobile transmission like
with cellular phones, fax machines and radio calls.
v. light signals
A newer and faster technology known as a 3G can enable some make a video conference, watch
Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those a television on a mobile phone
of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.
Microwaves
vi. Low power
This is the fastest wireless transmission medium that transmits a signal by use of a radio wave in
Because signal in optical fibers degrade less, lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the a straight line. It is commonly used by satellites and antennas.
high-voltage electrical transmitters needed for copper wires. Again, this saves your provider and
you money. The stations are raised up like on top of buildings to avoid signal obstructions and can solve a
problem of poor transmission in places like lakes and deserts.
vii. Digital signals
Infrared
Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in
computer networks. This sends signals using infrared light waves. Many devices today use infrared light waves to
transmit data. For example Optical mouse, remote controllers, digital cameras and others.
viii. Non-flammable
Satellites
Because no electricity is passed through optical fibers, there is no fire hazard.
This receives microwaves signals from the ground or earth, then amplifies them and finally sends
ix. Lightweight them back to many other earth stations.
An optical cable weighs less than a comparable copper wire cable. Fiber-optic cables take up less A satellite is put in place above the ground where the gravitational force is very low. It keeps on
space in the ground. rotating in an orbit.

x. Flexible Networking Commands

Because fiber optics are so flexible and can transmit and receive light, they are used in many 1. ping
flexible digital appliances. The ping command is used to find out whether the computers on the network can contact each
Wireless Transmission Media other. The Ping command simply sends a packet to another computer and requests that the
second computer send a packet back in reply. If the reply packet is received, ping displays a
These are used in transmission which is not physical. Messages move through waves to the message indicating how long it took to hear from the other computer. If the reply packet is not
receiver. received, ping displays an error message indicating that the computer could not be reached.
Examples of Wireless Transmission Media 2. Netstat

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 This command displays a variety of statistics about a computer’s active TCP/IP connections. It is
use when having trouble with TCP/IP applications, such as FTP, HTTP.
3. Ipconfig
This command displays information about a computer’s TCP/IP configuration. It can also be
used to update DHCP and DNS settings.
4. Tracert
It display the route that a packet must go through from your computer to a specified host. It can
be used to find out exactly where the problem is if you’re unable to connect to another computer
on the network.
5. Telnet
This command allows the user to connect to another computer on the internet in a terminal
emulation mode.
SAMPLE UNEB QUESTIONS
1. Study the data communication diagram below and answer the questions that follow:
B

A C
(a) Name the elements of data communication labelled; (03 marks)
(b) Suggest the devices used to connect A to B. (01 mark)
(c) State the protocol used to uniquely identify A and C. (01 mark)
2. Give five examples of networking hardware. (05 marks)
3. (a) (i) What is data transmission media? (01 mark)
(ii) Give two examples of transmission media. (02 marks)
(b) Name two services offered by data communication tools. (02 marks)
UNEB 2017
1. (a) Define data communication. (01 mark)
(b) State any four requirements for setting up a computer network. (04 marks)
2. (a) Give three disadvantages of electronic communication. (03 marks)

(b) Name any two manual communication methods. (02 marks)

3. (a) Differentiate between intranet and extranet. (02 marks)

(b) Define a Local Area Network (LAN). (02marks)
(c) Suggest an area network which is restricted to connecting users in a city.
(01 mark)
UNEB 2018

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