Chapter #3 - Data Communication

Three Basic elements of any communication system are

Transmitter (source), Receiver , A medium through which data is transmitted

DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ANALOG AND DIGITAL SIGNALS

Analog Signals Digital Signals
1. Analog signals are in the form of continuously 1. Digital signals are in the form of digital
varying waveform which may be periodic or pulses in the form of on/off or 0 or 1
non-periodic representing discrete data.
2. Analog signals depends on Amplitude and 2. They depend on electric current
Frequency
3. It is measurer in Volts, Hz or in Cycle per 3. It is measured in bits per seconds (bps,
Sec(cps) kbps, Mbps, Gbps)
4. Most of telephone lines(voice signals) , 4. Calculations in calculator, Mobile circuits
Television, Radio, Radar and Cable TV carry signals working are example
analog signals
5. They are Faster but not accurate 5. They are slow but accurate
6. They can travel through a long distance 6. They travel though a short distance
TRANSMISSION MODE

There are two mode of data transmission Asynchronous & Synchronous Transmission

Asynchronous Transmission Synchronous Transmission

1. Asynchronous Transmission sent data in one 1. Synchronous Transmission sent data in packets
byte at time each byte consist of 8 bits. or block of several bytes at a time.
2. Each byte is preceded by a start bit and stop 2. Each block is preceded by a start synchronous
bit and also include error bit before the stop bit. byte (called header) and stop synchronous byte
(called trailer) and also include error check bits
before the stop byte.
3.It is inexpensive (cheap) 3. It is expensive, Complex and expensive timing
devices are used to keep transmission active and
synchronized with internal clock.
4.Widely used in microcomputers (desktop 4.Used by large computers (main frame- server
level) side)
5.Relatively slow in transmission 5.Transmit greater volume of data with high
speed.
6.The time interval between the two characters 6. The time interval between two characters is
is not fixed but the time interval between two always same.
consecutive bit is fixed.
7. Transmission rate is 110, 300, 1200 and 2400 7. Transmission rate is 4800, 9600 bps
bps.
8. Data can be sent whenever it is convenient 8. It required careful timing in between sending
for the sender. and receiving.

Page 1 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication

DIRECTION OF TRANSMISSION
There are three types of transmissions.

1. Simplex Transmission
2. Half duplex
3. Full duplex
1. Simplex Transmission.

In simplex transmission, data is transmitted only in one direction. Device connected to such a circuit is either a
send-only or a receive-only device and no send back signals.

Example:

1. Data received by radio from radio stations in the form of voice

2. Data received by TV antenna from TV stations in the form of voice & video, pictures
3. Live cricket match singles through satellite to TV or a Computer.
4. Seismograph sensors that measure earthquake.
5. Environmental devices send information about temperature and humidity to a computer, which adjusts
environmental settings automatically.

2. Half Duplex Transmission.

In half-duplex transmission, data communication is two-way(data travel in both directions ) but the
data travels in only one direction at a time. Half-duplex transmission resembles communication on a
CB (Citizen Band) radio 26.965 to 27.405 MHz When you press the transmit button, you can talk but
cannot receive. When you release the transmit button, you can receive but not transmit. It is just like
two simplex lines working at same time.
Example:
1. Wake talkies set (press button to talk and release the button to listen)
2. CB radio (wireless set used for traffic controlling)
3. Marine/armed forces wireless sets used without press button (alpha to Charlie, Charlie to alpha) keep
quite so that can receive signals, not receiving when talking.

3. Full Duplex Transmission.

Page 2 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication
In full-duplex transmission, data communication is two-way (data travel in both directions)
simultaneously (at the same time). Full-duplex transmission resembles communication on a telephone
or mobile phone set. When you talk, you can listen receive& sending at the same time. It look like
traffic on a two way road/street.
Example:
1. Telephone sets conversation
2. Mobile phone conversations
3. Internet chatting & microcomputer modems support

COMMUNICATION MEDIA
1. Twisted pair Cable
2. Co-axial Cable
3. Fiber optics Cable
4. Microwave Transmission
5. Satellite Transmission

Twisted Pair Cable

Can transmit with 1-128 Mbps, Could not give the solution for “final mile problem”

Consist of two copper wires individually insulated in plastic cover bounded together having outer plastic
insulated cover. They are twisted to reduce some extent the interference from electric field which going to
produce NOISE (distortion in the signals) at the receiving end. This limited the transmission of data to some
kilometers without error but they need signals booster to strengthen the digital signal or need to refresh the
digital signal after couple of kilometers which the help of device called “REPEATER”.

Twisted pair is relatively slow and cheap (inexpensive) in transmission it cannot protect itself 100% from electric
interference. Mostly used in telephone conversations or in INTERCOM SETS at offices/Homes.

It fails to give the solution to a problem called “final mile problem” as it was the oldest media used for setting up
LAN. With medium speed can handle traffic of 4000 Hz in case of Analog signals and 1Kbps (Kilo bits per sec) in
case of digital signal.

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is Consist of insulated copper wire wrapped in a wire mesh shield then also there is an outer
protective cover. Best used for protection against noise interference. It has high bandwidth support and can

Page 3 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication
transmit up to 10 Mbps (Mega bits per second) it is expensive then twisted pair. Usually it is used in connecting
internet and TV connection (like WORLD CALL used) giving both connections on same wire.

Most of LAN setup for different area is done through coaxial cable. Can transmit up to 200Mbps

Fiber Optics Cable

Can transmit from 100Mbps up to 2.4 Gbps(Giga bits per seconds) (can transmit 2 billion pulses per seconds.
Fiber optics technology eliminated the concept of copper wire and electric flow (digital transmission) where
instead of using electricity to send data , fiber optics uses light pulses to transmit data where each pulse
represent one bit. Light signals are not affected with random electromagnetic interference. Have lowest error
rate than normal telephone wires and cables.

Fiber optics Cable is made of glass fiber , each thinner than human hair (cable 0.12 inch thick and it can
transmit ¼ to ½ millions voice conversations at a same time) can guide light beam for kilometers. Consist of an
inner cylinder of glass called Core in which actual prolongation of light take place due to a phenomenon called
total internal reflection. Core is surrounded with another cylindrical shell of glass or plastic called Cladding.
Total internal reflection occurs when there are two medium of different refractive indices at an angle greater
then critical angle where thousands of reflections take place within a fiber with little loss of light.

Advantages of Fiber optics

1. Fiber optics transmits data faster than any other media/technology.
2. Fiber optics main ingredient is sand which is widely available(less expensive/cheap) throughout the
world comparing to the quantity/ Supply of Copper and Aluminum.
3. Instead of electric current fiber optics used light pulses (photons) for data transmission so it is secure
and no chance of spark/fire hazard(risk).
4. It is not affected by random electromagnetism interference as it uses light pulses so less chances of
error(less error rate).
5. Because there is no current so intrusion into the system (stealing link) is also prevented. Confidential
information cannot be routed to un-authorized person and false information cannot be fed into the
system.
6. Transmission loss is less then twisted pair and coaxial cable.
7. Glass is good resistant against rusting in cable, remove the chance of corrosive (cutting of edges) and
oxide degradation (rusting). It is more durable (long lasting).

Page 4 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication

Some disadvantages of fiber optics are :

1. Limited to fixed point-to-point ground installations. Cannot leave the ground and we cannot
place them above on poles like mobile communication towers.
2. They are restricted to low power devices.
3. The way in which light source is modified/modulated are limited.
4. Because of low power sources the distance between the repeaters/amplifiers must be short
distance for high data transfer rate.

Microwaves Transmission
7. Can transmit up to 45Mbps. Microwaves can transmit voice and data through atmosphere as these are
supper high frequency radio waves. These are electromagnetic waves vibrate at 1 Giga Hz (1 Billion Hz per
second).
8. Microwaves cannot bend through edges , corner or earth curvature and cannot pass obstacles like hills or
high building hence it is necessary to place microwaves towers at a highest point so that they can have
transmission in line of sight.
9. Line of sight means there should not be any obstacle in view between sender and receiver towers. The
microwaves stations, antenna towers are placed within 40-50 km (25-30 miles) distance and no obstacle s in
between. Size of dish antenna in diameter should be 2-4 feet for small distance and 10 feet for long
distance.
10.Microwaves stations receive the signals, boost it give strength and relay the signal to next receiver. They
offer speeding transfer, cost effective and easily implementable but cannot work for global coverage as it will
be too much expensive so satellite transmission was introduced. Today’s more than half telephone digital
exchange systems uses dish microwaves transmissions.

Satellite Transmission

 Limitation of Microwave transmission like curvature of earth, line of sight blockage, and multiple repeaters
for long distance transmission increase in transmission cost resulted in introducing Satellite Transmission. Sky
stations are communication satellites used as microwaves relay stations in orbit around the earth.
 Two basic components of satellite transmissions are Earth stations which send and receive signals and
satellite components called Transponder.
 Transponder job is to receive earth stations signals, amplifies the signals and retransmit them to another
earth stations like receiving live commentary and broadcasting of live cricket match through satellite.
 Satellite contains many communications canellas and receives both analog and digital signals from earth
stations, launched by the rockets traditionally, moved in circular path around earth in an orbit 36000 km
above equator. Match the speed of rotation of earth which is 1000miles/hour about its axis then they appear
to observer at earth (ground) to be stationary in space – related to any earth position any object become
stable fixed in space is called geostationary.
 Pakistan satellites in space are BADAR-1 and BADAR-B (multi-missions satellites)
 Transmitting a signal form an earth station to a satellites are called unlinking and the reverse process of
transmitting signals from satellite to earth station is called down linking.

Page 5 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication
 Satellite may occupy three zones in space GEO,LEO and MEO are having solar power transceivers. Highest
level of geostationary earth orbit (GEO) is 22,300 miles above equator. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) is 5,000-
10,000 miles where in case of LEO (Low earth orbit is 400 - 1,000 miles up the earth with no signal delay.

BANDWIDTH
“Bandwidth is also known as the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies transmitted.
For example cellular phones operate within the range 800-900 Mhz – that’s why its bandwidth is 100
Mhz. Wider the band more faster data travels, narrow the band more chances of data loss &
transmission loss”. OR

“The data-handling capacity of a media is referred to as its bandwidth. Bandwidth is the

range of 'frequencies that is available for the transmission of data”. In general band is same as
the number of bits transmitted per seconds (bps for digital signals) (Hz or cycle per second for
analog signals).

One band represents one signal changed per second.

Types of bandwidth are:
 Narrowband or low speed
 Voice Band or medium speed
 Broadband/Wideband or high speed
1. Narrowband: These media communicate data with relatively slow speed. Bits
transmission rate is 40 to 300 bands.
 Example : Air telegraph lines. Low speed teletypewriter communication.
.
2. Voice band: These media are faster than narrowband. Most telephone lines which are
used to carry microcomputer transmissions are voice band. Medium range band speed
varies from 300 to 5600. Use ordinary voice conversations
 Example : Telephone line ,Cellular phone
. .
3. Broadband (also called Wideband): These media transmit large volumes of
Data at high speed via microwave, satellite, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable. Transmission
rate above 5600 band. Normally used for computer to computer communications.

MODEM
 Modem is the short form of Modulator-Demodulator. The process of modulation and
demodulation, that is, the conversion of digital data to analogue form and vice-versa, IS carried out
by a special device called a modem (short for Modulator-De-Modulator)
 Simplest forms of data transmission involve the connection of terminals to a computer via a
telephone line or using cable connection. Computer generates data in the form of digital signals
whereas the telephone lines used for data communication in computer networks for carrying
analogue signals.
Digital signals must be converted to analogue form. Technique by which a digital signal is converted
to its analogue form is known as modulation. Sender will use modulator.

 The reverse process, conversion of analogue signal to its digital form, at a destination device, is
called demodulation. Receiving end will use De-modulator.
 Two types of modulations are amplitude modulation and frequency modulation.
 Amplitude modulation (AM) changes the amplitude of the signal while keeping the frequency fixed.
Frequency modulation (FM) changes the frequency of the signal while keeping the amplitude fixed.

 For data communication between two digital devices (say a terminal and a computer), two modems are

Page 6 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare
 Chapter #3 - Data Communication
required one near each digital device. The digital signal generated at the terminal is converted to
analogue form by the modulator of the modem. The analogue signal is transmitted through the
telephone lines and then converted to digital form by the demodulator of the modem . This digital data
is processed by the computer. The processed digital information is modulated to analogue form and
returned via the telephone.

Factor effecting modem (04)

1. External or Internal modem. External modem has separate box , separate power supply and it is
called intelligent modem because it has the feature of automatically dial, redial, connect and reconnect
to ISP, can be used with other computers easily portable. Internal modem is circuit board plug into
one the available slots of motherboard mostly available as built-in LAN ports less expensive and no
need of spate power supply.
2. Transmission speed. Depending on the service provided by ISP – Internet service provider speed
at which modem transmit it more important as you have 56kbps modem but have 30Mbps
connection will waist time because of modem speed. Modems are measured in terms of baud rates
slowest rate is 300 baud (about 25 cps) The fastest modems 57,600 bps 56kbps
3. Data compression rate following protocol of MNP 5 rate of compression is 2:1 , use data
compression technology to shrink the data before transmission over the telephone lines enable
modem to receive and transmit more data in less time.
4. Error correction and detection. Using error correction protocol to receive data from transmitter
without error this protocol enable the modem to detect error in the data received and request the error
ridden data to resend to the sender/source.

What is a protocol? what are the different protocols

Page 7 of 7
Notes by : Lecturer Asad Arshid Aziz , Email : [email protected]
The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain
You have to devote a tremendous amount of time before you succeed. Shakespeare