66
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. This system of characters is most
commonly used for text files
Attenuation
The loss in strength of digital and analog signals. The loss is greater when the signal is being
transmitted over long distances.
Authentication
To provide credentials, like a Password, in order to verify that the person or device is really
who they are claiming to be
Automatic Private IP Addressing
APIPA. An IP address that that a Windows computer will assign itself when it is configured to
obtain an IP address automatically but no DHCP server is available on the network
B
Backward Compatible
The ability for new devices to communicate and interact with older legacy devices to guarantee
interoperability
Bandwidth
The maximum amount of bytes or bits per second that can be transmitted to and from a
network device
Basic Input/Output System
BIOS. A program that the processor of a computer uses to startup the system once it is turned
on
Baud
Data transmission speed
Beacon
A data frame by which one of the stations in a Wi-Fi network periodically broadcasts network
control data to other wireless stations.
Bit rate
The amount of bits that pass in given amount of time
Bit/sec
Bits per second
BOOTP
Bootstrap Protocol. Allows for computers to be booted up and given an IP address with no user
intervention
Bottleneck
