CS ACADEMY
INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY
Marks Distribution
This chapter is highly significant for the board exams, carrying a total weightage of 18 marks
(including options) out of the total 94 marks. Even if studied in isolation, this chapter can
help a student score approximately 14 marks. The typical question format includes:
One MCQ (1 mark).
Three questions of 3 marks each (9 marks total).
Two questions of 4 marks each (8 marks total).
Core Networking Concepts
Definition: A computer network is defined as a group of
interconnected systems that share resources and interact through a
shared communication link.
Transmission Medium: This is the physical or wireless pathway (like a
data cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi) used to transmit data or services
between systems.
Protocols: These are the set of common communication rules that all
systems on a network must follow to ensure data is transmitted
accurately.
Networking: A network of computers is a group of computer of inter
connected systems sharing resources and interacting using a shared
communication link. It is the concept of SHARING RESOURCES AND
SERVICES.
Characteristics of Transmission Media
A major topic in this chapter (often a 4-mark question) involves the six characteristics that
define a transmission medium:
1. Cost: The price of the cable or technology. While new, faster
technologies are often more expensive, designers often look for
robust and cheaper options for large-scale networks.
2. Installation Requirements: Some media are easy to plug in, while
others require skilled labor or professional engineers and a pre-
planned physical layout.
3. Bandwidth: This refers to the data transmission capacity, measured
in bits per second (e.g., Mbps). Shorter cables typically offer greater
bandwidth than longer ones.
4. Band Usage:
o Baseband: Devotes the entire capacity of the medium to a
single communication channel (common in LANs).
o Broadband: Allows two or more channels to share the same
medium using different frequencies (e.g., cable TV).
5. Attenuation: This is a measure of how much a signal weakens as it
travels through a medium. To overcome this over long distances,
repeaters are used to regenerate and strengthen the signal.
, 6. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): This refers to external electronic
noise that distorts the signal. An example is cross-talk, where a
signal from one wire is accidentally picked up by an adjacent wire
1. Coaxial Cable (TV Cable)
Often used for television and Local Area Networks (LAN), this cable consists of two
conductors sharing a common axis.
Components: It features a center conductor (copper wire) for signals, an
insulator to prevent contact between conductors, an outer conductor
(shield) to reduce Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), and a protective outer
jacket.
Types:
o Thinet: Low cost, easy to install, supports up to 185 meters.
o Thicket: Higher cost, difficult to install, supports up to 500 meters.
Bandwidth: Typically ranges from 2.5 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
2. Twisted Pair Cable
This is the standard for telephone lines and many modern LANs. It consists of copper wires
twisted together to cancel out radio frequency noise and reduce crosstalk (interference
from adjacent wires).
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair): Includes a metallic foil or braided copper
shield to further protect against EMI. It is more expensive than UTP but offers
better protection.
UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): The most common and least costly cable.
It lacks a shield, making it more sensitive to EMI.
Categories of UTP:
o Cat 1 & 2: Voice grade, up to 4 Mbps.
o Cat 3: Data up to 10 Mbps.
o Cat 4: Data up to 16 Mbps.
o Cat 5: Most common today, supports up to 100 Mbps.
3. Fiber Optic Cable
This is considered the ideal medium for high-
speed data transmission as it uses light
pulses (from lasers or LEDs) instead of electrical
signals.
Core: Made of highly refined glass
or plastic. Glass supports longer
distances, while plastic is easier to
handle.
Advantages: It is entirely immune to EMI, offers extremely high
bandwidth (100 Mbps to 2 Gbps+), and provides high security because it
does not emit electronic signals that can be tapped.
Disadvantages: It is the most expensive cable and requires high skill for
installation because the fibers are delicate and can break if bent sharply
\
INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY
Marks Distribution
This chapter is highly significant for the board exams, carrying a total weightage of 18 marks
(including options) out of the total 94 marks. Even if studied in isolation, this chapter can
help a student score approximately 14 marks. The typical question format includes:
One MCQ (1 mark).
Three questions of 3 marks each (9 marks total).
Two questions of 4 marks each (8 marks total).
Core Networking Concepts
Definition: A computer network is defined as a group of
interconnected systems that share resources and interact through a
shared communication link.
Transmission Medium: This is the physical or wireless pathway (like a
data cable, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi) used to transmit data or services
between systems.
Protocols: These are the set of common communication rules that all
systems on a network must follow to ensure data is transmitted
accurately.
Networking: A network of computers is a group of computer of inter
connected systems sharing resources and interacting using a shared
communication link. It is the concept of SHARING RESOURCES AND
SERVICES.
Characteristics of Transmission Media
A major topic in this chapter (often a 4-mark question) involves the six characteristics that
define a transmission medium:
1. Cost: The price of the cable or technology. While new, faster
technologies are often more expensive, designers often look for
robust and cheaper options for large-scale networks.
2. Installation Requirements: Some media are easy to plug in, while
others require skilled labor or professional engineers and a pre-
planned physical layout.
3. Bandwidth: This refers to the data transmission capacity, measured
in bits per second (e.g., Mbps). Shorter cables typically offer greater
bandwidth than longer ones.
4. Band Usage:
o Baseband: Devotes the entire capacity of the medium to a
single communication channel (common in LANs).
o Broadband: Allows two or more channels to share the same
medium using different frequencies (e.g., cable TV).
5. Attenuation: This is a measure of how much a signal weakens as it
travels through a medium. To overcome this over long distances,
repeaters are used to regenerate and strengthen the signal.
, 6. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): This refers to external electronic
noise that distorts the signal. An example is cross-talk, where a
signal from one wire is accidentally picked up by an adjacent wire
1. Coaxial Cable (TV Cable)
Often used for television and Local Area Networks (LAN), this cable consists of two
conductors sharing a common axis.
Components: It features a center conductor (copper wire) for signals, an
insulator to prevent contact between conductors, an outer conductor
(shield) to reduce Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), and a protective outer
jacket.
Types:
o Thinet: Low cost, easy to install, supports up to 185 meters.
o Thicket: Higher cost, difficult to install, supports up to 500 meters.
Bandwidth: Typically ranges from 2.5 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
2. Twisted Pair Cable
This is the standard for telephone lines and many modern LANs. It consists of copper wires
twisted together to cancel out radio frequency noise and reduce crosstalk (interference
from adjacent wires).
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair): Includes a metallic foil or braided copper
shield to further protect against EMI. It is more expensive than UTP but offers
better protection.
UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): The most common and least costly cable.
It lacks a shield, making it more sensitive to EMI.
Categories of UTP:
o Cat 1 & 2: Voice grade, up to 4 Mbps.
o Cat 3: Data up to 10 Mbps.
o Cat 4: Data up to 16 Mbps.
o Cat 5: Most common today, supports up to 100 Mbps.
3. Fiber Optic Cable
This is considered the ideal medium for high-
speed data transmission as it uses light
pulses (from lasers or LEDs) instead of electrical
signals.
Core: Made of highly refined glass
or plastic. Glass supports longer
distances, while plastic is easier to
handle.
Advantages: It is entirely immune to EMI, offers extremely high
bandwidth (100 Mbps to 2 Gbps+), and provides high security because it
does not emit electronic signals that can be tapped.
Disadvantages: It is the most expensive cable and requires high skill for
installation because the fibers are delicate and can break if bent sharply
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