Deck 5: Distribution by Wired Relays, Wireless Relays, and Over the Internet

Question 1

__________ will eventually replace most of the conventional copper telephone wires.

A)Coaxial cables
B)Fiber optics
C)Helical scanners
D)Microwaves
E)Quadruplex

Answer 1

B

Question 2

One advantage of fiber-optic cable is that

A)its high capacity makes it perfect for handling digitally processed information.
B)much attenuation occurs, increasing the number of repeater amplifiers.
C)down-converters translate the information into ranges usable by TV sets.
D)telemetering devices convey transmissions far more rapidly than copper.
E)transponders amplify weak signals as they transverse optical fiber.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A cable television system assembles programs at the system's __________ for delivery to subscribers.

A)booster station
B)down converter
C)headend
D)trunk repeater
E)uplink

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The pattern cable systems rely on to deliver programs to subscribers is called a(n) __________ pattern.

A)circle
B)telephone
C)tree-and-branch
D)uplink-downlink
E)wave propagation

Question 5

Cable television is able to distribute a large number of channels to subscriber homes because it

A)uses certain VHF frequencies not available to over-the-air broadcasters.
B)uses addressable converters.
C)compresses the bandwidth of each television signal.
D)multiplexes two and three signals on each channel.
E)propagates numerous waves over the air.

Question 6

This technology is needed to receive PPV programming.

A)Microwave
B)DBS
C)NVOD
D)VOD
E)Addressable converter

Question 7

In the future, this technology may be the focal point of a future home network connecting a wide variety of digital and analog communication devices and services.

A)STB
B)DBS
C)coaxial cable
D)VBI
E)fiber-optic cable

Question 8

Microwave relays are used in broadcasting for

A)signal amplification.
B)digital recording.
C)program storage.
D)common carriage.
E)program distribution.

Question 9

In a microwave relay, towers are spaced about __________ miles apart.

A)30
B)40
C)50
D)60
E)75

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Satellites can transmit signals to only 25 Earth stations at a time.
B)It is extremely expensive for satellites to transmit signals to more than 50 Earth stations at a time.
C)Satellites can transmit signals to an unlimited number of receiving Earth stations.
D)Satellite transmissions lose quality if they are received by too many Earth stations.
E)Microwave relays produce better quality transcontinental pictures than satellite transmission.

Question 11

Satellites that appear to be suspended over the same spot on Earth are known as __________satellites.

A)national transmission
B)gravitational
C)nonsynchronous
D)orbiting
E)geostationary

Question 12

Which of the following statements about satellite transmissions is true?

A)A narrower transmission beam provides improved signal quality.
B)A wider transmission beam provides improved signal quality.
C)There is no relationship between transmission beam and signal quality.
D)A hemispheric satellite beam delivers the same quality as a global beam.
E)Geostationary satellites orbit anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 miles above the earth's surface.

Question 13

Part of the satellite that both receives and transmits signals, amplifies them, and retransmits them back to Earth is called the

A)uplink converter.
B)telemetering device.
C)thruster.
D)transponder.
E)downlink converter.

Question 14

Signals on interactive media must be routed or __________ from source to intended receiver.

A)dropped
B)distributed
C)switched
D)scrambled
E)compressed

Question 15

The Internet network resembles a

A)satellite distribution system.
B)television distribution system.
C)cable distribution system.
D)radio distribution system.
E)radio broadcast date system.

Question 16

This pioneering software program, introduced in 1993, used icons and point-and-click features and is called

A)ARPANET.
B)Mosaic.
C)ISP.
D)World Wide Web.
E)HTML.

Question 17

In fiber-optic cable, hair-thin strands of extremely pure glass convey modulated light beams.

Question 18

One disadvantage of fiber-optic cables is their small size and light weight.

Question 19

Cable systems avoid problems of signal interference and spectrum crowding by sending signals through the artificial, enclosed environment of coaxial cable or fiber-based cable.

Question 20

Satellites link one specific location with only two others in sending and receiving points in the relay network.

Question 21

Communication satellites need five essential groups of components: transponders, antennas, power supplies, telemetering devices, and thrusters.

Question 22

Each satellite needs two groups of frequencies, one for uplinking and the other for downlinking.

Question 23

Today, switching on the Internet superhighway is handled through use of patch cords.

Question 24

The Internet began in the late 1960s as a government-sponsored computing network called NSFnet.

Question 25

Most American homes use a modem-equipped computer hooked to a conventional voice telephone line to reach the Internet.

Question 26

Discuss advantages and disadvantages of microwave relays.

Question 27

Explain how major international events such as the Olympic Games are relayed from game site to home viewer via satellite.

Question 28

What are the advantages of fiber-optics over other traditional wire relays?

Question 29

Discuss why modems are necessary to reach the Internet.

Question 30

Describe how cable systems bring signals into homes from video sources available to them.

Question 31

What barriers exist to adoption of CableCARD (CC) technology?