It is the most rudimentary type of communication as the originating and receiving machines do not have to be synchronized. Cheap, reliable and common among PCs and minicomputers, its disadvantage is the large number of extra bits needed for the data to be interpreted. ATM offers fast packet technology, real time, demand led switching for efficient use of network resources. ATM will be the high band width networking standard of the decade. Attenuation - The weakening of transmitted signals as they travel away from their point of origin.
Amplifiers can recharge the signal up to a point.
Defined in Section 7 of the 802.3 standard. When 32 consecutive collisions are sensed by a port in a hub or concentrator from its attached work station or network segment, or when a packet that far exceeds the maximum allowable length is received, the port stops forwarding packets. The port continues to monitor traffic and will automatically begin normal packet forwarding when the first correct packet is received.