1 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

2 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Module 3 – The Physical Layer Contd.

Introduction:

This module will allow you understand the role of the physical layer that defines the
means of transmitting raw bits over a physical data link connecting network nodes. Understand
bitstream that may be grouped into code words or symbols and converted to a physical signal
that is transmitted over a transmission medium. Comprehend the physical layer which provides
an electrical, mechanical, and procedural interface to the transmission medium. The shapes and
properties of the electrical connectors, the frequencies to broadcast on, the line code to use and
similar low-level parameters, are specified by the physical layer.

The module is divided into 2 lessons, namely:

➢ Lesson 1: Multiplexing introduces you to a way of sending multiple signals or streams

of information over a communications link at the same time in the form of a single,
complex signal; the receiver recovers the separate signals, a process called
demultiplexing (or demuxing).

➢ Lesson 2: Transmission Media introduces you to a a communication channel that

carries the information from the sender to the receiver. Data is transmitted through the
electromagnetic signals.

Module Learning Outcomes:

In this module, you should be able to:

1. identify Multiplexing;
2. elucidate Transmission Media;

Lesson 1: MULTIPLEXING

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In this module, Students should be capable of:

➢ identifying Frequency Division Multiplexing

➢ identifying Wave Division Multiplexing
➢ identifying Time division Multiplexing
3 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

I. Pre – Assessment:

Direction. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

_______1. Multiplexing is not practical to have a separate line for each other device we want to
communicate.

_______2. FDM is an analog multiplexing technique that combines signals.

_______3. Signals generated by each device modulate different carrier frequencies.

_______4. Demultiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose the signal into its component
signals.

_______5. Channels must be separated by strips of unused BWs (called Guard Bands) to
prevent signals from overlapping.

_______6. Carrier frequencies must not interfere with the original signals.

_______7. A prism is used to bend a beam of light based on the angle of incidence and
frequency and acts like a multiplexer.

_______8. Four channels are multiplexed using TDM.

_______9. Synchronization between multiplexer and demultiplexer is important otherwise a bit

of one channel may be received by other channel.

_______10. Digital Signal services are implemented by T Lines (T-1 to T-4).

II. Lesson Map:

The map above simply shows the focus of this lesson.

4 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

III. Core Content:

Engage: Draw a flowchart of multiplexing.

Explore:

Multiplexing

It is not practical to have a separate line for each other device we want to communicate

Therefore, it is better to share communication medium

The technique used to share a link by more than one device is called multiplexing

Multiplexing needs that the BW of the link should be greater than the total individual BW
of the devices connected.

In a multiplexed system one link may contain more than one channel
5 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Frequency Division Multiplexing

FDM is an analog multiplexing technique that

combines signals

Signals generated by each device modulate

different carrier frequencies

These modulated signals are combined to form a

composite signal

Demultiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose

the signal into its component signals

FDM

• Carrier frequencies are separated by sufficient BW to accommodate modulated signal

• These BW ranges are channels through which the various signal travel

• Channels must be separated by strips of unused BWs (called Guard Bands) to prevent
signals from overlapping

• Carrier frequencies must not interfere with the original signals

EXAMPLE

Assume that a voice channel occupies a bandwidth of 4 KHz. We need to combine three voice
channels into a link with a bandwidth of 12 KHz, from 20 to 32 KHz. Show the configuration
using the frequency domain without the use of guard bands.

SOLUTION

Shift (modulate) each of the three voice channels to a different bandwidth

6 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

EXAMPLE

Five channels, each with a 100-KHz bandwidth, are to be multiplexed together. What is the
minimum bandwidth of the link if there is a need for a guard band of 10 KHz between the
channels to prevent interference?

SOLUTION

For five channels, we need at least four guard bands. This means that the required bandwidth is
at least

5 x 100 + 4 x 10

= 540 KHz

as shown in Figure

EXAMPLE

Four data channels (digital), each transmitting at 1 Mbps, use a satellite channel of 1 MHz.
Design an appropriate action using FDM

• The satellite channel is analog. We divide it into four channels, each channel having a
250-KHz bandwidth.
7 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

• Each digital channel of 1 Mbps is modulated such that each 4 bits are modulated to 1
Hz.

SOLUTION

• One solution is 16- QAM modulation.

• Figure shows one possible configuration.

8 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Wave Division Multiplexing

Very narrow bands of light from different sources

are combined to make a wider band of light

A prism is used to bend a beam of light based on

the angle of incidence and frequency and acts like a multiplexer

Another prism may be used to reverse the process and acts like a demultiplexer

Time division Multiplexing

If the data rate of a link is 3 times the data rate of a connection

then the duration of a unit on a connection will be 3 times that of a time slot

EXAMPLE

Four 1-Kbps connections are multiplexed together. A unit is 1 bit. Find (1) the duration of 1 bit
before multiplexing, (2) the transmission rate of the link, (3) the duration of a time slot, and (4)
the duration of a frame?

SOLUTION
9 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

1. The duration of 1 bit is 1/1 Kbps, or 0.001 s (1 ms).

2. The rate of the link is 4 times the rate of connection, i.e. 4 Kbps.

3. The duration of each time slot is 1/4th of the bit duration before multiplexing i.e. 1/4s or
250ms.

or inverse of data rate i.e. 1/4 Kbps = 250 ms.

4. The duration of a frame is same as duration of each unit, i.e. 1 ms.

or 4 times the bit duration i.e. 4 * 250 ms = 1s

EXAMPLE

Four channels are multiplexed using TDM. If each channel sends 100 bytes and we multiplex 1
byte per channel, show the frame traveling on the link, the size of the frame, the duration of a
frame, the frame rate, and the bit rate for

SOLUTION

EXAMPLE

A multiplexer combines four 100-Kbps channels using a time slot of 2 bits. Show the output with
four arbitrary inputs.

What is the frame rate? What is the frame duration? What is the bit rate? What is the bit
duration?

SOLUTION

Synchronization
10 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

• Synchronization between multiplexer and demultiplexer is important otherwise a bit of one

channel may be received by other channel

• To avoid this one or more synchronization bits may be added called Framing bits

EXAMPLE

We have four sources, each creating 250 characters per second. If the interleaved unit is a
character and 1 synchronizing bit is added to each frame, find

(1) the data rate of each source,

(2) the duration of each character in each source,

(3) the frame rate,

(4) the duration of each frame,

(5) the number of bits in each frame.

SOLUTION

1. The data rate of each source is 250 8=2000 bps

2. The duration of a character is 1/250 s, or 4 ms.

3. The link needs to send 250 frames per second.

4. The duration of each frame is 1/250 s, or 4 ms.

5. Each frame is 4 x 8 + 1 = 33 bits.

Bit Padding
11 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

If one or more devices are faster than other devices than faster devices are given more
time slots than others

e.g. we can accommodate a device 5 times faster than others by giving time slots as 5:1

When speeds are not integer multiples of each other then bit padding is used

In bit padding the multiplexer adds extra bits to device‟s source stream to force the
speed relationships as integer multiples

EXAMPLE

Two channels, one with a bit rate of 100 Kbps and another with a bit rate of 200 Kbps, are to be
multiplexed. How this can be achieved? What is the frame rate? What is the frame duration?
What is the Solution the link?

SOLUTION

We can allocate one slot to the first channel and two slots to the second channel. Each frame
carries 3 bits. The frame rate is 100,000 frames per second because it carries 1 bit from the first
channel. The frame duration is 1/100,000 s, or 10 ms.

The bit rate is 100,000 frames/s x 3 bits/frame, or 300 Kbps.

DS hierarchy

Telephone companies implement TDM through hierarchy of digital signals called Digital Signal
service

T-1 line for multiplexing telephone lines

12 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

o Digital Signal services are implemented by T Lines (T-1 to T-4)

o T Lines are digital lines designed for transmission of digital data, audio or video

T-1 frame structure

• The frame used on a T-1 line is usually 193 bits divided into 24 slots of 8 bits each plus 1 extra
bit for synchronization (24*8 + 1)

• If a T-1 line carries 8000 frames then data rate = 193*8000 = 1.544 Kbps

• Europeans use E Lines in place T Lines. Both are conceptually same only capacity differs
13 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Rate Voice
E Line
(Mbps) Channels

E-1 2.048 30

E-2 8.448 120

E-3 34.368 480

E-4 139.264 1920

Multiplexing and inverse multiplexing

• Inverse multiplexing takes data from high speed line and breaks it into portions that can be
sent across several lower speed lines

• If an organisation wants to send data, audio and video, each requires a different bandwidth

• using an agreement called Bandwidth on Demand

• The organisation can use any of the channel whenever and however it needs them
14 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Explain:

1. How can you differentiate modulator and demodulator?

2. How analog and digital signal can share link using multiplexing?

Extend: Identify Frequency Division Multiplexing, Wave Division Multiplexing & Time division
Multiplexing.

a. __________________________

b. __________________________

c. __________________________
15 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

Evaluate:

Two channels, one with a bit rate of 200 Kbps and another with a bit rate of 300 Kbps, are
to be multiplexed. How this can be achieved? What is the frame rate? What is the frame
duration? What is the Solution the link?

Write your answers in the space below.

16 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

IV. Post - Assessment:

Direction. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is wrong. Write your
answers in a separate sheet of paper.

_______1. Multiplexing is not practical to have a separate line for each other device we
want to communicate.

_______2. FDM is an analog multiplexing technique that combines signals.

_______3. Signals generated by each device modulate different carrier frequencies.

_______4. Demultiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose the signal into its
component signals.

_______5. Channels must be separated by strips of unused BWs (called Guard Bands)
to prevent signals from overlapping.

_______6. Carrier frequencies must not interfere with the original signals.

_______7. A prism is used to bend a beam of light based on the angle of incidence and
frequency and acts like a multiplexer.

_______8. Four channels are multiplexed using TDM.

_______9. Synchronization between multiplexer and demultiplexer is important

otherwise a bit of one channel may be received by other channel.

_______10. Digital Signal services are implemented by T Lines (T-1 to T-4).

17 Module 3 | The Physical Layer Contd.

V. Topic Summary:

• Frequency Division Multiplexing

o FDM is an analog multiplexing technique that combines signals
o Signals generated by each device modulate different carrier frequencies
o These modulated signals are combined to form a composite signal
o Demultiplexer uses a series of filters to decompose the signal into its component
signals
• Wave Division Multiplexing
o Very narrow bands of light from different sources are combined to make a wider
band of light
o A prism is used to bend a beam of light based on the angle of incidence and
frequency and acts like a multiplexer
o Another prism may be used to reverse the process and acts like a demultiplexer

• Time division Multiplexing

o If the data rate of a link is 3 times the data rate of a connection
o then the duration of a unit on a connection will be 3 times that of a time slot

VI. Reference

Nayak, A. (2016). Computer Network Simulation Using NS2. Retrieved at

https://books.google.com/books/about/Computer_Network_Simulation_Using_NS2.html?id=CX
ENDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button Retrieved on February 10, 2021.