A Guide to Terminology and Acronyms

As of late I have seen a few threads where the OP is in need of dire help and their general lack of understanding about Terminology / Technology, and as people trying to help them we are struggling to understand what they mean so hopefully this thread will help them help us, to help them.

I'll be using wikipedia for most of the links unless they don't have any.

Feel free to add others that I havn't and I will add them to this main list


Home Theater Terminology

AMP = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplifier

HDMI = High-Definition Multimedia Interface http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Projector = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_projector

AVR = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV_receiver

PVR/ DVR = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_video_recorder

HTPC = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTPC

HD vs FullHD = http://www.getprice.com.au/blog-hd-read ... erence.htm

MRA = Multi Room Audio http://smarthouse.com.au/Automation/Sound/G5M2F8N6


Home Networking/ Telephony

PSTN = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSTN or Plain Simple Telephone Network

POTS = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_old_ ... ne_service

ADSL = The most common form of Internet Connection in Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADSL

ADSL Modem = A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem is a device used to connect a computer or router to a telephone circuit that has Digital Subscriber Line service configured: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADSL_modem

FTTH aka FTTP = Fibre to the Home / Premisis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTTH

ONT = FTTH "Modem/Interface" Like a Router has up to 4 network outputs which can be their own Internet Connections (4 Different providers) and has 2 PSTN Connections for Phone outputs on two different providers.

HFC aka Foxtel/ Optus Cable (used only by these two carriers) for Wired "Pay tv" and or Cable Broadband http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_fiber-coaxial

NBN aka NBNCo = National Broadband Network aka FTTH http://www.nbnco.com.au/

Router = A router is a device that forwards data packets across computer networks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router

Network Switch = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch


Other Technology
VoIP = Voice over Internet Protocol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoIP

IP TV = Internet Protocol Television http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_TV Fetch TV is a form of this

Network Hardware/ Devices

Patch Panel = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_panel

Rack Mount = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_mount

NAS = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

HFS= Home File Server slightly more intelligent then a simple NAS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_server

Structured Cabling = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structured_cabling