(i) Contrast parallel and serial communications. (ii) Contrast synchronous and asynchronous serial communications. (iii)Contrast simplex, half duplex and full duplex communications.

(i) Define the key elements of a protocol (syntax, semantics and timing). (ii) Describe the need for open standards. (iii) Define a de facto standard. (iv) Define a de jure standard. (v) Describe the structure and primary functions of the following standards organisations: ISO, ITU-T, ANSI, IEEE, ARINC. (vi) Describe the function of forums. (vii) Describe Internet standards (Internet draft and RFC’s).

Describe and contrast: Star, Bus, Mesh and Ring topologies

(i) Coaxial cable: Describe the construction of a coaxial cable, List the characteristics of a coaxial cable, Test a coaxial cable for continuity and shorts. (ii) Fibre optic cable: Describe the construction of a fibre optic cable, Contrast PCS, SCS and PCS, Draw a diagram depicting typical ray path trajectories and refractive index profiles for: Multimode step index, Multimode graded index and Single mode step index. Sketch the attenuation characteristic of a typical fibre indicating the spectral windows. Describe the characteristics of light sources and light detectors. Contrast Multimode step index, multimode graded index and single mode step index, under the headings: complexity of TX/RX, cost, pulse spreading. Calculate the energy budget for a fibre optic link. (iii) Twisted pair cables: Describe the construction a STP and UTP cables. Describe the characteristics of CAT 6 UTP and quadrax STP cables. Draw a diagram to depict a typical structured cable installation. Analyse results from a network cable tester: Wire map, Attenuation, NEXT and FEXT, ACR.

(i) Describe stop and wait flow control. (ii) Describe sliding window flow control. (iii) Describe Go-Back-n ARQ and Selective Reject ARQ.

(i) Describe CSMA/CD. (ii) Describe token passing. (iii) Contrast the performance of CSMA/CD and token passing under heavy load conditions. (iv) Identify the limitations of CSMA/CA for use in an Aircraft Data Network (ADN)

(i) Describe the purpose and functions of various network devices. (ii) Select the components required to meet a given network specification. (iii) Use the OSI and TCP/IP models and their associated protocols to explain how data flows in a network. (iv) Describe the purpose and basic operation of the protocols in the OSI and TCP models. (v) Interpret network diagrams. (vi) Describe the components required for network and Internet communications. (vii) Differentiate between LAN/WAN operation and features

(i) Select the appropriate media, cables, ports, and connectors to connect switches to other network devices and hosts. (ii) Explain the technology and media access control method for Ethernet technologies. (iii) Explain network segmentation and basic traffic management concepts. (iv) Perform, save and verify initial switch configuration tasks including remote access management. (v) Verify network status and switch operation using basic utilities (including: ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH, arp, ipconfig), SHOW & DEBUG commands

(i) Describe the need and role of addressing in a network. (ii) Create and apply an addressing scheme to a network. (iii) Assign and verify valid IP addresses to hosts, servers, and networking devices in a WAN environment. (iv) Describe the operation and benefits of using private and public IP addressing. (v) Explain the basic uses and operation of NAT in a small network connecting to one ISP. (vi) Calculate and apply a VLSM IP addressing design to a network. (vii) Determine the appropriate classless addressing scheme using VLSM and summarisation to satisfy addressing requirements in a LAN/WAN environment. (viii) Identify and correct common problems associated with IP addressing and host configurations.

(i) Describe how VLANs create logically separate networks and the need for routing between them. (ii) Configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs. (iii) Configure, verify, and troubleshoot trunking on switches. (iv) Configure, verify, and troubleshoot inter-VLAN routing.

(i) Aircraft Data Network (ADN) characteristics: Quality Of Service (QOS), Low Bit Error Rate (BER), Deterministic. (ii) Describe how determinism is defined using: Guaranteed bandwidth, Upper bounded transmit latency, Minimum delay jitter. (iii) Describe how determinism is achieved using: Concept of a virtual link (VL), Traffic shaping at end systems, Band width allocation per VL