BTEC 2012

.
Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

Lesson 6 The Internet

(Student Book B Pg 1 - 3)

Starter When did the Internet first begin?

The "internet" was actually invented in the 1960's and used by the military. The actual definition of "internet" means
the basic transfer of information between computers.

1. Match the following key terms to the correct abbreviations and descriptions.
Term
Point of Presence

Abbreviation
POP

Description
An access point to the internet. Normally, it is
a location which contains all of the hardware
which allows internet users access to the
internet. An Internet Service Provider (ISP)
may operate several PoPs in their area to
allow good access to the internet.

Network Access
Point

NAP

An interchange between networks within the

internet. It allows ISPs to interconnect with
each other

Internet Protocol

IP

The protocol which takes data from a users

application program and passes it to the IP
for transfer across the internet. The reverse
operation is performed at the destination
computer, i.e. the TCP reassembles the data
(from individual packets) and forwards them
to the users application program. The close
relation with the IP means that the terms are
usually used in combination, i.e. TCP/IP.

Transmission
Control Protocol

TCP

File Transfer
Protocol

FTP

A standard protocol which allows files to be transferred

between two computers on a TCP-based network. It is
commonly used to download programs to your compute
from other servers and to upload web pages that you
have created to the server that is hosting them on the
internet.
Direct connection to the internet would be
very costly and so ISPs provide a costeffective gateway for people and
organisations to get onto the internet. In the
UK there are many ISPs, with some of the
most popular ones being BT (British
Telecom), Virgin Media and Sky.

Internet Service
Provider

ISP

The protocol used to route packets of

information across the internet

Internet Service Provider

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BTEC 2012
.
Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company which provides access to the internet for individuals or
other companies (e.g. BT).
An ISP will have many servers to do different things depending on the size of the company and amount
of customers, e.g. one for outgoing email, one for incoming email, and may well have several for general
net traffic, users details, search engines, user web pages, etc.

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
.
Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

2. Read Internet Infrastructure on Pg 2 careful and write the descriptions next to the correct piece of
hardware.

Client
A computer what uses the services of a server

Server
The main computer which
serves the needs of other
computers

Router
A piece of hardware that connects
two or more networks. In relation
to the internet, data from the ISP
is sent into the network and the
router then directs the data
packets to the correct
destinations. The router also
handles data travelling in the
other direction. Routers can be
described as directors of traf!c
for the networks

A computer which uses the

services of a server The main
connecting data routes
between large networks on the
internet and smaller networks
in Local regions

A.Silver

BTEC 2012
.
Unit 1 The Online World

Name:

3. Name three methods for connection to the Internet:

a: Dial-up
b:wireless
c: broadband
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer a above?
Advantages
Can use existing telephone circuits
Witch is useful for some areas

Disadvantages
Older technology gives poor reception at times
the conversion from digital to analogue signals can
cause errors
Tends to be slower then any other connection methods

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer b above?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Not fixed to a stationary computer.

Need to have access to a wireless hub.

Can be used wherever there is a wireless hub

which is accessible.

Can be less secure than wired connections.

Tend to have slower data transmission
speeds than wired broadband methods.

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of answer c above?

Advantages
Broadband connections can give better recitation

Disadvantages
Requires a base which is wired in, so it
is less "flexible than wireless

They are usual faster to dial up

Plenary What is meant by bandwidth and transmission rate?

Bandwidth is a measure of the available capacity of a network (to carry data) measured
in bits per second

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