hnology is very often a product of extending currently understood methods to new and more effective capabilities rather than break-through inventions. Once technology is available, methodology evolves and progresses as well. It's quite safe (mundane too) but logical to conclude that methodology doesn't improve until technology is available for man- kind to figure out how to improve the way it's used. Sometimes technology can't be well understood until after it can be used or experienced. Simply cupping the hands together around the mouth and shouting results in directing sound through the air in a more focused way, increasing the distance of travel. Alexander Bell connected a concoc- tion of carbon in series with another and a battery and wire to extend the distance sound could be carried. This is another example of how technology and methods continually evolve from the imaginations of some to meet the needs and wants of many. Modern communi- cations networks-those dependent on electrical current and voltage Practical IP and Telecom for Broadcast Engineering and Operations Copyright © 2004 Fred Huffman. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS behavior-have evolved over longer than 100 years. Networks are made up of discrete elements. Each of them has one or more technolo- gies embedded in them. There's an economic food chain that comes into play as "gee whiz" technology matures and becomes commer- cially viable hardware and software products. Networks wouldn't be networks without these products. The products would not exist with- out these technologies. Today's networks are made up of many tech- nologies embedded in tens of thousands of products, perhaps hundreds of thousands of products, if software is included. This chapter continues the practical spirit of the book by dealing with technology in terms of how it's used. The time-honored phrase "practice makes perfect" could not be more useful, beneficial, or efficient when attempting to d