BTEC

2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

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. Another name is internet protocols
1. Explain what VoIP stands for and how it works.
It stands for Voice over internet Protocol. VoIP is a group of internet protocols that send voice and
multimedia communication over the internet, rather than telephone network.
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

Description

Simplexisacommunicationsmodeinwhichonlyonesignalistransmitted,
anditalwaysgoesinthesamedirection.Thetransmitterandthereceiver
operateonthesamefrequency.Whentwostationsexistandthey
alternately(notsimultaneously)sendsignalstoeachotheronthesame
frequency,themodeistechnicallyknownashalfduplex.However,most
amateurradiooperatorsrefertohalfduplexassimplex.

Simplex

Half Duplex

Duplex (Full Duplex)

Halfduplexdatatransmissionmeansthatdatacanbetransmittedinboth
directionsonasignalcarrier,butnotatthesametime.
Inafullduplexsystem,bothpartiescancommunicatetotheother
simultaneously.Anexampleofafullduplexdeviceisatelephone;the
partiesatbothendsofacallcanspeakandbeheardbytheotherparty
simultaneously.

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: .

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

UTP / STP

Coaxial

Fibre Optic

Unshielded twisted
pair (UTP) cables are
basic pairs of cables
twisted together.
Shielded twisted pair
(STP) cables are
similar but have a foil
shielding.

Solid wire core
separated from a
copperbraided outer
cable by a plastic
insulation sheath. The
inner cable transmits
the data and the outer
cable connects to the
earth.

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

Cable used

Max Speed

250 Mbps

1000 Mbps (or more

for Category 7 cable)

2.4 Mbps (higher has

been achieved in
laboratory testing)

Max Distance

100m

100m

50km

Benefits

Twisting cancels out
Fast and reliable.
some interference.
Very low cost and
adaptable.

Fast.
Works over long
distances.
Little interference.

Limitations

Slower and with less

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

Cost more than UTP/

STP.
Susceptible to noise.

Complex connection
and termination
equipment.

Analogue telephone
network.

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.

Example of use

Wireless

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World
Type
Cable used

Max Speed
Max Distance

Name: .

Infrared

Microwave

Satellite

Short range data

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

4 Mbps
100m

Short wavelength
radio transmissions
working at very high
frequencies.

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

300 Gbps
100m

Huge
Between about 500km
to 36,000km

Signal degrades very
little over long
distances.

Can increase the
distance a network
can reach.

Benefits

Tends to be reliable.

Limitations

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

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

Keyboard, printer,
mouse to processor
unit.
Handsets.

Earth to satellite
Global communication
communication. system.
Bluetooth.

Example of use

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

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