User's Manual

Glossary
BreezeMAX CPEs Product Manual 135
NIC Network Interface Card. An expansion board you insert into a
computer (or a built-in component) that enables the computer to
connect to a network. Most NICs are designed for a particular type of
network, protocol, and media, although some can serve multiple
networks.
NPU Network Processing Unit
NRT Non Real Time. is very similar to the Real-Time polling service except
that connections may utilize random access transmit opportunities for
sending bandwidth requests. These Non Real Time Variable Bit Rate
(NRT-VBR) services, such as file transfer and Internet access with a
minimum guaranteed rate, are characterized by requirement for a
guaranteed rate, but can tolerate longer delays and are rather
insensitive to jitter. Service parameters include CIR, Committed Time
(CT), and MIR that limit the rate as otherwise bandwidth-intensive
services may expand to occupy full bandwidth.
ODU Outdoor Unit
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing: A method for
multiplexing signals, which divides the available bandwidth into a
series of frequencies known as tones. Orthogonal tones do not interfere
with each other when the peak of one tone corresponds with the null.
The rapid switching, frequency-hopping technique is intended to allow
more robust data service.
OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. It’s a logical extension of OFDM and a
modulation/multiple access technique. OFDMA divides a signal into sub-channels (i.e.
groups of carriers), with each sub-channel (or several sub-channels) being allocated to
a different subscriber.
PDA Personal Digital Assistant. A handheld computing device.
PER Packet Error Rate. In a digital transmission, PER is the percentage of
packets with errors divided by the total number of packets that have
been transmitted, received or processed over a given time period.
PHY PHYsical Layer. The physical, or lowest, layer of the OSI Network
Model. In a wireless network, the PHY defines parameters such as data
rates, modulation method, signaling parameters, transmitter/receiver
synchronization, etc. Within an actual radio implementation, the PHY
corresponds to the radio front end and baseband signal processing
sections.
POTS Plain Old Telephone System. A basic analog telephone equipment.