What is Bandwidth?

• A wire's capacity for information is called bandwidth.
• More bandwidth=More information passing through the wire.
• Similar to plumbing a bigger wire (pipe) can carry more bandwidth (water).
• The amount of bandwidth is critical for current and future information services.

What us Bell Wire?

• One pair of copper wires.
• Designed for voice conversations only.
• Subject to noise and interference.
• Used in the majority of homes until recently.
• Relative capacity: A squirt gun.

What is Category 5 (CAT 5)? CAT 5e, CAT 5E

• 4 twisted pairs of high quality copper wire enclosed in an outer jacket.
• Used for phone, fax, modem and high-speed digital computer transmissions.
• Supports four phone lines with one cable.
• High immunity to interference.
• Relative capacity: A garden hose.
• CAT 5e Relative capacity: 1 1/2 garden hoses.
• CAT 5E Relative capacity: 10 garden hoses.

What is RG6 Quad Sheild?

• Coaxial cable with insulated center wire and four layers of shielding.
• Supports hundreds of channels and digital data.
• Used for cable TV, digital satellite, cable modem and high-speed interactive video services.
• High immunity to interference.
• Relative capacity: A fire hose.

What is a Modem?

• Used to transmit computer data over standard phone lines.
• Typically packaged in a new home computer.
• Today's standard computer modems transmit up to 56,000 bits per second.

What is ISDN?

• ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network.
• Digital equivalent of a standard computer modem transmission.
• Transmits high-speed data three times faster than today's standard modem
• (128,000 bits per second).
• Service provided by the telephone company over high-quality copper phone wire.

What is DSL?

• DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line service.
• Transmits high-speed data anywhere from 50 to 270 times as fast as today's standard modems (1.5 million to 9 million bits per second).
• Service provided by the telephone company over high-quality copper phone wire.

What is Cable Modem Service?

• Cable modems transmit high-speed data up top 900 times faster than today's analog computer modems (30 million bits per second.
• Since neighborhood used "share" available bandwidth, actual data throughput speed will be slower.
• Provided by the cable company over high-quality coaxial cable.

What is Ethernet?

• Commercial networking standard for transmitting data between computers.
• Computers typically connected via cable to an Ethernet hub.
• Each computer must have an Ethernet network interface card.
• 10BaseT means the computers are connected with twisted pair cabled (CAT5) at 10 million bits per data throughput.

What is DSS?

• With Digital Satellite Service (DSS), video programs are received by a small (18") satellite dish.
• Signals are decoded at the TV with a set-top receiver.
• Users need a traditional TV antenna for local broadcasts, such as local news.

What is Whole-House Video?

• Any video source can be seen on a specific channel on every TV in the home.
• VCR or DVD programs can be viewed on any TV.
• Baby room camera allows sleeping infants to be watched over from any room.
• Front door camera enables screening for possible intruders.

What is Structured Cable?

• Bundled wire usually 2 Cat 5, 2 RG6, and optional Fiber Optics
• Home Automation Essentials uses 2 Cat 5E, 2 RG6 Quad Shield, and 2 Fiber Optics