Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S
T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A
ADSL Aramiska Avanti	Acronym for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A telephone line that provides a broadband signal. It is Asymmetric because it passes more data in one direction (to your PC) than from your computer (uploads from your PC). Not a problem unless you are uploading or transferring lots of data. Satalite Broadband company that was bought-out by Ouranos. Our current Satalite Broadand supplier.

B

Broadband Backhaul Bandwidth Browser

See [What is Broadband?]. Techie Talk for the connection that provides the actual final link to the internet. The range of transmission frequencies a network can use. The greater the bandwidth the more information that can be transferred over that network at one time. The term bandwidth also broadly includes throughput, meaning the amount of data sent. Software that allows you to navigate information databases, also known as “Search Engines”; examples are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

D

DHCP Dial-up DNS

Abbreviation for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, an Internet standard protocol that allows IP addresses to be pooled and assigned to computers as they Log On. This is a connection from your computer to a host computer over standard telephone lines via a modem. An acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names and addresses which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol numbers and vice versa.

E
Ethernet EOM	A system of connecting computers together in a network that uses protocols (see) that all the computers will recognise and understand. (Ethernet Over Mains) A device that uses the electrical wiring in your home or office to transmit and receive network information instead of installing special wiring for this purpose. Yes, it is perfectly safe!

F

Firewall FTP

This term refers to security measures designed to protect a networked system from unauthorized or unwelcome access. It’s like a wall through which only information that has been authorised is allowed to pass. File Transfer Protocol. A program that allows the transfer of files from one computer to another. FTP is also the verb used to describe the act of transferring files from one computer to another. The act of ‘Launching’ website pages onto the world wide web.

I
IP	The abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication standards that control communications activity on the Internet. An IP address is the Identity Number assigned to any Internet-connected computer.

L
LAN	(Local Area Network) Computers or devices connected together in the same office or building. We use a LAN to connect a clients computer to the WAP, if appropriate.

M

Mesh Box Mesh Host Mesh Network Modem

The actual computer that acts as a repeater station on a mesh network. A person that houses a Mesh Node in their property. A ‘Wide Area Network’ (see) in which computers are connected to the internet using radio signals. The ‘mesh’ part refers to the way the broadband signal is distributed around an area by ‘bouncing’ the signal between small repeater boxes known as ‘Mesh Nodes’. Acronym for Modulator/Demodulator. This is a device that converts digital signals from your computer into a form that can be sent and received via telephone lines – used to connect computers to the internet via Dial-up.

R
Router	A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route possible. A bit like a sorting office.

V
VOIP	An acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. Simply using the internet to make telephone calls in the same way using the telephone network except there are no call charges!

W
WAP WAN	Acronym for Wireless Access Point. A device that sends and receives information (data) sent as radio signals between computers connected in a network. Also used to wirelessly connect computers to the Internet. A network in which the computers are a long way apart – different buildings , towns or even countries. The Internet is a wide area network.