Module 4: Build a Home Network

Question 1

In addition to an integrated router, there are many different types of devices that might be connecting to a home network. Here are a few examples:

Answer 1

• Desktop computers
• Gaming systems
• Smart TV systems
• Printers
• Scanners
• Security cameras
• Telephones
• Climate control devices

As the new technologies come on the market, more and more household functions will rely on the network to provide connectivity and control.

Question 2

Small business and home routers typically have two primary types of ports:

Answer 2

Ethernet Ports
Internet Port

Question 3

These ports connect to the internal switch portion of the router.

Answer 3

Ethernet Ports

These ports are usually labeled “Ethernet” or “LAN”. All devices connected to the switch ports are on the same local network.

Question 4

This port is used to connect the device to another network.

Answer 4

Internet Port

The internet port connects the router to a different network than the Ethernet ports. This port is often used to connect to the cable or DSL modem in order to access the internet.

Question 5

In addition to the wired ports, many home routers include a radio antenna and a built-in wireless access point. By default, the wireless devices are on the same local network as the devices that are physically plugged into the LAN switch ports. The internet port is the only port that is on a different network in the default configuration.

Answer 5

Noted

Question 6

True or False?

A home router typically only provides wired access to the network. You have to buy a separate device for wireless access.

Answer 6

false

Typically a home network uses an integrated router equipped with both wired and wireless capabilities.

Question 7

Which of the following is used to connect a wired device to the internal switch of the home router?

• Wireless port
• Power port
• Internet port
• Ethernet port

Answer 7

Ethernet port

Ethernet ports connect to the internal switch portion of the router. These ports are usually labeled “Ethernet” or “LAN”.

Answer 8

Ethernet ports connect to the internal switch portion of the router. These ports are usually labeled “Ethernet” or “LAN”.

Question 9

The wireless technologies most frequently used in home networks are in the unlicensed _ GHz and _ GHz frequency ranges.

Answer 9

2.4, 5

Question 10

Bluetooth is a technology that makes use of the _ GHz band. It is limited to low-speed, short-range communications, but has the advantage of communicating with many devices at the same time. This one-to-many communication has made Bluetooth technology the preferred method for connecting computer peripherals such as wireless mice, keyboards and printers. Bluetooth is a good method for transmitting audio to speakers or headphones.

Answer 10

2.4

Question 11

Other technologies that use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are the modern wireless LAN technologies that conform to the various IEEE _ standards. Unlike Bluetooth technology, they transmit at a much higher power level giving them a great range and improved throughput. Certain areas of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used without a permit.

Answer 11

802.11

Question 12

4.2.2 Wired Network Technologies
Although many home network devices support wireless communications, there are still a few applications where devices benefit from a wired switch connection that is not shared with other users on the network.

The most commonly implemented wired protocol is the Ethernet protocol. Ethernet uses a suite of protocols that allow network devices to communicate over a wired LAN connection. An Ethernet LAN can connect devices using many different types of wiring media.

Directly connected devices use an Ethernet patch cable, usually unshielded twisted pair. These cables can be purchased with the RJ-45 connectors already installed, and they come in various lengths. Recently constructed homes may have Ethernet jacks already wired in the walls of the home. For those homes that do not have UTP wiring, there are other technologies, such as powerline, that can distribute wired connectivity throughout the premises.

Answer 12

Noted

Question 13

_ is the most common wiring used in a LAN. The cable is made up of 4 pairs of wires that are twisted to reduce electrical interference.

Answer 13

Category 5e

Question 14

_ has an inner wire surrounded by a tubular insulating layer, that is then surrounded by a tubular conducting shield.

Answer 14

Coaxial cable

Most coax cables also have an external insulating sheath or jacket.

Question 15

_ can be either glass or plastic with a diameter about the same as a human hair and it can carry digital information at very high speeds over long distances.

Answer 15

Fiber-optic cables

Fiber-optic cables have a very high bandwidth, which enables them to carry very large amounts of data.

Question 16

True or false?

Certain areas of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used without a permit.

Answer 16

true

Certain areas of the electromagnetic spectrum have been set aside to allow public use without the restriction of having to apply for special permits.

Question 17

True or false?

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cordless phones all use the same frequency ranges.

Answer 17

false

Wi-Fi uses two different frequency ranges: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Bluetooth also uses the 2.4 GHz frequency range. However, cordless phones operate at a lower ~900 MHz frequency range.

Question 18

Which wired network technology has an inner wire surrounded by a tubular insulating layer, that is then surrounded by a tubular conducting shield.

• Coaxial cable
• Category 5 cable
• Fiber-optic cable

Answer 18

Coaxial cable

Coaxial cable has an inner wire surrounded by a tubular insulating layer, that is then surrounded by a tubular conducting shield.

Question 19

A number of standards have been developed to ensure that wireless devices can communicate. They specify the RF spectrum used, data rates, how the information is transmitted, and more. The main organization responsible for the creation of wireless technical standards is the _.

Answer 19

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Question 20

The _ standard governs the WLAN environment. There are amendments to this standard that describe characteristics for different standards of wireless communications.

Answer 20

IEEE 802.11

Question 21

Wireless standards for LANs use the _ and _ frequency bands. Collectively these technologies are referred to as Wi-Fi.

Answer 21

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz

Question 22

Another organization, known as the _, is responsible for testing wireless LAN devices from different manufacturers.

Answer 22

Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi logo on a device means that this equipment meets standards and should operate with other devices that use the same standard.

Question 23

Wireless standards are constantly improving the connectivity and speed of Wi-Fi networks. It is important to be aware of new standards as they are introduced because manufacturers of wireless devices will implement these standards quickly in their new products.

Answer 23

Noted

Question 24

Determines the type of technology that must be supported.

Answer 24

Network mode

For example, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n or Mixed Mode.

Question 25

Used to identify the WLAN. All devices that wish to participate in the WLAN must have the same _.

Answer 25

Network Name (SSID)

Question 26

Specifies the channel over which communication will occur. By default, this is set to Auto to allow the access point (AP) to determine the optimum channel to use.

Answer 26

Standard Channel

Question 27

Determines if the SSID will be broadcast to all devices within range.

Answer 27

SSID Broadcast ## Footnote By default, set to Enabled. Note: SSID stands for Service Set Identifier.

Question 28

**Network Mode** The 802.11 protocol can provide increased throughput based on the wireless network environment. If all wireless devices connect with the same 802.11 standard, maximum speeds can be obtained for that standard. If the access point is configured to accept only one 802.11 standard, devices that do not use that standard cannot connect to the access point.

Question 29

A _ wireless network environment can include devices that use any of the existing Wi-Fi standards. This environment provides easy access for older devices that need a wireless connection but do not support the latest standards.

Answer 29

mixed mode

Question 30

When building a wireless network, it is important that the wireless components connect to the appropriate WLAN. This is done using the _.

Answer 30

SSID

Question 31

The _ is a case-sensitive, alphanumeric string that contains up to 32 characters. It is sent in the header of all frames transmitted over the WLAN.

Answer 31

SSID

Question 32

The SSID is used to tell wireless devices, called _, which WLAN they belong to and with which other devices they can communicate.

Answer 32

wireless stations (STAs)

Question 33

We use the **SSID** to identify a specific wireless network. It is essentially the name of the network. Wireless routers usually broadcast their configured SSIDs by default. The SSID broadcast allows other devices and wireless clients to automatically discover the name of the wireless network. When the SSID broadcast is disabled, you must manually enter the SSID on wireless devices. Disabling SSID broadcasting can make it more difficult for legitimate clients to find the wireless network. However, simply turning off the SSID broadcast is not sufficient to prevent unauthorized clients from connecting to the wireless network. All wireless networks should use the strongest available encryption to restrict unauthorized access.

Answer 33

Nored

Question 34

Which organization is responsible for testing wireless LAN devices? * IEEE * IETF * Wi-Fi Alliance * TIA/EIA

Answer 34

Wi-Fi Alliance ## Footnote The Wi-Fi Alliance is responsible for testing wireless LAN devices from different manufacturers.

Question 35

What is used to identify a specific wireless network? * the network mode * the network address * the IP address of the router * the Service Set Identifier (SSID)

Answer 35

the Service Set Identifier (SSID) ## Footnote The SSID is used to identify a specific wireless network. It is essentially the name of the network.

Question 36

True or False? If you have devices on your wireless network that are using a variety of different 802.11 standards, then you should set your network to the highest standard to get the best throughput.

Answer 36

False ## Footnote The network should be configured for mixed mode to include devices that use any of the existing Wi-Fi standards.

Question 37

**4.4.1 First Time Setup** Many wireless routers designed for home use have an automatic setup utility that can be used to configure the basic settings on the router. These utilities usually require a PC or laptop to be connected to a wired port on the router. If no device is available that has a wired connection, it may be necessary to configure the wireless client software on the laptop or tablet first. To connect to the router using a wired connection, plug an Ethernet patch cable into the network port on the computer. Plug the other end into a LAN port on the router. Do not plug the cable into the port or interface that is labeled “Internet”. The internet port will connect to the DSL or cable modem. Some home routers may have a built-in modem for internet connections. If this is the case, verify that the type of connection is correct for your internet service. A cable modem connection will have a coaxial terminal to accept a BNC-type connector. A DSL connection will have a port for a telephone-type cable, usually an RJ-11 connector. After confirming that the computer is connected to the network router and the link lights on the NIC indicate a working connection, the computer needs an IP address. Most network routers are set up so that the computer receives an IP address automatically from a local DHCP server automatically configured on the wireless router. If the computer does not have an IP address, check the router documentation and configure the PC or tablet with a unique IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS information.

Answer 37

Noted

Question 38

**4.4.2 Design Considerations** Before entering the configuration utility, or manually configuring the router through a web browser, you should consider how your network will be used. You do not want to configure the router and have that configuration limit what you are able to do on the network, nor do you want to leave your network unprotected. **What should my network be called?** If SSID broadcasting is on, the SSID name will be seen by all wireless clients within your signal range. Many times the SSID gives away too much information about the network to unknown client devices. It is not a good practice to include the device model or brand name as part of the SSID. Wireless devices have default settings that are easy to find on the internet, as well as known security weaknesses. **What types of devices will attach to my network?** Wireless devices contain radio transmitter/receivers that function within a specific frequency range. If a device only has the necessary radio for 802.11 b/g, it will not connect if the wireless router or access point is configured to only accept 802.11n or 802.11ac standards. If all devices support the same standard, the network will work at its optimum speed. If you have devices that do not support the n or ac standards, then you will have to enable legacy mode. A legacy mode wireless network environment varies between router models but can include a combination of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac. This environment provides easy access for legacy devices that need a wireless connection. **How do I add new devices?** The decision regarding who can access your home network should be determined by how you plan to use the network. On some wireless routers, it is possible to set up guest access. This is a special SSID coverage area that allows open access but restricts that access to using the internet only. Note: Some wireless routers may label legacy mode as mixed mode

Answer 38

Noted