Grade 7 ICT Notes and Revision Exercise.

Communication Networks
Types of Networks:

There are different types of networks that are used in our communities.

These include the Personal Area Networks (PAN), Local Area Networks (LAN),

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN)

and Wide Area Networks (WAN).

Personal Area Network (PAN):

Personal area network (PAN) is an interconnection between different devices

like smartphone, tablet, computer and other digital devices. PAN is used for a

personal purpose like data sharing among devices and it has a range of 10

meters. Some type of personal area networks is wired like USB while others

are wireless like Bluetooth. Wireless personal area network is also known as

WPAN.

The diagram shows a laptop connected to other devices using a Personal Area

Network.

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Advantages of personal area network
No extra space requires: Personal area network does not require extra wire or
space. For connecting two devices you only need to enable Bluetooth in both
devices to start sharing data among them. For example, connecting wireless
keyboard and mouse with the tablet through Bluetooth.

Connects many devices at a time: Many devices can be connected to one

device at the same time in a personal area network. You can connect one mobile
to many other mobiles or tablets to share files.

Cost effective: No extra wires are needed in this type of network. Also, no
extra data charges are involved so PAN is an inexpensive way of communication.

Easy to use:It is easy to use. No advanced setup is required.

Reliable:If you use this type of data connection within 10 meters then your
network is stable and reliable.

Secure: This network is secured because all the devices are authorized before
data sharing. Third party injection and data hacking are not possible in PAN.

Used in office, conference, and meetings:Infrared is the technology used in

TV remotes, AC remotes, and other devices. Bluetooth, infrared and other
types of PAN is used to interconnect digital devices in offices, meetings, and
conferences.

Synchronize data between different devices:One person can synchronize

several devices i.e. download, upload and exchanging data among devices.

Portable:A person can move devices as it is a wireless network and data

exchange is not affected. That mean PAN is portable as well.

Disadvantages of personal area network

Less distance range:Signal range is maximum 10 meters which makes limitation
for long distance sharing.

Interfere with radio signals:As personal area network also use infrared so it
can interfere with radio signals and data can be dropped.

Slow data transfer:Bluetooth and infrared have a slow data transfer rate as
compared to another type of networks like LAN (local area network).

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Health problem:In some cases, PAN uses microwave signals in some digital
devices which have a bad effect on the human body like brain and heart
problems may occur.

Costly in terms of communication devices:Personal area network is used in

digital devices which are costly so it is another disadvantage of PAN. Examples
are smartphones, PDA, laptops, and digital cameras.

Infrared signals travel in a straight line:TV remote use infrared signals which
have a problem that they travel in straight line. So, this counts another
disadvantage of PAN.

Examples of personal area network

Some examples of PAN are:

 Wireless keyboards

 Wireless Mice

 Smartphones

 TV remotes

 Wireless printers

 Gaming consoles

 Smartphone technologies include Infrared, Bluetooth, FireWire, ZigBee,

Ultrawideband, Wibree, wireless USB

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

A metropolitan is a city including the nearest locations surrounding it. It has a big

population. Populations in the surrounding areas however, have less people than

the metropolitan area. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a network of

computers that cover an area of a few buildings to the whole city including its

surrounding areas. The Metropolitan Area Network is larger than a Local Area

Network. It works well in a range of five to fifty kilometres.

Local Area Networks can be joined to come up with a Metropolitan Area Network.

In Zimbabwe Metropolitan Area Networks have been used for communication in

the city council, municipalities, universities and other government offices.

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Picture showing a metropolitan city.

Characteristics of MAN:

 When many Local Area networks are connected, they form Metropolitan

Area Networks.

 When these networks are connected, they have high capacity. It means

the network works well.

 MAN may be connected from a few blocks of a campus to the whole city.

Which organisations can use a Metropolitan Area Network?

 One organisation may own and use MAN but other organisations can

pay and use it.

 It provides internet to the Local Area Network. Through this way,

LANs are connected to the internet.

 Connection between LANs and MANs has been done using wireless

means like radios, infrared or microwave instead of using wires or

cables.

Advantages of Metropolitan Area Network:

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  MAN is very efficient in handling data.

 It is cheap to build a Metropolitan Area Network.

 Data and files are kept at one central place.

 Files that are shared on the network can be opened quickly.

 Many users can share the cost of the service.

 MAN provides a better quality of service to the users.

Disadvantages of MAN:

 Data and files may leak to people who have no permission to use them.

 Many cables are needed to connect MAN.

 MAN can be easily attacked by hackers.

 It takes a long time to build MAN

Can you add both advantages and disadvantages of MAN?

Connectivity:

As we said earlier in this topic, a network is created when two or more computers

are connected. Files can be sent over a network in form of data packets.

Connections between one computer and another on a network can either be wired

or wireless.

Wired Networks:

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A picture showing a wired connection.

Wired networks use wires or cables to move data and files between different

devices and computer systems. Most wired networks use Ethernet cables to move

or transfer data between connected PCs. A single router can be used to link all

the computers in a small wired network. Larger networks need many routers or

switches that are connected to each other.

‘Wired’ is used to describe input devices such as the mouse, keyboard and others

that are connected to a USB port. These days many peripherals are wireless, some

users still prefer wired devices. For example, an Ethernet connection is not

affected by signal interference that can slow down Wi-Fi connections.

Wired network connections are usually faster and efficient than wireless ones.

This allows for faster transfer of data and files. Other users prefer to use wired

peripherals because there is no need to replace batteries now and again. Those

who play games on the computer prefer wired keyboards and mice on USB

connection.

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Computers connected by wired connection.

Wireless connection:

Computers can make a wireless connection if they have a wireless Network

Internet Card (NIC). A wireless router gives a connection with the physical

network. A router is a device used for networking. It forwards data packets

between computers. It works on the internet just like a robot that directs

traffic. A computer device needs to be set nearer to the router to get access to

the network. Wireless connections use radio signals for sending data across

networks. The wireless device changes the data into radio signal and the wireless

receiver decodes it so that the computer can understand it.

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Wireless transmissions can be received by anyone within the range of the router.

Transmissions are usually encrypted using a key that works with (WI-FI)

protected access) WPA.

Advantages of wireless networks:

 Costs to set up wireless networks are cheap.

 They are not tied down to any specific location

 can connect many other devices without requiring extra hardware

 Less disturbances to buildings because no wires are installed.

Disadvantages:

 Interference can occur with other networks.

 The connection is not very stable as compared to wired networks. It can

sometimes can 'drop off.'

 It is not very effective through walls or obstructions.

 It is more open to hacking.

 It is slower than wired networks

The difference between wired and wireless networks

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The differences between a wired and a wireless network are very clear. The

following are some of the major differences between wired and wireless

connections:

 A wired network uses wires for communicating while wireless networks use

radio waves.

 Wired networks are very easy to set up and troubleshoot whereas wireless

networks are difficult to set up, troubleshoot and maintain.

 Wired networks make one immobile, you cannot move around while you are

connected. Wireless networks can allow the user to move around while one

is connected.

 Wired networks prove expensive when covering a large area because of the

wiring and cabling while wireless networks do not involve this cost.

 Wired networks have better transmission speeds than wireless ones.

 In a wired network, a user does not have to share space with other users

and thus gets maximum speeds while in wireless networks, the same

connection may be shared by multiple users.

Network Topologies:

The term topology refers to an ‘arrangement.’ A network topology is thus an

arrangement of different elements like links and nodes in a computer network. In

other words, when talking about the topology of a network, we refer to how the

different parts are connected and arranged together.

There are three main network topologies that are used for networking. These are

the bus, star and ring technology. Now, we want to discuss how each of the

topologies work.

Bus Network

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The bus network has a long, central cable. The cable is called a backbone. The

backbone connects all the computers together. Each computer is connected to a

short cable that links it to the backbone. It is called the bus network because

the arrangement is similar to that of the inside of the bus.

Characteristics of the bus network:

 Bus network is cheap to install, just a single long cable is needed.

 It can be very slow since most computers share one cable when

communicating

 It will stop working if there is a break in the backbone or the central bus

cable.

Ring Network

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 Each computer in this type of network is connected to a loop of cable, also
called the ‘ring’. A bus network connected to the ends of the bus cable produces
a ring network.

An advantage of a ring network is that when a ring cable breaks, all computers

will work because they are still joined together.

Star Network

Picture showing of star network

This type of network has every computer connected to a central device. The

device helps to pass messages and information between computers. A hub can be

used at the centre of a star network. A hub is cheap but processes information

slowly. A switch can also be used but it is more expensive, however, it is faster.

Characteristics of the Star network:

 It is very expensive to install. Lots of cables and the central device have

to be bought.

 Star network is very fast because each computer has its own cable which

it doesn’t share.

 Star network can do with a broken cable; one computer will only be

affected.

 It will stop working if the central part of the device breaks

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  It is the most common network topology used in Zimbabwe and abroad.

Activity

Divide yourselves into 3 groups. Name your groups 1, 2 and 3. Group 1 should create a
model of a star network topology, group 2 should create a ring network topology and
group 3 should create a model of a bus network topology.

Network Components/Gadgets

Computer networks carry various types of data and information between

computers. The type of data and information transported vary, but the main

components that make up the network do not. The main components of a network

consist of servers, cabling, LAN cards, hubs and switches, a router, antennas,

modems, gateways, getaways, repeaters and a backbone. In previous chapters we

learnt that LAN stands for Local Area Networks. Altogether these component

parts make up the networks that are used around the world. The table overleaf

summarises the network components and their main uses.

Network component Special Function

These are computers which feed
services to the network.

Server
Cables transport data and information
right through the network.

Cabling
These link individual PCs to the
network

LAN Cards

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 Hubs and switches They direct data and information
from and to the various computers
that are in the network.

Its main function is to direct data in

the network to where it is needed
(destination). Its function is similar to
A router that of hubs and switches.
An antenna is also called an aerial. Its
main purpose is to boost signals mostly
in wireless networks.
Antenna
They convert digital to analog and vice
versa. (Your teacher will explain to you
the meanings of digital and analog).
Modems
They connect the computer that is on
a network to another external
network for example, the internet.
Getaways
A line of wire that links or connects
two or more bigger networks.

Backbone
They help to boost electrical signals
that carry data in networks as they
reach their destinations.
Repeaters
Their main function is similar to that
of repeaters. Bridges filter data that
passes through them. They direct the
Bridges data to its actual destination.

New Words:

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 Connectivity – when one is connected or interconnected to a network.

Topologies – it refers to the physical setting of a network that controls the

connection of the network of the computers.

Wireless – means with no wires or refers to a connection that is not wired

between the sender and the receiver.

Configurations – method in which some components are set to come up with a

computer system.

Communication – Exchanging or imparting news or information.

Network – it refers to a group of computer systems together with other

computer devices which are joined together so that communication takes

place.

LAN – Local Area Network.

WAN – Wide Area Network.

PAN – Personal Area Network.

USB – Universal Serial Bus.

Answer the following questions IN FULL

1 , Which Network is suitable for a person that is:

(a) In the same city? ………………………………………………………………………………

(b) In the same house? ………………………………………………………………………………

(c) In the same block with you? ………………………………………………………………………………

(d) From same country? ………………………………………………………………………………

(e) In the World Wide Web? ………………………………………………………………………………

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2. What are the advantages of using Bluetooth over SHAREit?

3. Give three characteristics of the Metropolitan Area Network.

4. What advantages do Metropolitan Area Networks have over Personal Area

Networks?

5. What is a network?

6. What is the main difference between a wired and a wireless network?

7. Give two advantages of wireless networks.

8. Draw diagrams to show the following network topologies.

(a) Bus network.

(b) Star network and

(c) Ring network.

Write two sentences to briefly describe each network topology.

9. Among the network topologies given in question 8, which would you prefer

to set up at your school and why?

10. Why is a star network expensive to set up?

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