Topic 4: Physical Layer Chapter 7: Transmission Media

Transmission media Transmission Media or Communications media are the paths, or physical channels, is that, over which information travels from one place to another. A key aspect of communication is the movement of information electronically from one place to another. It may be as simple as sending information from one office to another in the same building, or it may be as far- reaching as sending information around the word. Whatever the case, information/signal must travel over some path from its source to its destination. What are the types of Transmission media? Signals are usually transmitted over some transmission media that are broadly classified in to two categories. Guided Media/bounded: These are those that provide a conduit from one device to another that include twisted-pair, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable. A signal traveling along any of these media is directed and is contained by the physical limits of the medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic that accept and transport signals in the form of electrical current. Optical fiber is a glass or plastic cable that accepts and transports signals in the form of light. Unguided Media/unbounded: This is the wireless media that transport electromagnetic waves without using a physical conductor. Signals are broadcast either through air. This is done through radio communication, satellite communication and cellular telephony.
Classes of Transmission Media Conducted or guided media use a conductor such as a wire or a fiber optic cable to move the signal from sender to receiver Wireless or unguided media use radio waves of different frequencies and do not need a wire or cable conductor to transmit signals Design Factors for Transmission Media

Bandwidth: All other factors remaining constant, the greater the band-width of a signal, the higher the data rate that can be achieved. Transmission impairments. Limit the distance a signal can travel. Interference: Competing signals in overlapping frequency bands can distort or wipe out a signal. Number of receivers: Each attachment introduces some attenuation and distortion, limiting distance and/or data rate.

Fiber Optic Cable Relatively new transmission medium used by telephone companies in place of long-distance trunk lines Also used by private companies in implementing local data communications networks Require a light source with injection laser diode (ILD) or light-emitting diodes (LED)

Fiber Optic Layers

Fiber Optic Signals

Fiber Optic Advantages greater capacity (bandwidth of up to 2 Gbps) smaller size and lighter weight lower attenuation immunity to environmental interference highly secure due to tap difficulty and lack of signal radiation

Fiber Optic Disadvantages expensive over short distance requires highly skilled installers adding additional nodes is difficult

Wireless (Unguided Media) Transmission transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna directional transmitting antenna puts out focused beam transmitter and receiver must be aligned omnidirectional signal spreads out in all directions can be received by many antennas Wireless Examples terrestrial microwave satellite microwave broadcast radio infrared

Satellite Transmission Links earth stations communicate by sending signals to the satellite on an uplink

the satellite then repeats those signals on a downlink the broadcast nature of the downlink makes it attractive for services such as the distribution of television programming

Satellite Transmission Process

Fiber vs Satellite