Networks
What is a computer Network?
A group of computing devices that are connected together so that they can share data and resources.
Name one difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi?
Bluetooth is short range, usually with a room; Wi-Fi may range over a small building to the world at large.
How many individual wires will you find in a networking twisted pair?
Twisted pair cable consists of eight copper wires, twisted in pairs to reduce interference and enclosed in a plastic covering.
What does the P in ISP stand for?
Internet Service Provider
State the difference between a web page and a web browser.
A web page is an HTML document file accessible on the WWW. A web browser is an application program needed to view web pages.
What is a mobile network?
A network of communication and computing devices where the last link is over a mobile phone network.
Venues that have broadband Internet access often create public wireless access.
(i) What is the technical term for this public wireless access?
(ii) Name THREE types of venue that often provide public wireless access.
(i) Hotspot
(ii) Coffee shops, Hotels, Open spaces between two or more mobile carriers, Government offices, and Libraries
State the difference between a switch and a router?
A switch joins computer together while a router joins networks together.
What does the word "Protocol" means?
A protocol is a set of rules or an agreed way to exchange or transmit data between devices.
List three web browser application programs.
Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari
Give TWO reasons why someone on the move might want to join a computer network?
To check the weather, send email, check flight information, access work documents in the clouds, or join a video conference.
What is a wireless network?
A network that uses radio waves instead of physical cables as the transmission medium.
Name three components of a wired network?
(i) Switch
(ii) Router
(iii) Network Interface Card/Adapter
Suggest TWO reasons why an organisation may choose to set up an intranet.
An intranet allows organisations to share information and resources with staff while keeping the data and information secure.
Give ONE circumstance where regular postal mail is better than email.
Regular mail is the only way to send physical objects.
State ONE similarity and ONE difference between a computer network and a mobile network?
Both a computer network and mobile networks connect communication devices together but a computer network can be wired or wireless while on a mobile network the last leg of transmission is mobile wireless.
What is meant by Transmission Media?
These are the mechanisms by which computing devices are connected together.
Name THREE wired transmission media
(i) Coaxial
(ii) Twisted pair
(iii) Fiber optic
List THREE types of business enterprise that could benefit from setting an extranet.
(i) Travel agents
(ii) Airlines
(iii) Shops and suppliers
(iv) Banks
(v) Credit Card companies
In the URL https://www.cxc.org/examinations/csec/manuals/
What is the correct term for the cxc.org part of the URL?
cxc.org is an example of a domain name
Name the type of networks used in the following:- (i) your district government office? (ii) Booking an airline ticket? (iii) Your local dental practice?
(i) Metropolitan Area
(ii) Wide Area
(iii) Local Area
Give ONE similarity and ONE difference between Infrared and Microwave as transmission media
Infrared and microwave are both wireless but infrared is short range (a few metres) and microwave is longer range ( a few kilometres).
Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of a wired network when compared to a wireless network.
Wired networks are more secured and faster than wireless networks. However, a disadvantage of a wired network is that it requires cables to be laid between computers and the network switch.
State the difference between the World Wide Web and the Internet.
The World Wide Web is a collection of billions of documents, accessed through the Internet, using a web-browsing application. The Internet is a public, globally accessible, wide area network providing information and communication facilities.
State ONE difference between HTTP and FTP.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the protocol for transferring web pages. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the protocol for transferring files.