Electronic imaging consumes large amounts of bandwidth and data. Current connections to the home consist primarily of modems running at 33.6 Kpbs or 56 Kpbs. For those users who deal with still images and video, these speeds are not acceptable. The home needs fatter pipes in order to proliferate any kind of imaging services or if someone is trying to sell different types of imaging appliances that intend to use the Internet infrastructure. 

The home user has to contract with an ISP for a flat-rate monthly fee. The ISP usually provides a dial-up line that the consumer uses with s standard modem. The cost of  a dial-up line is usually under $20 a month. Many new technologies have been developed with the consumer in mind in order to increase the amount of bandwidth that will be available to a home computer.

The first hurdle you have to pass is to become more familiar with many of the letters and names. One the terminology is learned, the rest is just common sense and being able to carefully follow directions. One of the very first terms you will encounter, is the word ‘protocol’. The technical definition of the word as well as the acronyms can be very complex. However, for your purpose it is quite straightforward.

A protocol is a set of rules that have been adopted as a means for devices to communicate. For instance, the HTTP protocol used by Internet browsers specifies a detailed list of methods for passing Internet data back and forth. TCP/IP or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is a method that dictates how packets get defined and transported on a TCP/IP based network.

Note that there are a variety of ways, involving other protocols, to establish networks and their rules. In days past IBM was one of the earliest with its SNA network philosophy. This was widely used in business for decades. Though it has now been replaced by TCP/IP, it is still in use throughout the world. These are not the only two that have been adopted at one time or another. While the details are only of interest to computer geeks and professionals, there are aspects that affect how a home network builder has to proceed. If you happen to know some of them, you will be able to choose your equipment and design your network intelligently.

For instance, if one of the central parts of the home network gear is the router. However, router come in a variety of types and each one is associated with a certain protocol. Wireless routers may use the 802.11b or 802.11g protocol. It is not important to know the technical definition, but you much know that the first is rated at 11 Mb versus 54Mb throughput impacts your network.

Even though the first is rated at 11 Mb, that is the rate under ideal conditions. The real throughput is approximately 6-7 Mb.  Also keep in mind that there are 8 bits per byte. That is equal to one character of data. So the actual rate is only just about 1/8th of what you actually tend to think of when you go to transfer files. Faster gear that follows the 802.11 standard running at 100Mb should soon be available.

However, most people do not have any reason to care about the details of Ethernet protocol. The standard protocol used in Ethernet networks is 802.3. This helps to do away with some of the strangeness from another cryptic number. It is also helpful to know that 10BaseT is like a synonym for wired Ethernet networks that run at 10 megabits per second. 100BaseT is the standard for cabled Ethernet networks that use equipment running at 100 Mbps.

Every week there will be a new acronym created as well as a new unfamiliar set of numbers. Network designers are among the geekiest in the business! However, if you familiarize yourself with a few of these protocols and related items, you will soon be barking them out with the best of them.




By: Joseph Nyamache