Ethernet
Originally developed by Xerox
™
in 1976, Ethernet is a standard network pro-
tocol and cabling scheme with a data transfer rate of 10 megabits per second.
Ethernet uses a bus topology capable of connecting up to 1024 PCs and
workstations within each main branch. Network computers are connected
by twisted-pair wiring, or by using either thick or thin coaxial cable.
Ethernet uses Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD)
to prevent network failures or collisions when two computers try to network
at the same time.
Explicit Address
The physical address.
FCC
Federal Communications Commission. A government agency which regu-
lates all machinery generating radio-frequency signals.
Frame
A group of bits that make up a block of data adapted for transfer as a single unit.
Hub
A central controlling device in the network.
Hz
Hertz. The number of cycles that a frequency makes in a given amount of
time. Radio Frequency is measured in Herts. RadioLAN uses a carrier that
broadcasts at the 5.8Ghz (gigaHertz) band, or at the radio band where the
frequency modulates at five billion, eight hundred million cycles each second.
I/O Address
See base address.
IRQ
Interrupt Request Line. A method of signaling the PC’s processor of an
action that has been taken, so that the processor can handle the request.
ISM Band
International Science and Medicine band. An unlicensed band in the radio
frequency spectrum. This part of the frequency band is typically used by the
scientific community and satellite communications systems.
Jack
An electrical connector into which a plug can be inserted.
Jumpers
A removable connector that joins two pins on a circuit board creating an
electrical connection.
LAN
Local Area Network. A group of computers connected together in order to
share resources and communicate with each other.
MAC Address
Media Assess Control Address. The address that identifies your adapter card.
This address is unique. No other device uses the same address number.
Mbps
Mega bits per second. A measurement indicating the amount of data bits
that move from one location to another in “millions of bits”.
Node
Any device, such as a station, that is connected to a network.
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect. PCI Local Bus is the most common
standard for connecting peripherals to the PC motherboard.
Ping
A program used for testing network connectivity. Ping transmits a special diag-
nostic packed to a specific location on the network, then forces the receiving
station to send a reply indicating that the packet reached its destination.
Radio Carrier
An electrical signal that is present when no data is being transmitted.
Radio Carrier Range
The maximum distance between stations in which the radio carrier can still
be received.
G
LOSSAR
Y
OF
T
ERMS
A
PPENDIX
A:
31