The connection hardware used to make connections between network adapters and different transmission media depends on the type of medium used. Figure 2 shows two different types of network adapters connected to different computers and media, using different types of connectors. Network adapters are manufactured in a variety of forms, for virtually every kind of communication medium. Repeaters Repeaters are used to increase the distance over which a network signal can be propagated. As a signal travels through a transmission medium, it encounters resistance and gradually becomes weak and distorted.
All signals attenuate, and at some point they become too weak and distorted to be reliably received.
Repeaters are used to overcome this problem. A simple, dedicated repeater is a device that receives the network signal and retransmits it at the original transmission strength. Repeaters are placed between other transmitting and receiving devices on the transmission medium, at a point where the signal will not have attenuated too much to be reliably received. In today's networks, dedicated repeaters are seldom used. Repeating capabilities are built into other, more complex networking devices.