Networking and Operating Systems

Section 1.3 Lab – Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt

Objective

  • I can demonstrate my understanding of modern and legacy ports and connectors by producing a document identifying each port visually, so I can maintain a working knowledge of what ports are available on a given PC just by looking at it.

Links:

Topics Discussed:

  • System Unit
  • Expansion Cards
  • Modern vs. Legacy
  • Ports
  • Connectors
  • Male / Female Ports & Connectors
  • Serial Communications
  • Parallel Communications

Assignment:

  1. Today, we will be working on a Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt activity, where you will be tasked with identifying 28 different expansion ports and connectors common to PC workstations.
  2. Using the list below, and the Internet for research, you will hunt all around my room to find each of the 28 ports on the hardware devices located throughout Room 225. Hunt high and low, and dig through the provided hardware bins to find them all!
  3. Use your cell phone, the iSight camera on your iMac, or a loaner digital camera (just ask me) to take pictures of each port. You must provide original photos of each port (No borrowing from the Internet!).
  4. Produce a document (Google Doc, Google Slides, etc.) and place your pictures in the document. Use text labels to identify each of the 28 ports.
  5. Submit your completed Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt document with all the required pictures to the Google Classroom assignment labeled “Section 1.3 Lab – Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt” by Monday, September 9th.
  6. If all 1st Year students complete the Lab by turning in an original document containing all 28 photos correctly labeled by end of day on Monday, the entire class will receive a pizza party on lucky Friday the 13th!
  7. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt List:

Legacy Multifunction Ports

D-Sub Ports:

  • 25-pin serial port (female)
  • 9-pin serial port (male)
  • 25-pin parallel port (female)
  • 36-pin IEEE 1284B Centronics connector (male)

Standard Single-Function Ports

  • PS/2 6-pin mini-DIN keyboard port (purple)
  • PS/2 6-pin mini-DIN mouse port (green)

Video Ports

  • 15-pin D-Sub VGA video port (female)
  • DVI Video port (female)
  • RGB Component ports (female)
  • Composite Video port (female)
  • Mini DisplayPort port (female)

Audio Ports

  • 1/8-inch mini-audio port (female)
  • S/PDIF coaxial audio port (female)

Multimedia Ports

  • RG-6 coaxial port (female)
  • S-Video port (female)
  • Composite Audio port (female)

MIDI/Joystick Ports

  • DB-15 Joystick/Game port (female)

Modem Ports

  • RJ-11 modem port (female)

Network Interface Ports

  • RJ-45 network port (female)
  • BNC Port (female)

Modern Multifunction Ports

  • USB Type A port (female)
  • USB 3.0 Type A port (female)
  • USB Type B port (female)
  • USB Type C port (female)
  • USB mini port (female)
  • USB micro port (female)
  • Firewire 400 IEEE 1394a port (female)
  • Firewire 800 IEEE 1394b port (female)

Assigned: September 5th, 2019
Due Date: September 9th, 2019