Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology

Types of Communication Media

Subject Name: Computer Application

Subject Code: 109

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Mr. Prashant Vats Name: Vineet Gola
Enrollment no: IPU037826
Course: BBA(GENERAL)
Semester/Section: 1
 Topic:
Types of Communication Media

Table of Content
Contents Page No.
What is Communication
Media?
2
Twisted-Pair Cable
3-4
Coaxial Cable
5
Fiber Optic Cable
6
Microwave System
7
Communication Satellite
8
Conclusion
9
Bibliography
10
What is Communication Media?
Communication media is a communication channel means it is a medium
for data transmission. In other words, when two devices want to
communicate, at that time the communication channel they used is called
communication media.

Communication Medium is used to carry data from the transmitter to the

receiver. It provides the physical path between sending and receiving the
machine in data communication i.e. the path that travels from the data
sender to the receiver.

A communication medium is a medium used to transfer data from one

place to another. When we talk about not only internet data but also data
transfer, we are talking about all kinds of data like radio networks, TV
networks, phone networks, local networks, internet, can be etc. Each of the
messages can be sent in the form of data by converting them into binary
digits. These binary digits are encoded as a signal that can be transmitted
to the appropriate medium.

In data communication, it acts as a physical path between the sender and

the receiver. For example, a copper cable uses network bits as an
electrical signal while bits in fiber networks receive light pulses.

Types of Communication Media

• Twisted-Pair Cable
• Coaxial Cable
• Fiber Optic Cable
• Microwave System
• Communication Satellite
Twisted-Pair Cable
Twisted-pair cable is the most popular network cable for data
transmission. It is lightweight, easy to install, inexpensive and supports
data speeds up to 100 Mbps. It is a pair of copper wires. Copper wires are
the most common and widely used wire for transmitting signals due to
good performance at low cost.

A twisted pair cable consists of two conductors (usually copper), each

pair of cables being twisted together to form a single medium with its
own plastic insulation.

Of these two wires, one wire carries the original signal and the other is
used for ground reference. To identify each cable, these cables are color
coated. Helps reduce bending noise (electromagnetic interference) and
cross stock between wires. This type of cable is mostly used in telephone
networks to provide voice and data tra nsmission.

The two types of twisted pair cables are :

➢ Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
➢ Shielded twisted pair (STP)
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
• There is no shield in unshielded twisted pair means no metal foil in
UTP.
• UTP cable is more common than STP cables because it's costs less
than STP and easily available due to its many use.
• Due to its low cost, UTP cabling is widely used for local area
networks (LANS) and telephone connections because of its low cost.
• Unshielded twisted-pair cables do not provide high bandwidth or
good protection from interference like coaxial or fiber optic cables,
but UTP cables are low cost and easier to work with .

Shielded twisted pair (STP)

• These types of cable have a metal foil covering each pair of
insulator conductors.
• Shielding in STP cable helps to prevent electromagnetic noise and
also eliminates crosstalk. The Data transmission rate is higher in
STP.
• Because of metal foil covering, these cables are more expensive
than coaxial and unshielded twisted pair.
Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable has two wires of copper .

The core in the middle is made of copper wire and solid conductors used
for real data transmission. It is covered in an insulating sheath.

The second / outer copper wire is wrapped around and used to protect
against external electromagnetic interference (noise).

All of these are covered with a plastic casing that is used to protect the
inner layers from physical damage such as fire or water.

Coaxial cables are classified by their radio government (RG) rating. Each
RG number represents unique physical details .

Common coaxial cable standards:

• 50-Ohm RG-7 or RG-11: Used for thick Ethernet or "thicknet".
• 50-Ohm RG-58: Used for thin Ethernet, or "cheapernet".
• 75-Ohm RG-59: Used for cable television,
• 93-Ohm RG-62: Used for ARCNET.
Fiber Optic Cable
A fiber optic cable is made of high quality of thin glass or plastic and is
used to transfer digital data signals in the form of light over thousands of
miles. These cables are not affected by electromagnetic interference, so
noise and distortion are much less. It provides high data transmission and
designs for long-distance.

Fiber optic cables transmit data signals using light pulses generated by
small lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The cable consists of one or
more glasses, each slightly thicker than human hair. The center of each
strand is called the core, which provides a way for light to t ravel. The
glazing layer around the core is called cladding, which reflects light
inwards and bends the light into the cable to prevent signal loss. Due to
this reflective cladding, no light escapes from the glass core.

Most of the world's Internet use fiber optic cables because it provides
higher bandwidth and transmits data over longer distances.
Microwave System
A microwave is a type of radio wave t hat has a high frequency. It can be
classified as a subset of radio waves. The frequency range of the
microwave is between 300 MHz and 300 GHz.

The microwave is a subset of radio waves, which is the high frequency

frequency of radio waves. When the frequen cy exceeds 100 MHz, the EM
waves travel in a straight line so that the signal is sent by transmitting
those waves towards a specific station.

Microwaves are indirect because they have a high frequency frequency

and travel in straight lines.

To send signals to the second antenna, both the sender and receiver
antennas must be mounted on the towers and firmly in view of the line.

It is used for satellite communication, navigation, radar, remote sensing

and other short-range communications systems.
Communication Satellite
Communication satellites are microwave relay stations in outer space. A
space shuttle launches a satellite and places it in outer space precisely
36,000 kms above the equator with an orbit speed that matches earth’s
rotation speed exactly. Being in geosynchronous orbit, a satellite is
stationary relative to the earth, and alway s stays over the same point on
the ground. This allows a ground station to aim its antenna at a fixed
point in the sky. Each satellite can receive and retransmit signals to
slightly less than half the earth's surface because the earth is round.

Therefore, to provide data transmission service worldwide, there should

be at least three satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Hundreds of satellites
are now in orbit to handle international and domestic data, voice, and
video communications needs. The positions of INS AT series of Indian
satellites in outer space are such that they enable communication between
any two locations in India.
 CONCLUSION
Communication media means sending or
receiving data through communication media. In
today’s world it is a powerful tool that
eliminates social manipulations and social evils.
Mass communication is generally classified as
messaging, print and digital media. News
organizations use television and radio stations,
newspapers and websites to broadcast news and
information. Advertisers use TV, radio,
newspapers, magazines and the Internet to
present promotional messages to target
audiences .
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books: Computer Applica tion, BPB Publications

Website: www.thestudygenius.com
en.wikipedia.org