f4 Computer Simplified Notes SP
f4 Computer Simplified Notes SP
SERIES 1
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INTRODUCTION
A computer network forms whenever 2 or more computers are interconnected together with
other related accessories to work together.
information or resources.
A collection of computers linked together using transmission media for the purpose of
2. TRANSMISSION MEDIA
Transmission media refers to any physical or non-physical link between two or more
computers and in which a signal can be made to flow from source to destination.
Some of the shared resources include:
a) Application programs.
b) Printers.
c) Fax machines.
d) Modems.
e) Storage devices.
3. DATA COMMUNICATION
It is the process of transmitting data signal from one point to another through the network.
Sender Receiver
1. DATA SIGNAL
Computers communicate by transferring data signals between themselves.
Refers to a voltage level in the circuit which represents the flow of data.
a) Analog signal: data made up of continuous varying wave form similar to voice or sound
wave.
b) Digital signal: data made up non-continuous discrete signal.
transmission medium.
a) Modulation: converting digital data signals into analog data signals.
b) Demodulation: converting digital data by superimposing it on analog carrier signal which
can be transmitted over analog telephone lines.
3. MULTIPLEXING
Process of sending multiple data signals over the same medium i.e. a wire conductor can be
The different data signals are made to have different frequencies on the cable hence they do
Demultiplexer
Multiplexer
Multiplexed line
To To
Computers Computers
A multiplexed link
4. BAND WIDTH
The maximum amount of data that a transmission medium can carry at any one time. For
example, a certain cable may have a bandwidth of 100 Mbps (Mega bits per second).
The signal takes the form of voltages of different magnitudes applied to the medium.
frequency.
Several data signals can be send simultaneously through the same medium but at different
frequencies.
7. ATTENUATION
a) This is the loss of signal strength (decrease in magnitude and energy) as a signal progressively
along the medium at appropriate distances in order to receive the weak signal, clean it, amplify
it then retransmit it.
1. SIMPLEX
Communication is only in one direction.
Example
a) Radio broadcast – the listener cannot communicate back through the radio receiver.
b) Television broadcast.
c) Transmission from a computer to a line printer.
Simplex
Sender Receiver
2. HALF DUPLEX
Communication takes place in both directions but one direction at a time.
Two interconnected devices exchange data alternately where the devices switch between send
Example
1. Walkie talkies
2. Fax machines.
3. Modems.
3. FULL DUPLEX
Occurs in both directions simultaneously.
Example:
a) Telephone system, a person can talk without waiting for the other to finish.
b) Computers can send and receive data on a network.
or a school.
LANs are characterized by:
LANs allow information and computer resources to be shared by many users e.g.
A. SERVER
A computer dedicated to servicing requests for resources from other computers (workstations)
on a network.
The server provides services to LAN users.
B. WORK STATIONS
Any other computer connected to a network and can share resources with any other devices on
the network.
metropolitan area.
A MAN therefore is made up of many LANs in a metropolitan area.
It is a type of a network that covers a large geographical area such as a country, a continent or
CHARACTERISTICS OF WANs
a) Unlimited geographical area.
b) Low data transmission rates.
c) High transmission link costs.
d) Long distance transmission.
printer.
The centralized access to data and information leads to less waste of time and hence greater
productivity.
In most network arrangements, the shared resources may be attached to a network server.
The network server runs a special program (server software) which controls computers on the
network and listen to client requests to service them over the network. – Illustration Page 6
2. Remote communication
Refers to the transmission of data signals between the communicating devices located at
accessed) provides remote communication mostly by use of wireless transmission media such
as radio waves, microwaves and satellites.
It is through remote communication that people can be able to share ideas and pass messages
giving them a lot of freedom to the network which translates to more productivity.
savings experienced and the value added to service delivery make them a ready choice for
enterprising managers.
The network greatly increases the efficient use of scarce resources.
environment.
Users can send electronic messages and mail to each other instead of having to bear the cost of
Users can still access data and information from the other computers on the network incase
1. Security issues
Data and information is prone to more illegal access threats because there can be data access
The initial cost of buying network hardware and software is very high.
meet peers and adults on the net, some of whom may have bad intentions.
Access to pornography and other negative materials has also led to moral decay, leading to the
fight against social problems like HIV/AIDS, bad sexual behaviour, drugs and substance abuse
more complicated.
5. Over-reliance on networks
The danger of network failure can paralyze the operations of an organization besides damaging
files.
If by any chance the network fails, many systems in organizations can be brought to a halt.
ELEMENTS OF NETWORKING
A computer network is made up of several standard elements (components) which can be
classified into 3 major categories:
1. Data communication media.
2. Communication devices.
3. Networking software.
4. Data signal.
The communication medium dictates the type of signals that will be used to transmit a
message.
Transmission media is the physical path (bounded) and non physical path (unbounded)
Although the plastic insulator is meant to reduce inter-line interference called crosstalk, their
linear nature allows an electromagnetic field to build around them during heavy data
transmission which may cause interference to the signal.
The wires also capture environmental frequencies e.g. radio waves hence causing noise in the
transmission channel.
Noise refers to random unwanted signals picked up by the channel.
Insulator
Wire conductor
a) Attenuation: the loss of signal strength (amplitude) as is travels along the cable.
b) Cross talk: caused by signal coupling between the different cable pairs contained within a
multipair cable bundle i.e. interline interference.
c) Noise: Random unwanted signals picked up by the channel, caused by either cross talk or
externally included impulses e.g. from sources like motors, switching equipments, high current
equipments etc.
d) Impendence: this is the resistance offered by the cable to the signal.
to reduce the development of an electromagnetic field around the two wires as they transmit
data.
Mostly used to transmit both voice and data signals.
(electric noise” from the environment like lightening sparks, radio signals and radiations from
spark plugs in motor vehicles.
b) They are therefore not suitable for environments that are electrically “noisy”.
b) Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
Similar to unshielded twisted pair except that a braided shield is wrapped around the wires to
Twisted pair cables are categorized into 5 groups according to the type of data transmitted and
KEY:
Mbps – Megabits per second.
Most organizations today use category 5 twisted pair cables to set up their local area network.
They consist of central copper wire covered with a dielectric material (insulator).
The dielectric material is then surrounded by a hollow mesh conductor which is covered by a
shield making the cable more resistant to electromagnetic interference than the twisted pair
cable.
The signal is transmitted by inner copper wire and is electrically shielded by the other copper
sleeve.
The braid (mesh conductor) is made up of copper or aluminum and serves as the ground for
Coaxial cables have bandwidths of up to 1Gbps, hence they are installed in a network to form
the network backbone (a link that connects two or more separate local area networks).
Copper core
Core insulation
Aluminum foil
Braided shielding
Outer covering
a) Thinnet a) Thicknet
Electrical signals from the source are converted to light signals, and then propagated along the
At the receiving end, a photosensitive device can be used to convert the light signals back to
Sending computer
1010011
Photodetector
Fibre optic cable
transforms light signal
LED changes to electric signals
electrical signals
to light signals
1010011
Receiving computer
Fibre network.
Light in the cable can only take one path through it.
Has a bandwidth of 50 Gbps which is higher than that of the twisted pair’s 100Mbps.
It is very expensive.
Distortion of signals is possible because of multiple light signals navigating the cable at the
same time.
Have a high attenuation rate.
Thin core
Cladding
Jacket
Thick core
Cladding
Jacket
Multimode fibre
Light signal travels through the core through a process referred to as total internal reflection.
Refraction is the bending of light when it crosses the boundary of two mediums that have
different density.
When light signal is inserted into the cable, it rises to cross from the core to the cladding.
The light is bent back into the core hence propagates along the length of the cable as shown
below:
Light rays
b) Cladding:
a single protective layer surrounding the core. It has light bending characteristics.
When light tries to travel from the core to the cladding, it is redirected back to the core.
c) Buffer:
Surrounds the cladding and its main function is to strengthen the cable.
d) Jacket:
It is the outer covering of the cable.
connections.
A transmitting antenna and receiver aerial are used to facilitate the communication.
1020Hz X - Rays
1010Hz Microwaves
Frequency
increases
108Hz UHF
Radio waves
107Hz VHF
HF
106Hz
I) MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION
A microwave is extremely high frequency (communication beam) that is transmitted over
The electromagnetic wave cannot pass obstacles and geographical barriers such as mountains.
A signal is directed thorough a focused beam from transmitter to the receiver station.
The microwave stations have parabolic dishes with an antenna fixed on them in order to focus
2. A satellite:
Launched somewhere in an orbit that receives, amplifies and retransmits the signal to a
receiving earth station via a downlink frequency that is different from that of the uplink so as
to avoid interference with the uplink signal.
Satellite in space
Downlink
Uplink
Transmitter receiving
earth station earth station
such a manner that its speed will be relatively equal to the rotation speed of the earth.
These types of satellites are called geostationary satellites.
They are convenient because they eliminate the need to keep on moving the parabolic dish in a
The area where the line of sight can easily be located is called the satellites footprint.
The satellite transmits the signal to many recipient earth stations to form a point to multipoint
transmission.
The new trends in microwave transmission have seen the use of very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) technology.
It refers to a very small satellite dish used both in data, radio and TV communication.
It enables direct communication instead of having to go through the state owned satellite
gateways.
The satellite produces strong signals that can be received by a satellite dish antenna of only
computer.
They are omnidirectional i.e. they start from a central point and spread outwards in all
directions.
Their energy spreads outwards over the covered area.
The waves are radiated into the atmosphere by a radio frequency antenna at constant velocity.
Path
Transmitting Receiving
Antenna Antenna
Transmission lines
Power
Supply
Transmitter Receiver
The iron sphere will reflect it back to the earth’s surface and the receiver will pick the signal.
HF radio transmission
Due to the curvature of the earth, the signal will most likely attenuate at the horizon.
Repeater stations have to therefore be placed strategically to maintain a line of sight in order to
receive, amplify and propagate the signal from one area to another.
Common technology with the hand held radio devices like ‘walkie-talkie’ radios.
The range of VHF is limited but preferred to high frequency where no major obstructions are
encountered on the landscape, because it is possible to make the wave to follow a narrower
and more direct path to the receiver.
To overcome the obstructions on the earth surface like mountains and buildings, repeater
The TV aerial for VHF is bigger than the one for UHF radiowaves because UHF radiowaves
can be made to follow an even narrower and direct path to the receiver than VHF radiowaves.
Therefore UHF is popular for horizon limited broadcasts.
held communication devices like cell phones and PDAs to access the internet.
It enhances communication of personal communication devices through wireless technology.
The main component in Bluetooth is a small low power two-way radio transceiver, small
piconet.
V) INFRARED TRANSMISSION
Fall just below the visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Transceivers of infrared signals must be within a line of sight in the same room.
Unlike radio signals, infrared signals cannot penetrate obstacles like walls. However, the
signal can be reflected off surfaces like walls and ceiling until they reach their destination.
An example is the infrared transceiver on most mobile phones.
Once activated, two people in the same room can send messages to each other on their mobile
COMMUNICATION DEVICES
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