Common Interface Slots

1. Common Interface Slots Definition
2. Common Interface Slots Software

In Gigabit Ethernet applications, either SFP port, RJ45 port or GBIC port is used in different Gigabit devices, such as switches, routers, servers and storages. And some latest wireless access points (APs) are also equipped with SFP port. Since all these three port types only support 1Gbit and do not go any higher, why are they created instead of using only one type?

While computers may contain a mix of various types of expansion slots, PCI Express is considered the standard internal interface. Many computer motherboards today are manufactured only with PCIe slots. Adrian Mangel / Lifewire How Does PCI Express Work? 'The Common Interface (CI) is the slot on a digital television receiver into which a conditional access module (CAM) may be inserted for satellite television. Receivers normally have two common interfaces. A receiver with a common interface allows the user to access encrypted television broadcasts as opposed to free-to-air (FTA) channels.' Good user interface design needs to be able to adapt to the unexpected, and that means gracefully failing when things go wrong. Put the user's needs first. Finally, we come to may be the most important lesson of all that we can learn from bad user interface design, and that is to put the users needs first.

SFP Port vs. GBIC Port: An Improvement in Dimension

SFP port and GBIC port can be found in a variety of equipment, including Ethernet switches, routers, network interface cards, servers, etc. Today most Ethernet switches are designed with as least one or two Gigabit SFP uplink slots. What is SFP port? As the name implies, SFP port is intended for taking in SFP (mini-GBIC) fiber modules with small form-factor (SFF) connectors, while GBIC port is for accepting GBIC modules.

• Network Module slot is different than the on board WIC/HWIC slots. As SM,NM's have the specific hardware to support some services like onboard PVDM for voice support. Your E1 interface can go either on NM'S module or onboard WIC slot depending upon which E1 module you have selected.these voice E1 modules are supported both on NM'S and WIC slots.
• PCI slots are used to install sound cards, Ethernet and wireless cards and now solid state drives using NVMe technology to provide SSD drive speeds that are many times faster than SATA SSD speeds. PCI slots also allow discrete graphics cards to be added to a computer as well. 9.2K views View 2 Upvoters.

The two types of ports can provide the same data rates and same distances in Gigabit applications, but the same number of SFP ports uses less space than that of GBIC ports. Since they have the equal functionality, SFP has gradually taken the place of the older GBIC in Gigabit networking for space-saving and economical reasons. The table below is a comparison of SFP port vs. GBIC port.

If you want to know more about the SFP types that the SFP port support and their detailed specifications, such as wavelengths and distances, you can read: How Many Types of SFP Transceivers Do You Know.

SFP vs. RJ45 port: Distance Makes Difference

The RJ45 ports in Gigabit networking devices follow the 1000BASE-T Ethernet standard. They only support twisted pairs for network connections, and the distance is limited to 100 m (330 feet). RJ45 port uses Category 5/5e/6 and higher level copper Ethernet cables for 1Gbit transmission. Compared with switch using only RJ45 port, SFP port switch supports more types of communication cables and longer reaches of links. Here are the differences between SFP vs. RJ45 port.

Since most end-points at the customer's are still using RJ45 port, in order to retaining the convenience of RJ45 port while providing the advantage of SFP network to customers, some switches include combo SFP/RJ45 ports. So users can choose to utilize either the SFP port or the RJ45 port at a time for short-distance connections.

What Is Dual-Rate SFP Port?

Unlike the combo SFP/RJ45 port which is actually a link shared by two different ports, a dual-rate SFP port is one single SFP slot that can be configured to support two different data rates. Generally a dual-rate SFP slot can set to be either 1G mode or 10G mode, i.e., an SFP module or an SFP+ module can be installed in it. But the actual data rate of the transmission depends on the mode being settled and the transceiver module being used. There are several cases:

• The dual-rate SFP slot is 10G activated, and an SFP+ module is installed; the interface is in 10G mode.
• The port is 10G activated, but an SFP module is installed; the interface is in 1G mode.
• The port is not 10G activated, but an SFP+ module is installed; the interface will be link down state.
• The port is not 10G activated, and an SFP module is installed; the interface is in 1G mode.

Summary

The three port types—SFP port, RJ45 port and GBIC port—are used in different networking equipment. 7 free slots online slot. The SFP port is now more commonly used than GBIC port since the former one provides the same function and is more compact. When SFP port vs. RJ45 port, SFP port supports connectivity through varieties of fiber cables and the copper twisted pairs, and a wide range of link distances, but RJ45 port accepts only twisted pair cables and a shorter distance. Since every thing has both two sides, it is not always the best to choose SFP slot. The two articles: GBIC vs SFP: When It's Best to Use GBIC and When to Use SFP, and RJ45 vs SFP: Which Should I Use to Connect Two Switches, specifically discussed when to use which port/module type.

Common Interface Slots Definition

Question

I have a TV that has a Common Interface slot. I am wondering if I can get Sky Sports with a card or do I need to purchase some sort of box?

Submitted by Elaine

Our Answer

Common Interface Slots Software

Most new TV sets come with a CI (Common Interface) slot. These require what's known as a CAM (Conditional Access Module) to work. A CAM accepts a TV subscription card.

Here's a picture of a CAM being slid into a TV set's CI slot:

With a subscription card inserted into a CAM, that's then inserted into a TV set, you are able to watch encrypted TV channels.

At time of writing, TV sets with a CI Slot can only be used to decode one TV channel, and that's ESPN, the sports channel.

How do I get ESPN?

If you want to use your TV set's CI socket for ESPN, you can get a viewing card and a CAM from Top Up TV.

What about Sky Sports?

At the moment, you can't get Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports 2 using a CI slot, CAM and subscription card. Del lago casino finger lakes. This is because Sky does not believe that the Cam/ CI technology is secure enough, and accordingly, for Sky Sports, you'll need a set-top box.

That having been said, at the end of 2010, the UK regulator OfCom upheld a complaint from Top Up TV, and it looks like Sky will be required to support a CAM in the future. It's expected that older CI slots may not work though, and you'd need a TV that has a CI+ slot. At the time of writing, it's still not possible to use a CI slot for Sky Sports, and we'll update this article as soon as a solution is offered.

How to get Sky Sports on Freeview

As we explain above, you can use a CI slot for ESPN, but not for Sky (yet). To get Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, you need a set-top box with a suitable card slot, and a subscription card.

Top Up TV is offering two boxes:

You can order a set-top box and get a subscription card direct from Top Up TV: Visit www.topuptv.com/skysports

At time of writing, TV sets with a CI Slot can only be used to decode one TV channel, and that's ESPN, the sports channel.

How do I get ESPN?

If you want to use your TV set's CI socket for ESPN, you can get a viewing card and a CAM from Top Up TV.

What about Sky Sports?

At the moment, you can't get Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports 2 using a CI slot, CAM and subscription card. Del lago casino finger lakes. This is because Sky does not believe that the Cam/ CI technology is secure enough, and accordingly, for Sky Sports, you'll need a set-top box.

That having been said, at the end of 2010, the UK regulator OfCom upheld a complaint from Top Up TV, and it looks like Sky will be required to support a CAM in the future. It's expected that older CI slots may not work though, and you'd need a TV that has a CI+ slot. At the time of writing, it's still not possible to use a CI slot for Sky Sports, and we'll update this article as soon as a solution is offered.

How to get Sky Sports on Freeview

As we explain above, you can use a CI slot for ESPN, but not for Sky (yet). To get Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, you need a set-top box with a suitable card slot, and a subscription card.

Top Up TV is offering two boxes:

You can order a set-top box and get a subscription card direct from Top Up TV: Visit www.topuptv.com/skysports

Alternatives

As an alternative to a Top Up TV set-top box, you can get Sky Sports from Sky (using satellite), Virgin Media (using its cable TV service), or online using Sky Go.

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