BTEC 2012

Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Milosz gadzinski

Lesson 9 Data Exchange

(Student Book B Pg 11 - 14)

Starter What is the role of a CODEC? What is a CODEC another name for?
A device or program used to encode or decode data.
1. Explain what VoIP stands for and how it works.

Voice over Sends a voice and multimedia communication over the internet.(vice over the internet
protocol.)
2. There are three transmission modes used in communication, these are shown in the diagram below.
Explain what each is and how it operates.

Transmission Mode
Simplex

Half Duplex

Duplex (Full Duplex)

Description
Sends information from computer to printer on what you want to print.

Can communicate on a channel.

Allows two way communication at the same time.

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Milosz gadzinski

3. The table below shows the main transmission methods that are used. Complete the table to find out
the key details, benefits and limitations of each.

Wired
Type
Cable used

UTP / STP

Coaxial
Solid wire core
separated from a
copper-braided
outer
Copper cables that are twisted
and
cable by a plastic
covered in plastic.
insulation sheath. The
inner cable transmits
the data and the
outer cable connects
to earth.
1,000 Mbps

Max Speed
250mbps
Max Distance

100m

Fibre Optic
Glass or plastic cables
which use total internal
reflection of light to
transmit data. Normally
uses LED or laser visible
light, although infrared
has also been used.

2.4 Gbps (higher has

been achieved in
laboratory testing)
50km

100m
Benefits

Fast and reliable

Twisting cancels out some
interference
Very low cost and asaptable.

Fast.
Works over long
distances. Little
interference.

Costs more than UTP/

STP.
Susceptible to noise.

Complex connection
and termination
equipment.

Connection to cable
TV networks.
Aerial/dish
connection to TV.

The cable networks use

fibre from their source to
the distribution panels
in the street. From there
they use coaxial cable to
individual households.

Microwave
Short wavelength radio
transmissions working at
very high frequencies.

Satellite
Data is transmitted from
Earth to a satellite, which
relays it to the relevant
receiving station back on
Earth.

Limitations
Slower and with less
capacity than other
cables, and can only
be used over short
distances.
Susceptible to
noise.

Example of use
Analogue telephone
network.

Wireless
Type
Cable used

Infrared
Short range data
transmissions using
infrared light (just
beyond
visible light). This is the
same technology as is
used in TV handsets.

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Max Speed

Name: Milosz gadzinski

300gbps

huge

100m

500 km 36,000 km

Signal degrades very

little over long distances.

Can increase the distance a

network can reach.

Devices must be in a
direct line.
Can be affected by rain,
pollen and sun spot
activity.
Can suffer from external
interference.

expensive

Earth to satellite
communication.
Bluetooth.

Global communication
systems.

4mbps
Max Distance
100m
Benefits
Tends to be reliable.

Limitations
Short range.
Devices must be in a
direct line of sight.
Can suffer from external
interference.

Example of use
Keyboard, printer,
mouse
to processor unit.
Handsets.

Plenary How many geostationary satellites are there in orbit and what do they provide?

There are 402 stallites and they are used for communication.

A.Silver