Digital Broadcasting

OA4: Digital Broadcasting (10-pts)
Digital Broadcasting has arrived. As you saw in class, digital signals offer some advantages over analog signals. You have learned that broadcasting media transmit signals over the air using specific range of frequencies. What is the impact of digital broadcasting on such frequencies? How does digital broadcasting translate to business? To get an initial understanding of such implications, use the web to research the answers to the following specific questions:

1. What frequencies are currently being auctioned by the FCC and on which date?

2. What are the plans for the band of frequencies being auctioned?

3. what is the last day for analog TV broadcast?

4. Will digital TV free up more spectrum? Explain.

5. Will old analog TVs be able to receive digital TV signals? How?

6. Is HDTV the same as digital TV? What other formats exist?

7. Does HDTV use more bandwidth than the current analog system?

8. What is HD Radio? Give some examples?

9. What are HD Radio benefits? Explain each one.

10. What are multicasting and iTunes tagging in HD Radio? Explain.

Free Wi-Fi. Can this be possible?

As you may have read, there are several issues relating 'Free"
Wi-Fi - from the technological to the political - passing also for the managerial. However, we could all agree that in certain situations, free or low-cost Wi-Fi is expected. Think for example hotels, universities, etc.

1) Hotels offer wi-fi services (free or low-cost)- Why? Is this a service model that have become some type of de-facto standard? What do you think?

2) In higher education, do you expect to get wireless internet access on campus? or dorm? Why?

3) I rarely go out, but if I do -- Can you list at least four places where I can find free wi-fi in Murfreesboro?

Will Wireless 802.11 Replace Wired Ethernet?

We just finished the chapter of wired and wireless media. Although chapter one discussed convergence to a digital world; it dit not mention convergence to a wireless transmission media.

The following article seems to push the use of wireless as a replacement for wired ethernets.

Read article

This article highlight several issues dealing with the future of wireless LANs.

Questions:

1) Research the 802.11n wireless standard and provide a brief description?

2) In your opinion, how will 802.11n be used? Will it replace wired-ethernet?

Welcome Fall 2007 Class

Welcome!

This is the INFS 4900 Data Communications Blog - Here you will find a forum to interact with other students and discuess class materials and projects. Data Communications is an ever changing area, this class will cover the foundations of data communications - from data to signals and the transmittion of signals over a medium (wirex, fibers or waves.)

Please feel free to post in here as often as possible.

Blog ettiquette expected.