Explain the elements of communication system.

Also discuss the need of modulation in

communication system.

Elements of Communication System

Communication means sending, receiving and processing of information between two or

more devices. A collection of elements (devices) which works together to establish a
communication between the sender and receiver is called a communication system. Some
examples of communication system include radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, radio
telegraphy, mobile communication, computer communication etc. Two or more people
communicating with each other by using sound signals is also known as the communication
system.

Block Diagram of Communication system

The basic components of a communication system are information source, input transducer,
transmitter, communication channel, receiver, output transducer, and destination.

Information Source
As we know that the communication system establishes the communication bridge between
the sender (transmitter) and receiver. To establish this communication bridge between the
sender and receiver, first, we need an information to send. This information originates in the
information source.
The information generated by the source may be in the form of sound (human speech),
picture (image source), words (plain text in some particular language such as English, French,
German etc.)
For example, if you are talking with your friend on a phone, you are considered as the
information source who generates information in the form of sound.
For beginners to analog communication, it’s important to understand the difference between
message and information. The message is the part of a communication which involves
sending information from source to destination. Information is a meaningful data that the
receiver consumes.
Input Transducer
If you want to talk (communicate) with your friend who is sitting beside you, then you can
directly talk with him by using voice signals (sound signals). But if the same friend is farther
away from you, then you can’t directly communicate with him by using voice signals (sound
signals) because sound signals cannot travel larger distances. So in order to overcome this
problem and transmit information to larger distances, first we need to convert this sound
signal into another form of signal (electrical signal or light signal) which travel larger
distances. The device which is used to convert this sound signal into another form of signal is
called transducer.
A transducer is a device which converts one form of energy or signal into another form of
energy or signal. The transducer is present at the input side and output side of the
communication system. The transducer that is present at the input side of the communication
system is called input transducer. Generally, the input transducer converts the non-electrical
signal (sound signal or light signal) into an electrical signal. The best example of an input
transducer is the microphone which is placed between the information source and the
transmitter section. A microphone is a device which converts your voice signals (sound
signals) into electrical signals.
Transmitter
The transmitter is a device which converts the signal produced by the source into a form that
is suitable for transmission over a given channel or medium. Transmitters use a technique
called modulation to convert the electrical signal into a form that is suitable for transmission
over a given channel or medium. Modulation is the main function of a transmitter.
When we send the signal to larger distances, it undergoes various circumstances which makes
the signal weak. In order to send the signals to larger distances, without the effect of any
external interferences or noise addition and without getting faded away, it has to undergo a
process called modulation. Modulation increases the strength of a signal without changing the
parameters of the original signal. Thus the resulted signal overcomes the various effects
which make it to become weak.
Communication Channel
The communication channel is a medium through which the signal travels.
or
The communication channel is a wired or wireless medium through which the signal
(information) travels from source (transmitter) to destination (receiver).
or
The communication channel is a wired or wireless medium that is used to send the signal
from the source (transmitter) to the destination (receiver).
or
The communication channel is a wired or wireless medium that connects the transmitter and
receiver for sending the signal.
Communication channels are divided into two categories: wired and wireless. Some examples
of wired channels include co-axial cables, fiber optic cables, and twisted pair telephone lines.
Examples of wireless channels are air, water, and vacuum.
Although channel provides a way for communication, it has one drawback. The
communication channel reduces the signal strength (attenuates the signal) that carries the
information. This reduction in signal strength is mainly caused by the addition of external
noise, physical surroundings, and travel distance. Thus the signal received by the receiver is
very weak. To compensate this signal loss, amplifiers (the device that amplifies the signal
strength) are used at both the transmitter and the receiver side.
Noise
Noise is an unwanted signal that enters the communication system via the communication
channel and interferes with the transmitted signal. The noise signal (unwanted signal)
degrades the transmitted signal (signal containing information).
Receiver
The receiver is a device that receives the signal (electrical signal) from the channel and
converts the signal (electrical signal) back to its original form (light and sound) which is
understandable by humans at the destination. TV set is a good example of a receiver. TV set
receives the signals sent by the TV transmitting stations and converts the signal into a form
which is easily understandable by the humans who are watching TV.
Output Transducer
The transducer that is present at the output side of the communication system is called output
transducer. Generally, the output transducer converts the electrical signal into a non-electrical
signal (sound signal, light signal, or both sound and light signal). The best example of an
output transducer is the loudspeaker which is placed between the receiver section and the
destination. The loudspeaker converts the electrical signals into sound signals which are
easily understandable by the humans at the destination.

Advantages of Modulation

1. Reduction in the height of antenna

2. Avoids mixing of signals
3. Increases the range of communication
4. Multiplexing is possible
5. Improves quality of reception
1. Reduction in the height of antenna

For the transmission of radio signals, the antenna height must be multiple of λ/4 ,where λ is
the wavelength .
λ = c /f

where c : is the velocity of light

f: is the frequency of the signal to be transmitted

The minimum antenna height required to transmit a baseband signal of f = 10 kHz is

calculated as follows :

The antenna of this height is practically impossible to install .

Now, let us consider a modulated signal at f = 1 MHz . The minimum antenna height is given
by,

This antenna can be easily installed practically . Thus, modulation reduces the height of the
antenna .

2. Avoids mixing of signals

If the baseband sound signals are transmitted without using the modulation by more than one
transmitter, then all the signals will be in the same frequency range i.e. 0 to 20 kHz .
Therefore, all the signals get mixed together and a receiver can not separate them from each
other .
Hence, if each baseband sound signal is used to modulate a different carrier then they will
occupy different slots in the frequency domain (different channels). Thus, modulation avoids
mixing of signals .

3. Increase the Range of Communication

The frequency of baseband signal is low, and the low frequency signals can not travel long
distance when they are transmitted . They get heavily attenuated .

The attenuation reduces with increase in frequency of the transmitted signal, and they travel
longer distance .

The modulation process increases the frequency of the signal to be transmitted . Therefore, it
increases the range of communication.

4. Multiplexing is possible

Multiplexing is a process in which two or more signals can be transmitted over the same
communication channel simultaneously .

This is possible only with modulation.

The multiplexing allows the same channel to be used by many signals . Hence, many TV
channels can use the same frequency range, without getting mixed with each other or
different frequency signals can be transmitted at the same time .

5. Improves Quality of Reception

With frequency modulation (FM) and the digital communication techniques such as PCM,
the effect of noise is reduced to a great extent . This improves quality of reception .