← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Benefit of a network: sharing an internet connection

One internet connection that many devices use at the same time through a router, so each device does not need its own line.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Networks and Sharing Data — Module 22

Understanding Benefit of a network: sharing an internet connection in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The school pays for one main connection and the network shares it with all classrooms, so each room does not need its own. The connection can only carry so much data, so when more devices stream or download, each device may go slower. Both tablets go through the one router, so they share the same internet connection.

Common mistakes: The tablet should connect to the router so it shares the one internet line. It does not need its own line. The line should be connect(tablet, router). Every classroom connects to the school router and shares one connection. No room needs a new line. It should be connect(room, router).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 27–43) and word search (Modules 5–43).

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Learning
Duo
A family has one home router. How many internet lines do they need for the laptop, tablet and phones?
One connection shared through the routerOne separate line for every device
Matches
Every tablet in the house needs its own internet line.
↓
With a network and a router, all the tablets can share one internet connection, so they do not each need their own line.
Applying
Meanings
Term
shared connection
Meaning
One internet connection that many devices use at the same time through a router, so each device does not need its own line.
Practice
One router shares the internet with every device.
Testing
Gaps
homeLines ←
Check Answer
Spots
2router = share(internet)
3connect(tablet, own_line)

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Quick Questions

1. A family has one home router. How many internet lines do they need for the laptop, tablet and phones?
A. One connection shared through the router ✓
B. One separate line for every device
The router lets all the devices share one internet connection, so each device does not need its own line.
2. Which device lets many devices share one internet connection?
A. A mouse
B. A router ✓
A router sends data between the internet and every device on the network. A mouse only controls the pointer on a screen.
3. A school has 30 classrooms. How does it give them all internet?
A. The school connection is shared by every classroom ✓
B. Each classroom buys its own internet line
A network shares the school's connection with every classroom, which saves lots of money and cables.
4. Which is a benefit of sharing an internet connection?
A. Every device gets faster the more you add
B. Each device does not need its own line ✓
Sharing means fewer lines and lower cost. Adding more devices does not make the connection faster.
5. Mum is streaming a movie, Dad is on a video call and you are playing online. What can happen to the speed?
A. The devices share the speed, so each one may get less ✓
B. Each device gets the full speed all the time
When many devices use one connection at the same time, they share its speed.

Match the Pairs

shared connection → One internet connection that many devices use at the same time through a router
one home router → One box in the house that lets the whole family's phones, tablets and laptops share the same internet
Every classroom at school uses the same internet connection through the school router → school connection shared by every classroom
When many devices use the connection at once, each one gets a smaller share of the speed → many devices share the speed
Every tablet in the house needs its own internet line. → With a network and a router, all the tablets can share one internet connection, so they do not each need their own line.
If ten devices use the router, each one gets the full speed. → The speed is shared between the devices, so each one may get less when many are using the connection at once.

Key Term

shared connection
One internet connection that many devices use at the same time through a router, so each device does not need its own line.

Fill in the Blanks

1. homeLines ← 1 devices ← 5 share(router, homeLines, devices)
Hint: Type the number of internet lines the whole family needs when every device goes through the home router.
2. schoolLine ← 1 classrooms ← 12 share(router, schoolLine, classrooms)
Hint: Type the function name that lets many classrooms use the single school connection.
3. totalSpeed ← 100 devices ← 4 speedEach ← totalSpeed / devices
Hint: Type the operator that divides the total speed between the devices.
4. FOR EACH device IN familyDevices connect(device, router) END FOR
Hint: Type the name of the shared device that every phone and tablet connects to in order to get online.
5. devices ← 6 sharedConnection ← TRUE needsOwnLine ← FALSE
Hint: Type the Boolean value that shows each device does not need its own internet line.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A internet = 1 line
B router = share(internet)
C connect(tablet, own_line)
Line C — The tablet should connect to the router so it shares the one internet line. It does not need its own line. The line should be connect(tablet, router).
Question 2
A school_line = 1
B for room in classrooms:
C connect(room, new_line)
D print("shared by all")
Line C — Every classroom connects to the school router and shares one connection. No room needs a new line. It should be connect(room, router).
Question 3
A devices = 4
B lines_needed = devices
C router.share(lines_needed)
D print(lines_needed)
Line B — A router lets many devices share one internet connection, so only 1 line is needed. It should be lines_needed = 1, not one line per device.
Question 4
A phone.join(router)
B laptop.join(router)
C tv.join(router)
D speed = total * devices
E print(speed)
Line D — Devices share the speed, so each one gets a smaller part. You divide the total speed by the number of devices. It should be total / devices.
Question 5
A home_router = 1
B devices = [phone, tv, laptop]
C internet_lines = len(devices)
D print(internet_lines)
Line C — The whole family shares one internet line through the home router. The number of lines is 1, not the number of devices. It should be internet_lines = 1.

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