How LANs, MANs, WANs and mobile networks differ in size and use, the generations of mobile networks, wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the level of privacy of an intranet, an extranet and the Internet.
5 narrated scenes. Press play, listen and read along — the points appear as they are explained. Use ‹ Prev / Next › or the scene bar to jump to any scene.
Your school computer lab, the cellular network that carries your phone calls, and the Internet are all networks, but they are built and shared in very different ways.
Narration uses your device’s built-in voice. No sound? Switch to “Captions only” — the captions advance on their own.
Compare a PAN, a LAN and a WAN.
Copy these into your notebook in your own words — that is how they stick.
Connected devices that share data and resources.
Building / city / countries.
Radio-based common carrier: 2G → 5G.
Short range (≈10 m).
Wireless LAN.
Shares an Internet connection wirelessly.
Private to an organisation.
Selected outsiders / the public.
3 quick games on this lesson. Earn XP and badges as you play — your best score for each game is saved. Games are for practice and do not change your exam readiness. More games in the Information Technology Arcade.
8 items modelled on real CSEC Paper 1 questions. Choose one answer for each, then check. Aim for 80% or better. Work each item on paper first.
Write full answers, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the points you earned (11 marks in total). Show all your working — method marks count. Your answers are saved on this device.
Question 1 [11 marks]
A bank has a head office in Port of Spain and branches in other cities and in two other Caribbean countries.
(a) (a) Name the type of network that links the computers inside one branch, and the type that links all the branches together. [2]
(b) (b) Give two benefits of connecting the branch computers in a network. [2]
(c) (c) The bank has a private website for staff and another area that suppliers can log in to. Name each type of network. [2]
(d) (d) Distinguish between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. [3]
(e) (e) Explain what is meant by “a mobile network is a radio-based common carrier”. [2]
Find these in your own past-paper booklets for extra timed practice. Items above are written in the style of these papers; any adapted from a specific question say so.