Unit - 1 Data Communication Fundamentals
Unit - 1 Data Communication Fundamentals
Unit - 1 Data Communication Fundamentals
Analog Signal
Digital Signal
Analog Digital
Signal Analog signal is a continuous signal Digital signals are discrete time signals
which represents physical generated by digital modulation.
measurements.
Example Human voice in air, analog electronic Computers, CDs, DVDs, and other
devices. digital electronic devices.
Technology Analog technology records waveforms Samples analog waveforms into a limited
as they are. set of numbers and records them.
Response to More likely to get affected reducing Less affected since noise response are
Noise accuracy analog in nature
Uses Can be used in analog devices only. Best suited for Computing and digital
Best suited for audio and video electronics.
transmission.
Bandwidth Analog signal processing can be done There is no guarantee that digital signal
in real time and consumes less processing can be done in real time and
bandwidth. consumes more bandwidth to carry out
the same information.
Memory Stored in the form of wave signal Stored in the form of binary bit
Power Analog instrument draws large power Digital instrument drawS only negligible
power
Cost Low cost and portable Cost is high and not easily portable
Errors Analog instruments usually have a scale Digital instruments are free from
which is cramped at lower end and give observational errors like parallax and
considerable observational errors. approximation errors.
Transmission mode refers to the mechanism of transferring of data between two devices connected
over a network. It is also known as communication mode. Buses and networks are designed to
allow communication to occur between individual devices that are interconnected.
In other word Data Transmission mode defines the direction of the flow of information between
two communication devices. It is also called Data Communication or Directional Mode. It
specifies the direction of the flow of information from one place to another in a computer network.
Data Transmission mode defines the direction of the flow of information between two communication
devices. It is also called Data Communication or Directional Mode. It specifies the direction of the flow of
information from one place to another in a computer network.
1. Simplex Mode
2. Half-Duplex Mode
3. Full-Duplex Mode
Simplex Mode
In simplex transmission mode, the communication between sender and receiver occurs in only one
direction. The sender can only send the data, and the receiver can only receive the data. The
receiver cannot reply to the sender.
In other word Simplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow only in one
direction, i.e., the communication is unidirectional. In this mode, a sender can only send data but
cannot receive it. Similarly, a receiver can only receive data but cannot send it.
Simplex transmission can be thought of as a one-way road in which the traffic travels only in one
direction—no vehicle coming from the opposite direction is allowed to drive through.
To take a keyboard / monitor relationship as a best an example of it, the keyboard can only send
the input to the monitor, and the monitor can only receive the input and display it on the screen.
The monitor cannot reply, or send any feedback, to the keyboard.
This transmission mode is not so popular because we cannot perform two-way communication
between the sender and receiver in this mode. It is mainly used in the business field as in sales that
do not require any corresponding reply. It is similar to a one-way street.
This transmission mode is not so popular because we cannot perform two-way communication between
the sender and receiver in this mode.
Examples of simplex Mode are loudspeakers, television broadcasting, television and remote, keyboard and
monitor etc.
1. It utilizes the full capacity of the communication channel during data transmission so that
more data can be transmitted at a time.
2. It has the least or no data traffic issues as data flows only in one direction.
Half-Duplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow in both directions but in one
direction at a time. It is also referred to as Semi-Duplex. In other words, each station can both
transmit and receive the data but not at the same time. When one device is sending the other can
only receive and vice-versa.
This type of data transmission mode can be used in cases where there is no need for
communication in both directions at the same time. It can be used for error detection when the
sender does not send or the receiver does not receive the data properly. In such cases, the data
needs to be transmitted again by the receiver.
The communication between sender and receiver occurs in both directions in half duplex
transmission, but only one at a time. The sender and receiver can both send and receive the
information, but only one is allowed to send at any given time. Half duplex is still considered a
one-way road, in which a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction of the traffic has to wait till the
road is empty before it can pass through.
For example, in walkie-talkies, the speakers at both ends can speak, but they have to speak one by
one. They cannot speak simultaneously.
1. The two-way communication can not be established simultaneously at the same time.
2. Delay in transmission may occur as only one way communication can be possible at a time.
Full-Duplex
Full-Duplex is the data transmission mode in which the data can flow in both directions at
the same time. It is bi-directional in nature. It is two-way communication in which both the
stations can transmit and receive the data simultaneously.
In full duplex transmission mode, the communication between sender and receiver can occur
simultaneously. The sender and receiver can both transmit and receive at the same time. Full
duplex transmission mode is like a two-way road, in which traffic can flow in both directions at the
same time.
Full-Duplex mode has double bandwidth as compared to the half-duplex. The capacity of the
channel is divided between the two directions of communication. This mode is used when
communication in both directions is required simultaneously.
For Example, a Telephone Network, in which both the persons can talk and listen to each other
simultaneously.
For example, in a telephone conversation, two people communicate, and both are free to speak and
listen at the same time.
1. The capacity of the communication channel is divided into two parts. Also, no dedicated
path exists for data transfer.
2. It has improper channel bandwidth utilization as there exist two separate paths for two
communicating devices.
Comparison Chart
Basis for
Simplex Half Duplex Full Duplex
Comparison
Guided transmission media are also called bounded media or wired media. They comprise cables
or wires through which data is transmitted. They are called guided since they provide a physical
conduit from the sender device to the receiver device. The signal traveling through these media are
bounded by the physical limits of the medium.
The main features of guided media mainly include secure, high-speed, and used in small
distances. This kind of media is classified into three types which are discussed below.
A signal travelling along any of these media is directed and contained by the physical limits of the
medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic (copper) conductors that accept and transport
signals in the form of electric current. Optical fibre is a cable that accepts and transports signals in
the form of light.
This cable is the most commonly used and is cheaper than others. It is lightweight, cheap, can be
installed easily, and they support many different types of network. Some important points :
It is the most common type of telecommunication when compared with Shielded Twisted Pair
Cable which consists of two conductors usually copper, each with its own color plastic insulator.
Identification is the reason behind colored plastic insulation.
UTP cables consist of 2 or 4 pairs of twisted cable. Cable with 2 pair use RJ-11 connector and 4
pair cable use RJ-45 connector.
It consists of two insulating copper wires (1mm thick). The wires are twisted together in a helical
form to reduce electrical interference from similar pair.
Disadvantages:
1. Susceptible to external interference
2. Lower capacity and performance in comparison to STP
3. Short distance transmission due to attenuation
4. Bandwidth is low when compared with Coaxial Cable
5. Provides less protection from interference.
This cable has a metal foil or braided-mesh covering which encases each pair of insulated
conductors. Electromagnetic noise penetration is prevented by metal casing. Shielding also
eliminates crosstalk (explained in KEY TERMS Chapter).
It has same attenuation as unshielded twisted pair. It is faster the unshielded and coaxial cable. It is
more expensive than coaxial and unshielded twisted pair.
Advantages:
1. Easy to install
2. Performance is adequate
3. Can be used for Analog or Digital transmission
4. Increases the signaling rate
5. Higher capacity than unshielded twisted pair
6. Eliminates crosstalk
Coaxial Cable –
Definition of Coaxial Cable?
A coaxial cable is a type of shielded and insulated copper cable that is used in computer networks
and to deliver cable TV services to end users. It was first commercially implemented in the early
1940s and is used for both baseband and broadband data communication services.
Coaxial cable is also known as coax, which is derived from the geometric axis created between a
shield and insulator.
Coaxial cables, commonly called coax, are copper cables with metal shielding designed to provide
immunity against noise and greater bandwidth. Coax can transmit signals over larger distances at a
higher speed as compared to twisted pair cables.
Advantages:
High Bandwidth
Better noise Immunity
Easy to install and expand
Inexpensive
2. It offers higher bandwidth as compared to twisted pair cable and can span longer
distances.
7. It is not as easy to tap as twisted pair because copper wire is contained in plastic jacket.
(3) Cable TV
This cable uses the notion of light reflected through a core that is made with plastic or glass. The
core is enclosed with less thick plastic or glass and it is known as the cladding, used for large
volume data transmission.
OR
Disadvantages:
Difficult to install and maintain
High cost
Fragile
unidirectional, ie, will need another fibre, if we need bidirectional communication
Features:
Signal is broadcasted through air
Less Secure
Used for larger distances
Radio Spectrum
Microwave is a line-of-sight wireless communication technology that uses high frequency beams
of radio waves to provide high speed wireless connections that can send and receive voice, video,
and data information.
The term microwave refers to electromagnetic energy having a frequency higher than 1 gigahertz
(billions of cycles per second), corresponding to wavelength shorter than 30 centimeters.
A Microwave link is a communication system that bridges radio signals, to transmit data between
two or more fixed locations. Multiple microwave links make up a microwave network.
Microwave links are used for point-to-point communications. This is because of the small length
of their waves that allows for antennas to direct them in narrow beams which can be pointed
directly at the receiving antenna.
Infrared waves are those between the frequencies 300GHz and 400THz in the electromagnetic
spectrum. Their wavelengths are shorter than microwaves but longer than visible light. Infrared
propagation is line of sight.
They cannot penetrate walls and sun’s infrared rays interfere with these rays. So cannot be used for
long – range communication. As their usage is confined within closed space, they do not need any
government permissions for their applications.
Sr.
Basis Radiowave Microwave Infrared wave
No.
These are
These are omni- These are unidirectional
1. Direction unidirectional in
directional in nature. in nature.
nature.
Frequency range:
Frequency Frequency range: 3 KHz Frequency range: 1 GHz
3. 300 GHz to 400
range to 1GHz. to 300 GHz.
GHz.
These offers poor These offers medium These offers high
4. Security
security. security. security.
The meanings of source and receiver are very simple. The device that transmits the data is known
as source and the device that receives the transmitted data is known as receiver. Data
communication aims at the transfer of data and maintenance of the data during the process but not
the actual generation of the information at the source and receiver.
Some widely used electronic and computerized communication technologies or media of electronic
communication are discussed below-
Telephone: The most commonly and most widely used electronic device of communication is
telephone. By telephone, people can transmit information orally within a minute. Recently-
developed satellite telephoning system has added new dimension in telecommunication system. In
most of the cases, it is the easiest and less expensive way of communicating distance people.
Fax
21 | P a g e Shree Adarsh BCA College - Botad
Fax is short for ‘facsimile’ which means ‘copy’.
A fax machine is a device that can send a copy of a paper document over the telephone network.
The sending fax converts the light/dark areas of the printed document into noises.
These noises travel through the phone system and are received by another fax machine.
The receiving fax machine converts the noises into printed marks on a piece of paper -
making a copy of the original document.
Electronic Mail or E-Mail: E-mail is one of the most widely used and most popular methods of
modern communication system. E-mail is a system that allows messages to be sent and received by
computers.
Voice Mail or V-Mail: Voice mail is a form of e-mail. It is used to send the voice of the sender
instead of sending written massage to the receiver. The mechanism of sending message here is
almost same as in case of e-mail. It is useful to communicate with the original voice tone of the
sender.
Teleconferencing: Under teleconferencing system people staying at different places can hold talks
or meetings over telephone. Here everyone involved in the meeting is able to hear each other and
can share information with one another as if they were all placed in one room. It can save both
money and time of the executives.
Internet: Internet is the latest and most amazing development that has changed the way of live
regarding communication. It is the world’s largest computer network linked together by telephone
lines, radio links or satellite links.