Basic Network Components and Definitions

Basic Network Terminology and Definitions

Including data source, security, and hardware.

Data and “the internet” Sources:

AT&T, Verizon and other Internet providers

Public, Private & Self Hosted Networks

Currently, our cellular data options are AT&T and Verizon. Customers can use any available network provider if they are NOT choosing to use a cellular network through our subscription services.

Currently, WeatherTrak offers AT&T. Verizon will be an option as of Q1 2023. Baseline offers AT&T and Verizon as well as an advanced option called “BACnet Manager”

Security

TCP - The Transmission Control Protocol is one of the main protocols of the Internet protocol suite. It originated in the initial network implementation in which it complemented the Internet Protocol. Therefore, the entire suite is commonly referred to as TCP/IP.
IPv4 and IPv6 - In Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6), the address size was increased from 32 bits in IPv4 to 128 bits, thus providing up to 2¹²⁸ (approximately 3.403×10³⁸) addresses. This is deemed sufficient for the foreseeable future.
DHCP - The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks for automatically assigning IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices connected to the network using a client–server architecture.
Static aka Self-assigned IP Addresses – A Static or self assigned IP address is one that is set by an administrator of that network which gives them more control over that network. It will not change itself as needed like a DHCP would. This would be more common but not limited to private networks like a school, business, or similar entity.
TLS, SSL, and firewalls – Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide communications security over a computer network. The protocol is widely used in applications such as email, instant messaging, and voice over IP, but its use in securing HTTPS remains the most publicly visible. TLS is a proposed Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard, first defined in 1999, and the current version is TLS 1.3, defined in August 2018. TLS builds on the now-deprecated SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) specifications (1994, 1995, 1996) developed by Netscape Communications for adding the HTTPS protocol to their Navigator web browser.
port 443, port 80 – HTTPS URLs begin with "https://" and use port 443 by default, whereas, HTTP URLs begin with "http://" and use port 80 by default.

HTTP is not encrypted and thus is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle and eavesdropping attacks, which can let attackers gain access to website accounts and sensitive information, and modify webpages to inject malware or advertisements. HTTPS is designed to withstand such attacks and is considered secure against them (with the exception of HTTPS implementations that use deprecated versions of SSL).

Hardware

Cellular Modem - A mobile broadband modem, also known as wireless modem or cellular modem, is a type of modem that allows a personal computer or a router to receive wireless Internet access via a mobile broadband connection instead of using telephone or cable television lines. A mobile Internet user can connect using a wireless modem to a wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP) to get Internet access.
Modem/ Router - A modulator-demodulator or modem is a computer hardware device that converts data from a digital format into a format suitable for an analog transmission medium such as telephone or radio. A modem transmits data by modulating one or more carrier wave signals to encode digital information, while the receiver demodulates the signal to recreate the original digital information. A router^[a] is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the traffic directing functions on the Internet. Data sent through the internet, such as a web page or email, is in the form of data packets. A packet is typically forwarded from one router to another router through the networks that constitute an internetwork (e.g. the Internet) until it reaches its destination.
Ethernet, Switches, and Cables - Ethernet (/ˈ iːθərnɛt /) is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). An ethernet switch is a device in a computer network that connects other devices together via wired ethernet connection. It could be compared to a USB hub in that it allows for more devices to be connected than we originally could based on the number of ports we’re limited to using. Cat5 or Category 5 cables are what we would be most commonly familiar with when it comes to connecting devices via ethernet.

Brand Specific Offerings

WeatherTrak

Cellular connections only and antennas.

Baseline

Cellular, Ethernet, Ethernet radios, Wifi, and antennas.

Data Types

What is 3g – The 3^rd generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. This is being phased out if not entirely already.

What is 4g - the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology, succeeding 3G, and preceding 5G

What is LTE - ITU (international telecommunication union) later decided that LTE and the aforementioned technologies can be called 4G technologies.^[3] The LTE Advanced standard formally satisfies the ITU-R requirements for being considered IMT-Advanced.^[4] To differentiate LTE Advanced and WiMAX-Advanced from current 4G technologies, ITU has defined the latter as "True 4G".^[5]^[6]

Whether you are going to install and manage a cellular router or deploy a cellular signal booster or amplifier system, there are a few acronyms that you’ll frequently encounter. RSSI, RSRP, and RSRQ.

RSSI – is short for Received Signal Strength Indicator and is a measure of cellular signal strength. RSSI is displayed as a negative number from 0dBm (best signal) to -110dBm (weakest/no signal). RSSI is used when measuring the strength of 3G networks. 3g is or already has been sunset and so we’ll interact less with RSSI.
RSRP - is short for Reference Signal Received Power, used when measuring 4G LTE networks. A cellular phone or another LTE-equipped device would display signal strength in RSRP, measured 0dBm (best signal) to -110dBm (weakest/no signal). An indicator of strength.
RSRQ – is Reference Signal Received Quality. This again only applies to 4G LTE networks and is a measure of the signal quality of a cellular connection. RSRQ is typically displayed in a range from 0dB (highest quality) to -20dB (lowest quality). An indicator of quality.
Important factors include Firmware versions of modems, the location and type of an antenna, and interference caused by various obstructions like trees, metal or thick walls and roofs, nearby electronics that are capable of interrupting or degrading signal quality and strength.

Network Setup

Private Network
- This requires the customer’s network admin to know how their private network is setup in order to connect a controller to that network. We would guide them on following the instructions for this in the user manual.
Ethernet Radios
- This is a product we offer to help customers find a better solution to connecting multiple devices on a site to one network through radio devices. This also requires the customer to know how their network is set up and how their site is and should be set up for support to assist with confirming our products function correctly. A video is on the next slide to review this product. See product manual for purchasing info.
BACnet
- The BACnet (Building Automation and Control network) communication protocol is an international standard managed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in partnership with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It integrates an irrigation system with a Building Management System. This is currently supported by Tier 3.