1. Connecting your network
National 4/5 Computing Science

2. Lesson aims By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wired and wireless networking

3. Yes or No? Do it Yourself… You have bought a new house
You want to install a network to connect all of your computers together
Do you break out the toolkit?
Yes or No?

4. Task
You now have 5 minutes to prepare your ‘excuse’ or reason! on whether you should get your tools out or not!

5. Wired Networks
This is when the devices in a network are connected using cables
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using cables?
Image © : (Enzo Forcitini)

6. Features of Wired networking
Advantages
Disadvantages
Generally fast transfer speeds
Hardware generally cheaper
Portability
Expandability

7. Wi-Fi Networks
This is when devices on network communicate wirelessly using WiFi®
This requires wireless networking equipment

8. Features of Wi-Fi Portability Expandability
Advantages
Disadvantages
Portability
Expandability
Guest access capability (free Wi-Fi)
Security
Legal issues
Transfer speeds generally slower than wired

9. Equipment – NIC’s
Whether you are using wired or wireless devices each device will have an NIC
Network Interface Card (NIC)
These can be wired or Wi-Fi
Image - © Akash Khairate Creative Commons License