subject: A Guide to Network Transceivers [print this page] A Guide to Network Transceivers A Guide to Network Transceivers
You must have heard about the term "transceiver" often. Have you ever wondered what does it meant? Well, the term transceiver is made up of two individual terms transmitter and receiver. As the name suggests, network transceivers are used to send and receive analog and digital signals in a network.
In a computer network like local area network or LAN, networking transceivers play an important role since they are the components that are responsible for transmitting and receiving signals make the transaction of data possible over the network. Network transceivers are available both as external as well as internal devices. However, many modern networks comes pre installed with networking transceivers with NIC cards or which are known popularly as network interface cards.
The selection criteria for network transceivers should be done purely on the basis of your needs and requirements. That means, you must decide which networking transceiver (internal or external) you want for your network after analyzing your needs. In reality, these network transceivers are mainly responsible for communication of every sort happening round the world through internet or World Wide Web.
Another important factor that you must consider while purchasing networking transceivers for your network at home or office is the compatibility. You must ensure that this transmitting and receiving device is fully compatible with your system and every system which you plan to connect in the network. Compatibility is really important so as to ensure maximum efficiency of network transceivers and hence, your data transfer or communication over the network.
There are different types and makes of network transmitter-receiver devices available in the markets and each type is quite different in size, appearance, installation process, etc. However, their basic function remains the same, i.e. to receive and transmit analog or digital signals over the computer network to enable communication happen over this network. Mostly, following types of networking transceivers are available in the markets:
1) Chip style
2) Board style and
3) Module style
As mentioned above, these devices are different in style, make & appearance from each other, let us analyze the differences between them.
Chip style transceivers are quite small in size and come handy as well as effective and user friendly. Chip style device could be easily inserted into or removed from the network at any point of time. On the other hand, a transceiver of board style is integrated directly on a network card. Some board styles transceivers are also integrated on the motherboards of the computers and therefore, they cannot be removed easily unlike a chip one. Lastly, module network transceiver devices are fabricated especially for external networks. They could be attached in a network externally just like we connect other peripherals with our computers or network.
These devices are designed to transmit and receive signals over the wire of the network and hence, work on the commands set by network protocols.
