Chapter 4

Transmission Media

7.1
 Figure 7.1 Transmission medium and physical layer

7.2
 In every communication system, it is the
communication channels that play an
essential role during the process of data
transfer. Basically, there are two categories of
communication channels. One category is
wireless connection that uses air to achieve
the transmission. While the other category is
physical connection, which adopts a solid
substance such as a wire or cable to connect
sending and receiving devices. These
connections include fiber optic cable,
twisted- pair and coaxial cable.
7.3
 Figure 7.2 Classes of transmission media

7.4
 7-1 GUIDED MEDIA

Guided media, which are those that provide a

medium from one device to another, include twisted-
pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.

Topics discussed in this section:

Twisted-Pair Cable
Coaxial Cable
Fiber-Optic Cable

7.5
 Twisted pair cable consists of a pair of insulated/
protected wires twisted together, which is adapted in the
field of telecommunication for a long time. Twisted pair
cable works well on transferring balanced differential
signals, the merits of which are extremely valuable in wide
bandwidth and high reliability system. Basically, twisted
pair cable can be divided into two types: unshielded
twisted-pair (UTP) and shielded twisted-pair (STP).

7.6
 Figure 7.3 Twisted-pair cable

7.7
 Figure 7.4 UTP and STP cables

7.8
 Figure 7.5 UTP connector

7.9
Coaxial cable acts as a high-frequency transmission cable which contains a single
solid-copper core. A coaxial cable has over 80 times the transmission capability of
the twisted-pair. It is commonly used to deliver television signals and to connect
computers in a network as well, so people may get more familiar with this kind of
cable.
Coaxial cable has always been the mainstay of high speed communication and has
also been applied to network with 10 gigabit links data centers, because it is proved
to be cost efficient for short links within 10 m and for residential network. Besides,
it features anti-blocking capability, stable transmission of data and money saving.
Coaxial cable is widely employed in feed lines connecting radio transmitters and
receivers, computer network connection, digital audio and television signals
distribution. Moreover, coaxial cable can effectively protect signals from being
interfered by external electromagnetic influence.

7.10
 Figure 7.7 Coaxial cable

7.11
 Computing and data communications are fast-moving technologies. There comes a new
generation of transmission media—fiber optic cable. It refers to the complete assembly of
fibers, which contain one or more optical fibers that are used to transmit data. Each of the
optical fiber elements is individually coated by plastic layers and contained in a protective
tube. Fiber optic cable transmits data as pulses of light go through tiny tubes of glass, the
transmission capacity of which is 26,000 times higher than that of twisted-pair cable.
When comparing with coaxial cables, fiber optic cables are lighter and reliable for
transmitting data. They transmit information using beams of light at light speed rather than
pulses of electricity.
There exist various different types of fiber optic cables, which are determined by the
number of fibers and where it will be installed. Besides, the bandwidth of optical fiber
transmission is also developed and the maximum connection distance can reach up to over
2 km. Nowadays, two types of fiber optic cables are widely adopted in the field of data
transfer—single-mode fiber optic cables and multimode fiber optic cables.
A single-mode optical fiber is a fiber that has a small core, and only allows one mode of
light to propagate at a time. So it is generally adapted to high speed, long-distance
applications. While a multimode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber with a core
diameter larger than the wavelength of light transmitted and it is designed to carry multiple
light rays, or modes at the same time. It is mostly used for communication over short
distances because of its high capacity and reliability, serving as a backbone applications in
buildings.

7.12
 Figure 7.11 Optical fiber

7.13
 Figure 7.12 Propagation modes

7.14
 Figure 7.13 Modes

7.15
 Figure 7.14 Fiber construction

7.16
 Figure 7.15 Fiber-optic cable connectors

7.17
7-2 UNGUIDED MEDIA: WIRELESS

Unguided media transport

electromagnetic waves without using a
physical conductor. This type of
communication is often referred to as
wireless communication.
 Figure 7.19 Wireless transmission waves

7.19
 Wireless communication is the transfer of
information or power between two or more
points that are not connected by an electrical
conductor.
.

7.20
 Radio Waves: an electromagnetic wave of a frequency between about 104 and
1011 or 1012 Hz, as used for long-distance communication. according to NASA,
ranging from about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) to more than 100 kilometers
(62 miles).

Microwaves: an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001–0.3

m, shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared
radiation. Microwaves are used in radar, in communications, and for heating in
microwave ovens and in various industrial processes.

Infrared: of electromagnetic radiation) having a wavelength just greater than that

of the red end of the visible light spectrum but less than that of microwaves.
Infrared radiation has a wavelength from about 800 nm to 1 mm, and is emitted
particularly by heated objects.

According to NASA, far infrared light is thermal. Humans can feel this type
of radiation, from sunlight, fire, a radiator or warm sand. Although humans
cannot see infrared light, a rattlesnake can detect infrared light.

7.21
 What is the difference between Radio Waves and Microwaves?

Microwaves are a sub-class of radio waves.

The frequency of radio waves can take values from 300 GHz to 3 kHz, but
microwaves are defined to have frequencies ranging from 300 GHz to only 300
MHz.

Radio waves in general have long distance communication capabilities, but

microwaves do not have these abilities.

Radio waves are mostly used in the communication field whereas microwaves
are used in industries and astronomy.

7.22
 What types of waves are used to transmit cell
phone signals?

7.23
 Figure 7.20 Omni directional antenna
An omnidirectional antenna is a wireless transmitting or receiving antenna that
radiates or intercepts radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields equally well in all
horizontal directions in a flat, two-dimensional (2D) geometric plane

7.24
 Note

Radio waves are used for multicast

communications, such as radio and
television, and paging systems.

7.25
 Note

Microwaves are used for unicast

communication such as cellular
telephones, satellite networks,
and wireless LANs.

7.26
 Note

Infrared signals can be used for short-

range communication in a closed area
using line-of-sight propagation.

7.27