Bandwidth Jargon – Simple explanations for common Internet terms

Not a techno geek? Don’t be overwhelmed by the terminology. Here are some simple explanations of common terms that relate to the language of bandwidth.

• Bandwidth is the measurement of a communication line’s capacity. The higher the bandwidth, the more data can be transferred at one time. For the Internet, data is measured in bits, such as 28 kilo bits per second (kbps), or millions of bits per second (24Mbps).
• Analog Signal is a continuous signal measured in hertz. Unlike a digital signal, which is comprised of 1s and 0s, or on and off, an analog signal doesn’t break.
• Spectral range is concerned with what can be found within a range. It can be electromagnetic Spectrum (the electromagnetic radiation that can be found within certain parameters), colours found within the light spectrum, or the varying length of sound waves that can be found along a spectrum measuring hertz.
• Optical Fibre allows more information to be carried than traditional copper wire. Data is carried along flexible, glass fibres as light. The original electrical impulses are converted to light so they can travel along the fibres, and then re-converted back into electrical impulses at their destination.
• Closed Loop is when each component is connected to the next, the last being connected to the first, thus creating a ‘closed loop’.
• Range of Frequencies is a common measurement for sound waves, telecommunications copper cable or radio and television. The frequencies are measured in hertz.
• Gigabytes is a measurement of digital data (with the symbol GB). Digital data is measured in the binary system of bits and bytes, and a GB is equal to a billion bytes.
• Bandwidth limit refers to the total bandwidth range of a communications line. Dial up modems have a bandwidth limit of 56.6Kbps, but the copper line used has a much wider bandwidth. The same line used with an ADSL connection can have a much larger limit of 24Mbps. Refers to the amount of bits that can be transferred per second.
• Narrowband has a single-voice capability, usually 34,000 bits per second. Is not E1 capable, and generally considered a low-capacity line for transfers of 56Kbps.
• Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)refers to the measurement of wanted sound against unwanted sound, such as static or background noise. ‘Noise’ can lower receiving capability of an antenna, as it lowers the accuracy of how a frequency is measured. Measured in decibels (dB).
• Bit Rate measures the amount of bits per second that audio or visual data is made up of. The higher the Bit Rate, the higher the quality of the file, but also the larger it will be.
• Computer Networking is the joining of two or more computers in order for them to communicate or jointly access a server. They can be joined permanently via fixed cables or via modems.
• Digital Bandwidth is the measurement of digital data that can be transferred along communications lines. Usually measured in bits per second.
• Hertz is a measurement of frequency. One hertz equals one cycle per second.
• Modulated Carrier Wave is a waveform with a purpose of carrying information, such as voice or data. It is modified with an input signal, and is usually a much higher frequency than the modulating signal that is carrying the information.
• Modem, short for modulator/demodulator. A modem converts digital data for transmission via a phone line, then re-modulates for the computer at the other end.