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Telecom Dictionary - N

N/A - This means Not Available.

Nailed Connection - This is a permanent circuit made of a circuit that switched previously.

Nailed Up Circuit - This is just a permanent, private line.

NAK - This means (1) Negative or (2) No AcKnowledgement.

Nanotechnology - This is a general term for technology research on the scale of less than about 1000 nanometers.

NANP - see North American Numbering Plan.

National Electrical Code (NEC) - This a collection of safety standards -- that has been adopted as the law in many regions -- regarding electrical circuits.

National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) - This is a video recording and playing standard that was established by the US (specifically by RCA/NBC); it was soon adopted by numerous other countries as their chosen standard.

NEC - see National Electrical Code.

Negative Absorption - This is a strange term that means the opposite of absorption -- amplification.

Nest - This is a programming term that means to embed a block of data or other instructions within another block.

Net - The shortened word for the (1) internet or a (2) network.

Net Loss - The net sum of all the losses affecting a signal along its transmission path.

Netscape - A once popular browser that has been overtaken by Microsoft IE.

Network - Generally, a network connects things, allowing data or signals to be transmitted.

Network Drive - This is a disk drive that is available to various users on a network.

Networking - This is the inter- or intra-exchange of services or information between different individuals, groups, companies, or institutions.

Network Printer - A printer available to various users on a network.

Network Relay - These devices allow dissimilar networks to interconnect with each other.

Network Trunks - These are simply circuits that connect different switching centers.

Neutral - The low potential, current return path for AC power currents.

Newbie - In web lingo, this is a newcomer to a particular group, forum, or discussion board.

Nibble - This term means four bits (or half a byte).

NF - see Noise Figure.

Node - This is any point of connection in a network.

Node Address - Each node has a unique identifier to describe it.

Noise - Any extra energy (i.e., unmodulated and undesired energy) that is present to some degree in every signal.

Noise Figure (NF) - This figure is used to describe the noise level present in a particular device. It is expressed in decibels (dB) and compares the device in question with an imaginary perfect (and unattainable) device.

North American Numbering Plan (NANP) - This plan is responsible for assigning the area codes and routing calls throughout North America.

NTSC - see National Television Standards Committee.

Null - This term means having no value.

Null Character - A character transmitted to fill space -- a dummy character.