What hardware is needed to build and connect a network?
Identify the main items of network hardware (NIC, switch, router, wireless access point, transmission media) and describe the function of each.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on network hardware, covering the network interface card, switch, router, wireless access point and transmission media and what each one does.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC asks you to name the pieces of hardware that build a network and to describe what each one does. The common exam form is "describe the function of X" or "explain the difference between a switch and a router", so you need a precise one-line role for each device, not just its name.
Network interface card (NIC)
Every device that joins a network needs the hardware to do so.
Switch
Within a single network, a switch directs traffic intelligently.
Router
To reach beyond the local network, a router is needed.
The key contrast for the exam: a switch works inside one network, a router connects separate networks (such as your LAN to the internet).
Wireless access point
Wireless devices need a point to join the network.
Transmission media
Data has to travel along something between devices.
Putting it together
A typical small network combines these devices.
Why this matters
Knowing what each device does explains how data actually gets from one machine to another and out to the internet, which makes the next dot point (how the internet works) far clearer. It also supports the security topic: routers are a common place to apply security such as firewalls and passwords, and understanding switches versus broadcasting helps explain why some attacks rely on intercepting traffic. In real life, this knowledge is exactly what you use to set up or fix a home or school network.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style3 marksDescribe the function of a switch and a router, and explain how they differ.Show worked answer →
A switch connects devices together within a single network (a LAN) and directs data only to the specific device it is meant for, rather than to all devices, which makes the network efficient.
A router connects different networks together, most importantly joining a local network to the internet, and forwards data between them, choosing the path the data should take.
The difference is that a switch works within one network, while a router connects separate networks (for example the home LAN to the internet).
Markers award one mark for the switch's function, one for the router's function, and one for a clear statement of the difference. Saying a router "connects to the internet" while a switch "connects devices in the LAN" captures the contrast.
WJEC-style2 marksState what a network interface card (NIC) does and where it is found.Show worked answer →
A network interface card (NIC) is the hardware that allows a device to connect to a network, by sending and receiving data over the network. Each NIC has a unique identifier (a MAC address).
It is found inside (or built into) each device that connects to the network, such as a computer, laptop or printer.
Markers give one mark for the function (lets a device connect to / communicate on a network) and one mark for its location (in each networked device). Mentioning the MAC address is a creditworthy extra detail.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology specification — WJEC (2021)
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology Unit 1 guide — WJEC (2020)