Assalamu'alaikum and greetings all. Today, I have ICT tasks that must be completed. I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mohd Amirul Ridhzuan Bin Mohd Rafi. I am 18 years old and lived at Kampung Makam Kota Tinggi, Johor. I am from 6R Al-Farabi at SMK Tun Habab.

WHAT IS A TRANSMISSION MEDIA ?

Transmission media is a pathway that carries the information from sender to receiver. We use different types of cables or waves to transmit data. Data is transmitted normally through electrical or electromagnetic signals.An electrical signal is in the form of current. An electromagnetic signal is series of electromagnetic energy pulses at various frequencies. These signals can be transmitted through copper wires, optical fibers, atmosphere, water and vacuum Different Medias have different properties like bandwidth, delay, cost and ease of installation and maintenance. Transmission media is also called Communication channel.

TYPES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA

1. Wired or Guided Media or Bound Transmission Media

2. Wireless or Unguided media or Unbound transmission Media

Wired or Guided Media or Bound Transmission Media: Bound transmission media are the cables that are tangible or have physical existence and are limited by the physical geography. Popular bound transmission media in use are twisted pair cable, co-axial cable and fiber optical cable. Each of them has its own characteristics like transmission speed, effect of noise, physical appearance, cost etc.

Wireless or Unguided Media or Unbound Transmission Media: Unbound transmission media are the ways of transmitting data without using any cables. These media are not bounded by physical geography. This type of transmission is called Wireless communication. Nowadays wireless communication is becoming popular. Wireless LANs are being installed in office and college campuses. This transmission uses Microwave, Radio wave, Infra red are some of popular unbound transmission media.

WHAT IS A COMMUNICATION DEVICES ?

A communication device is piece of equipment or hardware designed to move information or data from one place to another, in other words, allowing one computer device to communicate with another. There are many examples of communication devices and we will look at a few below.

Network interface card (NIC) or Network connector

Computers on a network need to be able to communicate with the server and with other computers. In order to do this, a network interface card (NIC) is required or a built-in network chip is included on the motherboard, such as in the laptop opposite..

The hardware handles all the physical network signals.

The NIC allows data to be communicated to and from a networked computer.

 

Wi-fi Cards

When you are using your computer on a wireless network, you need to be able to send data to and receive data from the server and other computers on the network. This may be done by a built-in wi-fi in your laptop or mobile device connected to a local network.

If your laptop needs to connect via a mobile wi-fi network whilst on the move, then you can also purchase a Wi-Fi 'dongle' that looks like a memory stick and is inserted into a USB port. It works in just the same way but is designed to work with a specific mobile internet network provider.

 

Router

This is a very important network communication device. It is responsible for sending network traffic to its correct destination. It works by reading the destination network address within each data packet and sends it along its way. There can be many routers on a large network.

 

 

Modem

A Modem is a device used to convert digital data to analogue data in order to transmit it over the telephone network (MODulation).

It will also convert the analogue data back into digital data when the computer is receiving data from the telephone network (DEModulation).

So together the device MODulates and DEModulates, hence MODEM

 

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Communication technology is also known as information technology (IT) and information and communications technology (ICT). It is the merging of telephone and computer networks, as well as audio visual networks. This type of technology allows for great advances in the field of communication. The types of communication technology are telephone, radio, television, and Internet. Nowadays, the Internet is highly used in communications because of the efficiency and convenience. The capabilities of the internet include emails, phone calls, video calls, and forums.

COMPUTER NETWORKS

A computer network or data network is a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data. In computer networks, networked computing devices pass data to each other along data connections. The connections (network links) between nodes are established using either cable media or wireless media. The best-known computer network is the Internet.

Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, servers as well as networking hardware. Two such devices are said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.

Computer networks support applications such as access to the World Wide Web, shared use of application and storage servers, printers, and fax machines, and use of email and instant messaging applications. Computer networks differ in the physical media used to transmit their signals, the communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network's size, topology and organizational intent.

Network architecture

Network architecture is the design of a communications network. It is a framework for the specification of a network's physical components and their functional organization and configuration, its operational principles and procedures, as well as data formats used in its operation. In telecommunication, the specification of a network architecture may also include a detailed description of products and services delivered via a communications network, as well as detailed rate and billing structures under which services are compensated. The network architecture of the Internet is predominantly expressed by its use of the Internet Protocol Suite, rather than a specific model for interconnecting networks or nodes in the network, or the usage of specific types of hardware links.

TOPOLOGY

Network topology is the arrangement of the various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network. Essentially, it is the topological structure of a network, and may be depicted physically or logically. Physical topology refers to the placement of the network's various components, including device location and cable installation, while logical topology shows how data flows within a network, regardless of its physical design. Distances between nodes, physical interconnections, transmission rates, and/or signal types may differ between two networks, yet their topologies may be identical.

TYPE OF NETWORKS

  

LAN ( Local Area Networking )

 

Local Area Networking is used primarily in small areas such as schools, hospitals and office buildings. Local Area Networking, is one of the older types of networks. TCP/IP is used as the method of communication between computers in Local Area Networking. Due to its small size, it is possible for one person to administrate a Local Area Network. Local Area Networks are viable to quick change, using a bus network topology that allows for easy access to the Local Area Network.

 

WLAN ( Wireless Local Area Networks )

Wireless Local Area Networks are much like LAN networks, except they do not require network cables to connect each other. Radio and infrared signals are used to communicate between machines whilst using a wireless local area network. Wireless Local Area Networks allow for small amounts of mobility whilst being connected to the internet. Wireless Local Area Networks work according to the IEEE 802.11 standards. Wireless Area Networks are commonly seen being used by a WiFi internet connection. Wireless LAN connections offer a surprising amount of mobility for users with laptops and smart phones while being able to stay connected to the internet by different networking topology.

                   

 

WAN ( Wide Area Networks )

Wide Area Networks are used to connect server machines and computers across continents are countries for constant information updates. Wide Area Networks, are used across the globe, many networks connect with one another across continents to create one giant Wide Area Network. Wide Area Networks use optic fibre as their communication medium. The largest example of a Wide Area Network is the internet itself, which connects all users to the information and data that is available on the the internet.

 

MAN ( Metropolitan Area Networks )

Metropolitan Area Networks are not commonly used these days, they are used to create communication between systems in an entire city. Hence a Metropolitan Area Network area falls between the sizes Local Area Networks, and Wide Area Networks. Metropolitan Area Networks are used by city specific businesses such as the New York Times in the state of New York.

 

WIRED

In computing terminology, the term "wired" is used to differentiate between wireless connections and those that involve cables. While wireless devices communicate over the air, a wired setup uses physical cables to transfer data between different devices and computer systems.

COAXIAL CABLE

Coaxial cable is the kind of copper cable used by cable TV companies between the community antenna and user homes and businesses.

Coaxial cable is called "coaxial" because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground. Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with repeaters, can carry information for a great distance.

Coaxial cable is sometimes used by telephone companies from their central office to the telephone poles near users. It is also widely installed for use in business and corporation Ethernet and other types of local area network. Depending upon the carrier's technology and other factors, twisted pair copper wire and optical fiber may be used instead of coaxial cable.

Coaxial cable was invented in 1880 by English engineer and mathematician Oliver Heaviside, who patented the invention and design that same year.  AT&T established its first cross-continental coaxial transmission system in 1940. 

TWISTED PAIR

Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other. Each connection on twisted pair requires both wires. Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections, twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable. For some business locations, twisted pair is enclosed in a shield that functions as a ground. This is known as shielded twisted pair (STP). Ordinary wire to the home is unshielded twisted pair (UTP).

WIRELESS

The word wireless is dictionary defined as "having no wires". In networking terminology, wireless is the term used to describe any computer network where there is no physical wired connection between sender and receiver, but rather the network is connected by radio waves and/or microwaves to maintain communications. Wireless networking utilizes specific equipment such as NICs, APs and routers in place of wires (copper or optical fiber) for connectivity.

Satellite

Often abbreviated as comsat, a communications satellite is a satellite that has been stationed in space for the purpose of providing telecommunications. Communications satellites are commonly used for mobile phone signals, weather tracking, or broadcasting television programs. Communications satellites are artificial satellites that relay receive signals from an earth station and then retransmits the signal to other earth stations. They commonly move in a geostationary orbit.

MICROWAVE

The term microwave refers to electromagnetic energy having a frequency higher than 1 gigahertz (billions of cycles per second), corresponding to wavelength shorter than 30 centimeters.Microwave signals propagate in straight lines and are affected very little by the troposphere. They are not refracted or reflected by ionized regions in the upper atmosphere. Microwave beams do not readily diffract around barriers such as hills, mountains, and large human-made structures. Some attenuation occurs when microwave energy passes through trees and frame houses. Radio-frequency (RF) energy at longer wavelengths is affected to a lesser degree by such obstacles.The microwave band is well suited for wireless transmission of signals having large bandwidth. This portion of the RF electromagnetic radiation spectrum encompasses many thousands of megahertz. Compare this with the so-called shortwave band that extends from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, and whose total available bandwidth is only 27 MHz. In communications, a large allowable bandwidth translates into high data speed. The short wavelengths allow the use of dish antennas having manageable diameters. These antennas produce high power gain in transmitting applications, and have excellent sensitivity and directional characteristics for reception of signals.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength UHF radio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz) from fixed and mobile devices,  and building personal area networks (PANs). Invented by telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994, it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization. Bluetooth is managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which has more than 20,000 member companies in the areas of telecommunication, computing, networking, and consumer electronics .Bluetooth was standardized as IEEE 802.15.1, but the standard is no longer maintained. The SIG oversees the development of the specification, manages the qualification program, and protects the trademarks. To be marketed as a Bluetooth device, it must be qualified to standards defined by the SIG. A network of patents is required to implement the technology, which is licensed only for that qualifying device.

INFRARED

Infrared (IR) is electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths than those ofvisible light, extending from the nominal red edge of the visible spectrum at 700nanometers (nm) to 1 mm. This range of wavelengths corresponds to a frequencyrange of approximately 430 THz down to 300 GHz.[1] Most of the thermal radiationemitted by objects near room temperature is infrared.

Infrared radiation was discovered in 1800 by astronomer William Herschel, who discovered a type of invisible radiation in the spectrum beyond red light, by means of its effect upon a thermometer. Slightly more than half of the total energy from the Sun was eventually found to arrive on Earth in the form of infrared. The balance between absorbed and emitted infrared radiation has a critical effect on Earth'sclimate.

COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL

Communication protocols are formal descriptions of digital message formats and rules. They are required to exchange messages in or between computing systems and are required in telecommunications. Communications protocols cover authentication, error detection and correction, and signaling. They can also describe the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of analog and digital communications. Communications protocols are implemented in hardware and software. There are thousands of communications protocols that are used everywhere in analog and digital communications. Computer networks cannot exist without them.

TCP/IP

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a communications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or an extranet). When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your computer is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer that you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of TCP/IP.

What is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) ?

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It's a set of communication guidelines that allow software to transmit email over the Internet. Most email software is designed to use SMTP for communication purposes when sending email, and It only works for outgoing messages. When people set up their email programs, they will typically have to give the address of their Internet service provider's SMTP server for outgoing mail. There are two other protocols - POP3 and IMAP - that are used for retrieving and storing email.

Apple Talk

AppleTalk is a proprietary suite of networking protocols developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh computers. AppleTalk included a number of features that allowed local area networks to be connected with no prior setup or the need for a centralized router or server of any sort. Connecting together AppleTalk equipped systems would automatically assign addresses, update the distributed namespace, and configure any required inter-networking routing. It was a plug-n-play system. AppleTalk was released for the original Macintosh in 1985, and was the primary protocol used by Apple devices through the 1980s and 90s. Versions were also released for the IBM PC and compatibles, and the Apple IIGS. AppleTalk support was also available in most networked printers (especially laser printers), some file servers and a number of routers. The rise of TCP/IP during the 1990s led to a re-implementation of most of these types of support on that protocol, and AppleTalk became unsupported as of the release of Mac OS X v10.6 in 2009. Many of AppleTalk's more advanced auto-configuration features have since been introduced in Bonjour, while Universal Plug and Play serves similar needs.

Netbeui

(NetBIOS Extended User Interface) Pronounced "net-boo-ee." The transport part of the original networking protocol for DOS and Windows PCs. NetBEUI is a non-routable protocol that was designed for a single LAN segment. It does not contain a network address for routing to different networks. NetBEUI was originally named "NetBIOS," but because NetBIOS was not routable, the programming interface (API) to the protocol was later separated from the transport to allow NetBIOS applications to use routable protocols such as TCP/IP and SPX/IPX. See NetBIOS.

No More NetBEUI in XP!

Windows XP dropped formal support for NetBEUI. However, if required for legacy networks, the protocol is located in the \valueadd\msft\net\netbeui folder on the XP installation CD-ROM. To install it, copy the following two files and add the protocol (see Win Add protocol). If the destination \windows\inf folder on the hard disk is hidden, unhide it (see Win Unhide files and folders).

REFERENCE

http://ecomputernotes.com/computernetworkingnotes/communication-networks/what-is-transmission-media-and-types-of-transmission-media

http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_computing/ocr/211_hardware_software/types_hw/miniweb/pg6.htm#

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communications_technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_communication

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/coaxial-cable

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/twisted-pair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_protocolhttp://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/TCP-IP

http://whatismyipaddress.com/smtp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppleTalk

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47771/netbeui