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Chapter-Three-Data Communication and Transmission Medias

The document discusses data communication and transmission media, focusing on guided media types such as copper wires (twisted pair and coaxial cables) and fiber optics, as well as unguided media types including wireless technologies like radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and satellite communications. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each medium, highlighting factors such as interference, distance, cost, and capacity. The content serves as an educational resource on the various methods of data transmission in networking.

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6 views19 pages

Chapter-Three-Data Communication and Transmission Medias

The document discusses data communication and transmission media, focusing on guided media types such as copper wires (twisted pair and coaxial cables) and fiber optics, as well as unguided media types including wireless technologies like radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and satellite communications. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each medium, highlighting factors such as interference, distance, cost, and capacity. The content serves as an educational resource on the various methods of data transmission in networking.

Uploaded by

heni
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CS ----: Data Communication & Computer

Networking

Chapter Three- Data Communication and


Transmission Medias

Rift Valley Unversity(2015) [email protected] 1


2.1. Guided Media Types

 Guided Media are:


1. Copper Wire
• Twisted Pair
• Coaxial Cable
2. Optical Fiber
.

Rift Valley University(2016) [email protected] 2


2.1. Guided Media Types

2.1.1. Copper Wires


 most common medium for LANs
 copper has low electrical resistance => signals can travel
farther
 The type of wiring used for networks is chosen to minimize
interference. Interference arises when wires are located close to
each other and strong signals from one are detected by the other.
 Twisted pair and coaxial cables are used to minimize
interference

Rift Valley University(2016) [email protected] 3


 Twisted Pair Cable
2 insulated copper wires twisted together in a helical
form. The simple twists changes the electrical
properties of the wire, reducing interference.
Twisted pair comes in 2 forms:
 Shielded twisted pair (STP)
 Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) - has no ground shield
 Ground shield helps to reduce interference from external
sources.
 Twisted pair in a LAN has several speed ratings.
 category 3 (cat 3) - 10 Mbps
 category 5 (cat 5) - 100 Mbps
Twisted pair is commonly used in the telephone system and
to interconnect computers on a LAN
 Coaxial Cable

A single wire with heavy metal shield.


 Has a larger bandwidth than twisted pair
 Provides better shielding than twisted pair. Twisted
pair suffers from high attenuation
 Used in TV, radio and early Ethernet LANs
 Most popular form for LANs is the RG-58AU
(commonly called thin Ethernet).
 Advantages of coaxial cable:
 Better shielding than twisted pair
 Less prone to interference
 Greater capacity than UTP
 Disadvantages:
 Cost more than twice as much as STP
 Limited in terms of distance
 Limited in no. of connections
2.1.2. Fiber Optic
 Cable made of fine strands of silica (glass) coated with a plastic sheath.
 Signals transmitted at one end are converted to light pulses a using laser. A
receiver at the other end uses a light-sensitive transistor to detect the pulses.
 There are two general classifications of fiber:
• Multimode
• Single mode
Multimode:- Different rays of light bounce along the fiber at different
angles. Consequently, different parts of the signal arrive at different
times at the destination, resulting in some amount of signal dispersion
and distortion during transmission.
-Multimode fiber suffers from attenuation.
-For these reasons, early multimode fibre was limited to 500 metres.
-Graded-index multimode reduces the problems and can function up to
1000 metres.
 Single-Mode Fiber
 Transmits a single beam of light through the cable. The
light reflects in only one pattern. Allows faster
transmission and longer distances - up to 100
kilometres.
 Uses lasers (rather than LEDs) and are therefore more
expensive than multimode.
 Either modes can be used in a building or campus network.
Single mode is generally used for long distances
 Advantages of fiber over wire:
 not susceptible to electrical interference
 can carry signals much farther (up to 100 km)
 can carry more information (up to Gbps). Ideal for transmitting multimedia
information.
 no need for circuits; only a single fiber is needed.
 Works better under harsh environmental conditions than copper wire.
More resistance to corrosion.
 Can withstand higher temperatures than copper.

Disadvantages of fiber:
 expensive
 requires specialized equipment
 difficult to locate a broken fiber
 difficult to join a broken fiber
2.2. Unguided Media Types
 Wireless Media:
 Radio Waves
 Microwave
 Infrared waves
 Satellites
 Radio Waves
 Electromagnetic radio waves can be used to transmit
computer data to facilitate wireless networking.
 Each computer on the network attaches to an antenna
which transmits and receives RF signals.
Advantages of radio waves
 can travel long distances
 pass through obstacles well at low frequencies

Disadvantages:
 subject to interference from motors and other electrical
equipment
 absorbed by rain.
 Microwave
 this is a radio beam that uses very high frequencies to send
and receive data.
 Transmission is aimed in a single direction to prevent others
from intercepting the signal. Stations are placed ~30 km
apart.
 Carries more information than low-frequency RF
transmissions.
 Microwaves cannot penetrate metal structures. Stations must
be visible to each other.
 Many long-distance telephone companies use microwave as
their transmission medium.
 Infrared
 Infrared transmission uses low frequency light waves to
carry data through the air
 used in wireless remote controls
 limited to a small area (e.g. a single room)
 requires line-of-sight. Transmitter must be pointed
towards the receiver
 some computer networks use infrared technology
 more convenient for small portable computers within a
room
 cannot be used outdoors.
Satellite Communications

 Based on radio frequency (RF) transmissions.


 Satellite communication systems consist of ground-based
or earth stations (i.e.parabolic antennas) and orbiting
transponders.
 The transponder receives a microwave signal from the
ground unit (the uplink) amplifies it and then transmits it
back to earth (the downlink).
 Two general configuration for satellite communication
are:
 Point-to-point
 Broadcast
Point-to-Point Link via Microwave
Broadcast Link

Multiple receivers

Transmitter
Applications of Satellite

 Television distribution.
 Long-distance telephone transmission
 Private commercial networks
The development of VSAT systems (very small aperture
terminals) provide a low-cost solution for small
enterprises.
 The biggest advantage of satellites is that they can reach
geographically remote areas.
Advantages of Satellites
 Covers very large areas
 Reaches geographical isolated areas
Disadvantages:
 Expensive
 Large propagation delay (high latency)
 Not very secure; signals can be easily intercepted
 Affected by atmospheric conditions

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