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Euronetwork glossary - making things a bit clearer

Confused by all the acronyms and technical jargon? Our specially created glossary covers all related terms and abbreviations to help makes things a bit clearer

Aspect Ratio

– is the ratio between the width and height of the TV picture on the screen. For example, in an average TV monitor the aspect ratio is around 4:3. In new HDTV monitors the aspect ratio is around 16:9. All new TV systems support both aspect ratios and are capable of switching between them.

Audio

– Relating to sound or its reproduction.

Audio Visual (AV)

– Relating to materials that present information in audible and pictorial form. For instance, television shows, movies and business presentations are all examples of audio visual presentations.

Audio Video Interleave (AVI)

– is a file format developed by Microsoft™ for video files. The video compression technology interleaves digital video frames and synchronised audio in one file. The clips generated in AVI format can by played on a Windows® equipped PC independent of screen resolution and colour palette.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

– utilises frequencies not used by conventional modems and telephone calls to transmit data at higher speeds. A microfilter needs to be used in order to make phone calls at the same time as using the Internet.

Bandwidth

– is the relative or highest range of analog signal frequency that a video signal passed through a transmission medium can reach without distortion. Generally the higher the bandwidth the better the quality of the picture due to the greater information carrying capacity, bandwidth is measured in Hertz or Bits per second (Bps). Access Point- a device to facilitate communication between wireless devices and allows them to connect to a wireless network using Wi-Fi or similar standards

ATA-(Advanced Technology Attachment)

– interface that connects storage devices such as hard drives

AT

– Adapter-allows connections to be changed from one form to another e.g. DB25 modem cable to DB9 modem cable.

Bottleneck

– the delay of data when being transmitted via a data path. Often a result of a computer or networks bandwidth not being large enough to cope with the amount of data being sent.

Blu-Ray Disc

– is a HD video disc that can pick up to six times as much video detail of traditional DVDs. Now becoming standard technology Blu-Ray discs can hold up to 50GB on a dual layer disc or 25GB on a standard single-layer disc. Combined with advanced video and audio codec’s Blu-Ray Discs provide an amazing HD viewing experience.

Backbone

– the main connections of the Internet made up from a large interconnected ‘web’ of data routes that form the ‘backbone’.

Banana Connector

– single wire electrical connector. Joins wires to electrical equipment. Examples of banana connectors can be seen as the plugs linking speakers to a sound system

BNC (Bayonet Neill Concelman)

– connector is a type of RF (Radio Frequency) connector. Typically used in conjunction with electronic test equipment.

CODEC (COder DECoder)

– is used to code analog data for digital transmission.

Converter Plug

– allows electrical appliances to be used in multiple countries. For example, Euro to UK or Euro to Swiss.

Channels

– used to transmit information or data from the sender to the receiver. Also known as communications channels

Coaxial Cable

– an electrical cable for the transmission of radio frequency signals

Crimp Tool

– tool designed for the creation of cables for instance RJ45

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

– a video interface used in multimedia applications to maximise the visual quality of digital display devices such as flat panel LCD computer displays and digital projectors.

Digital Theatre Sound (DTS)

– a digital audio encoding system used in commercial and consumer applications. This multi-channel surround sound format is often considered to be higher quality due to less compression. Company behind DTS technology, DTS Inc is in direct competition with Dolby Digital.

Digital

– Term used to describe a method of storing, processing and transmitting information through a series of electrical or optical pulses that represent the binary digits 0 and 1.

DIN Connector (Deutsches Institut für Normung)

– connector is available in nine variations and is used to connect a multitude of devices from a speaker to a computer mouse.

Dolby Digital

– A standard and perhaps the most common compressed surround sound format for DVD. Dolby Digital comes in various types and encodes 5.1 channels of digital audio including; Left, Right, Centre, Left Surround, Right Surround, and a Base Channel. Also known as AC-3 (Audio Compression 3).

D-SUB

– sometimes referred to as D-Subminiature, electrical connector commonly used in computers. Connectors are D shaped and were originally classed as subminiature

DVI F

– Digital Visual Interface Female connection

DVI M

– Digital Visual Interface Male connection

Display Data Channel (DDC)

– a digital connection between a computer display and a graphics adapter that enables the display to communicate its specifications to the adapter. Standard created by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) and consists of 3 pins within a VGA, HDMI or DVI connector.

Encoding

– transforming data from one format to another. Electronic encoding turns a signal into a code, which has been specifically optimised with a CODEC for storage or transmission.

Ethernet

– network technology for LAN’s. A connection of computers via a coaxial cable or Ethernet hubs and switches.

Firewire

– Apple’s name for an IEEE 1394 interface.

Fibre Optic Cable

– cable made from glass or plastic fibre rather than traditional wire. Performs transmission of data over longer distances much faster than existing methods

Gender Changer

– changes a male connection to a female or vice versa

HDCP

– (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) digital copy protection to stop unlawful copying of digital audio and video

HDMI F

– High Definition Multimedia Interface Female connection

HDMI M

– High Definition Multimedia Interface Male connection

HDMI Repeater

– allows audio and video signals encrypted with HDCP to be viewed through electrical sources if they do not support this protocol

HD-DVD

– High Definition video disc that along with HDTV delivers six times the image quality than standard TV and DVD’s.

High Definition Television (HDTV)

– digital television format that provides enhanced viewing experience due to higher resolution than regular television formats such as PAL and NTSC. HDTV is digitally broadcast because DTV (Digital Television) requires less bandwidth when sufficient video compression is used. There are 2 basic standards of HDTV – Analog and Digital.

Hub

– a connection point for network devices. Hubs consist of multiple ports so that when a packet of information arrives, it is then copied to every other port on the same network allowing the whole LAN to see all packets.

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDM)

– new standard interface for consumer electronic devices that combines HDCP protected audio and video into a consumer friendly, single connector or cable.

IEEE 1394

– serial bus interface standard for the transfer of high-speed communications and data transfer. Often used to transfer digital audio and digital video from a device to a personal computer. Also referred to as Firewire and i.LINK.

i.LINK

– Sony’s name for an IEEE 1394 interface.

IP

– (Internet Protocol) this protocol controls the transmission of data via a network that uses TCP or IP protocols. Packets of data are delivered to a specific address and an IP will include data from both upper and lower layer protocols.

ISP

– Internet Service Provider.

IDE

– (Intelligent or Integrated Drive Electronics) an interface for mass storage devices with an inbuilt controller

KRONE Tool

– crimping tool designed for RJ 45 cables. Recommended for Cat 5 applications

KVM

– (Keyboard, Video, and Mouse) a KVM switch allows multiple computers to be controlled by one keyboard, monitor, and mouse

LAN

– (Local Area Network) is a network of computers that covers a small area such as home or workplace.

Letterbox

– wide screen picture shown on a normal television. Black areas are shown above and below the picture to form a ‘letterbox’ effect.

Mains Conditioner

– allows multiple plugs to be connected from one plug socket and contains a filter to reduce or eliminate interference from a mains electric supply. This helps to enhance picture and sound quality.

MCI

– (Media Control Interface) is a program interface that was created by Microsoft and IBM. It was designed to control multimedia devices.

Modular Plug

– connector that is used to create a data cable. Comes in various formats for instance, RJ11, RJ22 or RJ45

Microfilter

– connects a telephone line to DSL or ADSL modem. It filters out high frequency signals and echoes when using a telephone.

Mini DV

– Recordable media specifically for video camcorders. Creates digital video that can be played and recorded over. Typically, a Mini DV tape can hold 11 GB of data.

Modem

– (Modular-Demodulator) encodes and decodes digital signals as digital information. In computer terms, most modern computer users have cable or ADSL modems to transit information at high speeds over the Internet.

Network

– this is essentially two or more computers linked together thus forming a network.

Null modem Cable

– connects two computers together via a communication (RS 232) port.

Optical Fibre Cable

– allows exceptionally fast data transfer over long distances due to the millions of light pulses being sent. Consisting of glass or plastic fibre the cable, it is encased and shielded.

Phase Alternating Line (PAL)

– European Colour TV broadcasting standard featuring 625 lines per frame and 50 frames per second. Provides better colour and resolution than less complex NTSC.

Packet

– a piece of information sent across a network. A packet contains specific destination IP information.

Patch Panel

– a panel that houses cable connections. More permanent connection ports can be found at the rear of the panel whereas the front allows temporary connections to be made and changed.

Plug and Play

– allows automatic configuration of devices with a computer. This allows the device to be used without complicated set up procedures.

Plug in

– computer program that adds extra features by interacting with a host application. Typically, this is for a specific feature or function.

POTS

– (Plain Old Telephone Service) traditional voice telephone service.

PS/2

– standard port and DIN for the connection of a keyboard and mouse to a per sonal computer.

PABX

– (Private Branch eXchange) telephone exchange that only serves a particular business.

PCI

– (Peripheral Component Interconnect) a bus that attaches peripheral devices to a motherboard

QuickTime

– Apple Computers player to view video files. Needed to play .mov files as well as .mpeg, .avi, etc.

RIFF

– a file structure for multimedia resource files. Defining structure for formats such as wav and avi. It was developed by IBM & Microsoft.

RTT

– (Real Time Technology) allows a user to access and receive data at the same time that it is being produced i.e. real time. It is normally measured in micro or milliseconds and is used predominantly for the streaming of audio and video via the Internet.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue)

– basic constituents of a colour audio signal as these three colours of light can be mixed to produce any other colour. Coloured images are often stored as a sequence of RGB triplets or as separate red, green and blue overlays. Often used to describe a colour monitor (RGB monitor) instead of a monochrome monitor.

RJ45

– Name given to an 8 pin modular connector on standard ethernet or UTP cables for workstations or hubs.

RCA Cable

– The RCA (Radio Corporation of America) cable sends both analog and composite video signals between multimedia devices such as televisions. Generally speaking, RCA cables have three connectors, red, white for audio, and yellow for video.

Router

– device that forwards data packets across networks. Routers are connected to two or more networks, usually LAN’s or a LAN and an ISP. A router is a gateway to the Internet.

SCART

– (from Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs) – Originating in France, SCART is a 21 pin connector used primarily in Europe to connect consumer electronic AV equipment such as VCR’s and TV’s.

Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA)

– SVGA computer monitors have a resolution of at least 800 X 600 pixels.

SATA

– (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) a computer bus primarily designed for transfer of data between a computer and mass storage devices.

SCSI

– (Small Computer System Interface) physical connection and method of data transmission between a computer and a peripheral device. Its main use is for connection and control of hard drives but other devices can be controlled such as CD drives, etc.

S/PDIF

– (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) audio file transfer format that allows digital audio signals to be transferred from one device to another with out the need for conversion.

Serial Communication

– sends data via a communication channel or computer bus, one bit at a time.

Streaming

– method of transferring data in a continuous stream to allow video or music to be watched. The data is delivered steadily to allow the media to be heard/watched as the data is buffered.

Surge Protection

– protects electrical devices from spikes in voltage, which may cause damage or shorting of the appliance.

Switch

– device that both filters and forwards data packets between LAN’s.

S-Video

– Super or Separated Video) transmits video signals via a cable and splits into two, colour and luminance

Shaver Adapter

– allows a traditional UK plug to be used in a two-pin shave socket

Splitter

– used to utilise one connection (for example a SCART socket) to create multiple sockets

SSID

– (Service Set IDentifyer) added to the header of data packets sent via a WLAN. Uses thirty-two unique characters to act as a password

Step down Transformer

– allows electrical devices normally designed to run on 220 or 240 volts to be used in areas using110 volts

Step up Transformer

– allows electrical devices normally designed to run on 110 volts to be used in areas using 220 or 240 volts

Travel Adapter

– allows electrical equipment from one country to be used in another

Twisted Pair

– two conductors, wound together to form a single cable. Twisting helps cancel out electromagnetic interference.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

– standard connection computer port that allows peripheral devices such as printers and speaker etc to be connected including USB-equipped digital cameras which allow rapid transfer of images to the computer. There are at least two versions of the USB standard: USB 1.0 and USB 2.0. 

UPS

– (Uninterruptable Power Supply) allows a computer to continue running in the event of a power failure. UPS are powered by a battery and shut the computer down in a graceful manner.

UKERNA

– (United Kingdom Education & Research Network Association) manages the UK’s higher education network program. Also known as JANET(UK)

UTP

– (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable comprised of two unshielded wires that are twisted around each other and because of their low cost, are typically used for LAN’s and telephone connections.

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

– standard colour graphic introduced for personal computers by IBM which displays either high resolution graphics (640 x 480) or 256 colours simultaneously but only at a low resolution. VGA is suitable for video recording due to excellent aspect ratio.

Wall Plate

– cables can be routed through walls leading to a wall plate to allow wired connections to be made between devices with out the need for unsightly wires. Wall plates can be created for almost any port.

WAN

– (Wireless Area Network) a computer network covering a large area.

Wall Plate Loaded

– wall plate complete with all necessary connections.

Wi-Fi

– Wireless network technology. Radio waves provide high-speed connections via the Internet and over networks. Wi-Fi connections follow 802.11 standards of which, the two main versions are, 802.11b and 802.11g. A revision in 2007 has lead to the production of 802.11-2007 and 802.11n is in development for probable release in 2009.