Chapter 7

Transmission Media

7.1 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 Figure 7.1 Transmission medium and physical layer

It can be defined as any thing that carry information from a source to destination

7.2
 Figure 7.2 Classes of transmission media

7.3
 7-1 GUIDED MEDIA

Guided media, which are those that provide a channel

‫ قناة‬from 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

7.4
 Figure 7.3 Twisted-pair cable

One to carry the signal and the other as a ground.

The receiver uses the difference between the two
Interference and crosstalk may affect the wires and create unwanted signals
Twisting makes it probable that both wires are equally affected by external
influences, it means that the receiver which calculate the difference between the
two receives no unwanted signals.

Cross-talk :Undesired signals or sounds, as of voices, in a telephone or other communications device as a result of
coupling between transmission circuits.

7.5
 Figure 7.4 UTP and STP cables

The metal case prevent noise or crosstalk, quality is improved.

7.6
 Table 7.1 Categories of unshielded twisted-pair cables by EIA

T1- lines : High-speed digital connection that transmits data at 1.5 million bits per second through the telephone-
7.7 switching network.
 Figure 7.5 UTP connector

RJ ( registered jack)
It’s a key connector which means that it can be inserted in only one way
both jack construction and wiring pattern — for connecting telecommunications or
data equipment (RJ11, RJ14, RJ21, RJ48,)

7.8
 Figure 7.6 UTP performance (Attenuation vs frequency & distance)

Gauge is a measure of the wire thickness

Applications
Telephone lines
DSL lines
LAN 10 base T

7.9
 Figure 7.7 Coaxial cable

It carries signals of higher frequency ranges, because it has very low radiation
losses and low susceptibility to external interference.

7.10
 Table 7.2 Categories of coaxial cables
RG radio governments

RG-59/U is a specific type of coaxial cable, often used for low-power

video and RF signal connections. The cable has a characteristic
impedance of 75 ohms. The 75 ohm impedance matches a dipole
antenna in free space.

7.11
 Figure 7.8 BNC connectors

A small device for connecting coaxial cables, used frequently in low-

power, radio-frequency and test applications. Abbreviation for
bayonet Neil-Concelman connector.

To prevent signal reflection

7.12
Figure 7.9 Coaxial cable performance
The attenuation is much higher than the twisted –pair cable, but it has a much
higher bandwidth but we need a frequent use of repeaters. Its used in analog tel.
It carry up to 10000 voice signal and in digital network to carry data up to 600
Mbps, now it is replaced by the fiber optic.

7.13
 Figure 7.10 Bending of light ray

Fiber optic cable is made of glass or plastic ,, transform signals in form of light
I (angle of incidence)
Light travel in a straight lines, as long as it moves through a single uniform substance, if more than one, the
ray changes its direction( different density)
So the critical angle is defined as the angle of incidence which provides an angle of refraction of 90-degrees.

‫انكسار‬

7.14
 Figure 7.11 Optical fiber

A glass or plastic core is surrounded by a cladding of less dense glass or plastic

‫غطاء‬

7.15
 Figure 7.12 Propagation modes

7.16
 Figure 7.13 Modes
Multimodal : multiple beams
from a light source move
through the core in different
paths.

Step index : suddenness of

changing the beam angle at the
surface between the core and
cladding material, core material
of the same density.

Graded index : core of a

varying density, index refers to
refraction, density is high at
the center, and decreases
gradually at the edge

Single :Highly focused source

of light that limits beams to a
small range of angles.

7.17
 Table 7.3 Fiber types

7.18
 Figure 7.14 Fiber construction

PVC or Teflon

7.19
 Figure 7.15 Fiber-optic cable connectors
Sc subscriber channel St straight-tip
Advantages : Higher bandwidth, less signal attenuation ( still up to 50 Km),
Immunity against electromagnetic interference, resistance to corrosive materials

7.20
 Figure 7.16 Optical fiber performance

7.21
 Advantages & Disadvantages of Optical fibers

Advantages
1- higher Bandwidth ( but limited due to the trans. & receive. Technology
2- Less signal Attenuation ( signal can run up to 50Km without regeneration
3- Immunity to Electromagnetic interference.
4- Resistance to corrosive materials.
5- Light weight.
6- Greater immunity to tapping.

Disadvantages
1- Installation and maintenance
2- unidirectional light propagation
3- Cost

7.22
 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.

Topics discussed in this section:

Radio Waves
Microwaves
Infrared

7.23
 Figure 7.17 Electromagnetic spectrum for wireless communication

7.24
 Figure 7.18 Propagation methods

7.25
 Table 7.4 Bands

7.26
 Figure 7.19 Wireless transmission waves

Radio Waves: 3kHz – 1 GHz Omni directions, signal propagates in all

directions, travelling long distances AM&FM radios television
Microwave : 1GHz-3GHz uni-direction
Infrared : 3GHz-

7.27
 Figure 7.20 Omnidirectional antenna

7.28
 Note

Radio waves are used for multicast

communications, such as radio and
television.

7.29
 Figure 7.21 Unidirectional antennas

Advantages:
A Pair of antennas can be aligned without interfering with another pair.
Microwave propagation is a line of sight.
-wider sub bands are assigned ( wide band) , high data rate .
Disadvantages: can’t penetrate walls, certain portions of the band
requires permission fro authorities.

7.30
 Note

Microwaves are used for unicast (One to

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

7.31
 Note

Infrared signals can be used for short-

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

7.32