Lesson 3: Networks And Communications Technology
Objectives:
From this lesson you should learn:
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What a network is and how it connects users
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How users share network bandwidth
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What different network architectures are used
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How a fiber optic network connects users
A network is a communications system that connects
many users and allows them to share the network, a group of
interconnected devices that share bandwidth and communicate with each
other and devices in other networks too. Networks are often referred to
as LANs - local area networks of computers, MANs - metropolitan area
networks, SANs -networks of data storage and WANs – wide area networks
like the telephone system or the Internet. The Internet is simply a
network of networks.
Network connections allow sending messages, sharing files and working in
unison. The devices need a way to connect to each other first, with
what is called a "physical layer" consisting of cable - copper or fiber
or wireless (radio.) The physical layer can have several different
architectures or connection schemes, generally called a bus, ring, star
or tree. Then there are rules on how the devices identify themselves and
share the bandwidth, and that's the basis of the network protocol.
In this lesson you will learn about networks.
Student Assignment:
Read either of the references and take the
quiz.
Online FOA Reference:
Networks And Communications Technology
Book Chapter:
The Fiber Optic Association Guide To Broadband, Chapter 3
(Print Version)
Optional - Extra Credit (and future reference)
You can also watch the FOA YouTube videos on networks
Test Your Knowledge:
- Next:
Lesson 4: Fiber Optic Telecommunications
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