TDC 460 Foundations of Communications Systems

Homework #2
Name: SHRUTI PARIKH
Chapter 5
Q5-2. Define carrier signal and explain its role in analog transmission.
In analog transmission, the sending device produces a high-frequency signal that acts as a
basis for the information signal. This base signal is called the carrier signal.

Q5-4. Which characteristics of an analog signal are changed to represent the digital signal in each of
the following digital-to-analog conversions?
a. ASK: ASK changes the amplitude of the signal
b. FSK: Changes the frequency of the signal
c. PSK: Changes the phase of the signal
d. QAM: Changes both the amplitude and the phase of the signal

Q5-10. Which of the three analog-to-analog conversion techniques (AM, FM, or PM) is the most
susceptible to noise? Defend your answer.
AM conversion technique is most susceptible to noise among all three given techniques as the
amplitude is more affected by noise than the phase or the frequency.

P5-2. Calculate the bit rate for the given baud rate and type of modulation.
a. 1000 baud, FSK
In FSK the baud rate and bit rate are the same. The bit rate is therefore 1000 bps.
b. 1000 baud, ASK
In ASK the baud rate and bit rate are the same. The bit rate is therefore 1000 bps.
c. 1000 baud, BPSK
In BPSK the baud rate and bit rate are the same. The bit rate is therefore 1000 bps.
d. 1000 baud, 16-QAM

A 16-QAM signal means that there are four bits per signal element since

= 16. Thus,

(1000)(4) = 4000 bps

P5-6. How many bits per baud can we send in each of the following cases if the signal constellation
has one of the following number of points?
The number of bits per baud

a. 2
Number of bits per baud
b. 4
Number of bits per baud
c. 16
Number of bits per baud
d. 1024
Number of bits per baud

r=log 2 L where L is the number of points or levels

r=log 2 2=1

r=log 2 4=2

r=log 2 16=4

r=log 2 1024=10

Chapter 6
Q6-2. List three main multiplexing techniques mentioned in this chapter.
a) Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM)
b) Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)
c) Wave-Division Multiplexing (WDM)

Q6-4. Which of the three multiplexing techniques is (are) used to combine analog signals? Which of
the three multiplexing techniques is (are) used to combine digital signals?
FDM and WDM are used to combine analog signals where the bandwidth is shared.
TDM is used to combine digital signals where the time is shared.

Q6-6. Define the digital hierarchy used by telephone companies and list different levels of the
hierarchy.
Telephone companies have traditionally multiplexed digital signals from lower data rate lines
onto higher data rate lines to maximize the efficiency of their infrastructure,. The digital hierarchy
uses
DS-0 (64 Kbps),
DS-1 (1.544 Mbps),
DS-2 (6.312 Mbps),
DS-3 (44.376 Mbps),
DS-4 (274.176 Mbps).
Q6-8. Distinguish between multilevel TDM, multiple-slot TDM, and pulse-stuffed TDM.
In multilevel TDM, some lower-rate lines are combined to make a new line with the same data
rate as the other lines.
Multiple slot TDM, on the other hand, uses multiple slots for higher data rate lines to make
them compatible with the lower data rate line.
Pulse stuffing TDM is used when the data rates of some lines are not an integral multiple of
other lines.
P6-4. We need to use synchronous TDM and combine 20 digital sources, each of 100 Kbps. Each
output slot carries 1 bit from each digital source, but one extra bit is added to each frame for
synchronization. Answer the following questions:
a. What is the size of an output frame in bits?
Frame size = 20 + 1 = 21 bits
b. What is the output frame rate?
Output frame rate =

1
Frame Duration

= 100,000

frame / second

c. What is the duration of an output frame?

Frame duration =

1
Frame Rate

1
100,000

= 0.01 m sec = 10

sec

d. What is the output data rate?

Output Data Rate = (Frame Rate)(Frame Size) = (100,000)(21)

= 2.1 Mbps

e. What is the efficiency of the system (ratio of useful bits to the total bits?)
Efficiency =

20
21

= 0.9523

Efficiency Percentage = 95.23%

Thus, 95.23% of the sent data is useful.

Chapter 7
Q7-2. Name the two major categories of transmission media.
a) Guided (Wired)
b) Unguided (Wireless)

Q7-4. What are the three major classes of guided media?

a) Twisted-pair cable
b) Coaxial cable
c) Fiber-optic cable

Q7-6. What is refraction? What is reflection?

Refraction: If a ray of light travelling through one substance suddenly enters another more or
less dense substance, its speed changes abruptly, causing the ray to change direction. This
change is called refraction.
Reflection: When the angle of incidence becomes greater than the critical angle, a new
phenomenon occurs called reflection. The beam changes direction at the interface and goes
back into the
denser medium.
Q7-8. Name the advantages of optical fiber over twisted-pair and coaxial cable.
Three main advantages of optical fiber cable over twisted-pair and coaxial cables are:
a. Noise resistance
b. Less signal attenuation
c. Higher bandwidth
Q7-10. What is the difference between omnidirectional waves and unidirectional waves?
Omnidirectional waves propagate in all directions while unidirectional waves propagate in
one direction.

Chapter 8
Q8-2. List the three traditional switching methods. Which are the most common today?
Three traditional switching methods are:
a) Message switching
b) Circuit switching
c) Packet switching
The most common today are circuit switching and packet switching.
Q8-4. Compare and contrast a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network.
In a circuit-switched network, data are not packetized; data flow is a continuation of bits that
travel the same channel during the data transfer phase.
While in a packet-switched network, data are packetized; each packet is an independent
entity with its local or global addressing information.
Q8-6. What is the role of the address field in a packet traveling through a virtual-circuit network?
The address field in a packet traveling through the virtual-circuit network defines the virtual
circuit number (local) addressing.

Q8-8. What is TSI and what is its role in time-division switching?

Time-Slot Interchange (TSI) is the most popular technology in time-division switching. It uses
random access memory (RAM) with several memory locations. The RAM fills up with incoming
data from time slots in the order received. Slots are then sent out in an order based on the
decisions of a control unit.
Q8-10. List four major components of a packet switch and their functions.
A packet switch has four major components: input ports, output ports, the routing
processor, and the switching fabric.
Input Port: Performs the physical and data link functions of the packet switch. The bits are
constructed from the received signal. The packet is decapsulated from the frame. Errors are
detected and corrected.
Output Ports: Performs the same functions as the input port, but in the reverse order. First the
outgoing packets are queued, then the packet is encapsulated in a frame, and finally the
physical layer functions are applied to the frame to create the signal to be sent on the line.
Routing Processor: Performs the function of table lookup in the network layer.
Switching fabric: Responsible for moving the packet from the input queue to the output queue.