Extracts from Michael Duck

1. a) Data communications are predominantly associated with supporting communications

between two, or more, interconnected computer systems. Enumerate any four main
tasks necessary for successful communication. Pg28
b) State two each the advantages and disadvantages of Standards with regards
communication equipment made by different manufacturers will satisfactorily
interwork with each other. Pg29
c) Explain the term primitive with regards OSI pg33 and explain with examining
primitives in an everyday example such as making a telephone call
d) Explain the OSI Reference Model pg35

e) Summarize the structure of the OSI Reference Model using a sketch and indicate
where the following services are provided:
(i) distributed information services
(ii) code-independent message interchange service
(iii) network-independent message interchange service. Pg40

2. a) Explain the Communication modes: (a) simplex; (b) half duplex; (c) full duplex. Pg42

b) Parallel and serial transmission pg43

c) Asynchronous and synchronous operation pg45

d) Explain the terms i) transmission rate and signaling rate pg48 ii) ASCII code pg48 iii) Error pg50

e) Explain the following network topologies bus, mesh, ring and star pg51

f) Explain the following the transmission media and characteristics (a) unshielded twisted pair; (b) shielded
twisted pair; (c) coaxial pair. pg
g) i) For each of the services shown below, state whether a simplex, half-duplex or full-
duplex form of communication is most suitable. Give reasons for your choices.
(a) Traditional terrestrial TV (b) Cable TV (c) Pay-TV (d) Viewing webpages (e) File
transfers (f ) PC banking (g) Telephone call pg70
h) Compare serial and parallel transmission. Why is parallel transmission unsuited
for communication over appreciable distance? Pg71
i) i. Compare synchronous and asynchronous transmission.
ii. Explain why synchronous transmission has the potential to operate at higher
transmission rates than asynchronous transmission. Pg71
j) i. Compare the relative merits of transmitting data over copper conductors,
optical fibre and radio.
ii. Briefly outline and explain the functions of line coding.