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Explain how signaling methods differ between copper and fiber optic media.
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Copper uses electrical voltage levels for signaling, while fiber optics use variations in light intensity.
How do single-mode fiber (SMF) and multi-mode fiber (MMF) differ?
SMF has a small core suitable for long distances and is costlier, while MMF has a larger core, is used over short ranges, and is cheaper.
Why is UTP commonly used in networking, and what is a standard connector for it?
UTP is common due to being inexpensive and easy to install; the RJ45 connector is commonly used with UTP.
What is the primary purpose of the physical layer in the OSI model?
To transmit bits across network media.
List the limitations of copper cabling.
Signal attenuation, susceptibility to EMI and RFI, and crosstalk.
Which organizations are responsible for governing physical layer standards?
ISO, EIA, TIA, IEEE, and ANSI.
What is the difference between latency and throughput?
Latency refers to the time delay for data to travel from source to destination, while throughput measures the actual rate of data transfer across a network.
What is the role of physical components in the physical layer?
They encompass hardware devices, media, and connectors involved in signal transmission across the network.
What are the advantages and limitations of wireless media?
Advantages include mobility; limitations involve coverage area, interference, and security issues.
Why are fiber optic cables immune to EMI and RFI?
They use light signals instead of electrical signals, which are not affected by electromagnetic interference.
What techniques are used to mitigate issues in copper cabling?
Cable length adherence, shielding and grounding, and twisted pairs to reduce crosstalk.
What are some common uses for coaxial cables today?
Coaxial cables are used in some wireless installations and for cable internet setups.
Describe the function of a Wireless Access Point (AP) in a WLAN.
It connects and switches wireless signals to the wired network infrastructure.
Explain 'goodput' and how it differs from throughput.
Goodput is the actual usable data transfer rate, excluding protocol overhead, which differs from throughput that includes all data transmitted.
What defines the capacity of a medium to carry data?
Bandwidth, measured in bits per second (bps).
How does the physical layer encode data from the data link layer?
By converting frames into signals represented by binary zeros and ones.
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