Information Technology
Grade 9
Topic: Data communication
Objective: Identify at least five communication devices used with computer networks
today’s society
COMMUNICATION DEVICES
A communications device is any type of hardware capable of transmitting data, instructions,
and information between a sending device and a receiving device. At the sending end, a
communications device sends the data, instructions, or information from the sending device
to a communications channel. At the receiving end, a communications device receives the
signals from the communications channel.
Some types of communications devices: dial-up modems, digital modems, wireless modems,
network cards, wireless access points, routers, hubs and switches, repeaters, bridges and
gateways.
Dial-up modems: A dial-up modem usually is in the form of an
adapter card that you insert in an expansion slot on a computer’s
motherboard. One end of a standard telephone cord attaches to a port on the modem card and
the other end plugs into a telephone outlet. [Explanation as to how it works: you usually
double-click on the Internet Explorer or Mozilla icon, which initiates the dial-up process.
You will hear a phone number being dialed, and then a series of clicks and beeps as the
connection is being modulated to connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) modem.
Once it is done, it has gets an Internet Protocol (IP) address from the ISP, which enables
your computer to connect to the Internet network. This process is very slow and it is rarely
used today.]
Digital modems: A digital modem is a communications device that sends and receives data
and information to and from a digital line. These modems typically include built-in Wi-Fi
connectivity
.
Wireless modems: A wireless modem is a modem that bypasses the telephone system and
connects directly to a wireless network, through which it can directly access the Internet
connectivity provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) e.g. FLOW or Digicel. Wireless
modems may be prebuilt into smart phones, mobile phones and personal data assistants
(PDAs).
Network cards- A network card, sometimes called a network interface card (NIC pronounced
nick), is a communications device that enables a computer or device
that does not have built-in networking capability to access a network. The Ethernet card that
you plug in at the back of the computer is connected to NIC computer.
Wireless access points- Wireless access points (WAPs) are networking devices that allow
Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network. They form Wireless Local
area network (WLANs). It acts as a central
transmitter and receiver of wireless radio signals. [For example, WAP around the school
allows students to access the school’s network wirelessly from their classrooms, library,
dorms, and other campus locations. To access the network, the notebook computer or mobile
device must have built-in wireless capability or wireless network card].
Routers: A router is hardware device designed to receive, analyze and move incoming
packets of data to another network. A router is a communications device that connects
multiple computers or other routers together and transmits data to its correct destination on a
network.
Hubs and switches- A hub or switch is a device that provides a central point for cables in a
network. A hub is a networking device that allows one to connect multiple PCs to a single
network.
Repeaters- A repeater is a network device that retransmits a received signal with more power
and to an extended geographical network boundary than what would be capable with the
original signal. A repeater is implemented in computer networks to expand the coverage area
of the network, spread a weak or broken signal and/or service remote nodes. Repeaters
amplify the received/input signal to a higher frequency domain so that it is reusable, scalable
and available.
Bridges- A bridge is a type of computer network device that provides interconnection with
other bridge networks that use the same protocol. Bridge devices are used to connect two
different networks together and provide communication between them
Gateways- A gateway is a data communication device that provides a remote network with
connectivity to a host network. Gateways serve as the entry and exit point of a network; all
data routed inward or outward must first pass through and communicate with the gateway in
order to use routing paths.
ROUTER VS MODEM: In short, your router creates a network between the computers in
your home or office, while your modem connects the network-and thus the computers on it –
to the internet.
ROUTER VS WIRELESS ACCESS POINT: A WAP is a device that allows clients to
connect wirelessly while a router is a network device that directs the traffic from one network
element to another.
WHY DO COMPUTERS NEED COMMUNICATION DEVICES?
A computer can work fine without a communication device. However, for a computer to
communicate with other computers they need a communication device. For example, for your
computer to connect to the Internet to view a web page it needs a communication device.
Without a communication device you’d have to use a sneaker net to transfer or share data
between computers. Sneaker net is an informal term for the transfer of electronic information
by physically moving media such as magnetic tape, floppy disks, optical discs, USB flash
drives or external hard drives between computers, rather than transmitting it over a computer
network.
