Communication Systems

Communication is simply the process of conveying a message at a distance, or communication is the basic
process of exchanging information. Communication can be classified into 2 types:
1. Communication is within the line of sight.
2. Communication beyond the line of sight between point to point.

Communication System: The electronic equipment which is used for communication purposes is called
communication equipment. Different communication equipment, when assembled together, form a
communication system.
Typical examples of communication systems are line telephony and line telegraphy, radio telephony and
radiotelegraphy, radio broadcasting, point-to-point communication and mobile communication,
computer communication, radar communication, television broadcasting, radio telemetry, radio aids to
navigation, radio aids to aircraft landing, etc.

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS: ELEMENTS OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

1. Information Source: A communication system serves to communicate a message or information.

This message or information originates in the information source. In general, there can be various
messages in the form of words, groups of words, code, symbols, sound signals etc. However, only the
desired message is selected and conveyed or communicated out of these messages.
In short, we can say that the function of an information source is to produce the required
message which has to be transmitted.

2. Input Transducer: A Transducer is a device which converts one form of energy into another form. The
message from the information source may or may not be electrical in nature. In a case when the
message produced by the information source is not electrical in nature, an input transducer is used to
convert it into a time-varying electrical signal.
For example, in the case of radio broadcasting, a microphone converts the information or
message, which is in the form of sound waves, into a corresponding electrical signal.

3. Transmitter: A transmitter comprising electrical and electronic components that converts the
message signal into a suitable form for propagation over the communication medium. This is achieved
by the process of modulation.
4. The Channel: A Channel is a medium through which the message travels from the transmitter to the
receiver. In other words, we can say that the function of the channel is to provide a physical connection
between the transmitter and the receiver.
There are two types of channels, namely point-to-point channels and broadcast channels.
a) Point-to-point Channels: coaxial cable, microwave link, radio wave link and
optical fibre.
b) Broadcasting Channels: The broadcast channels can reach several receiving
stations simultaneously from a single transmitter. An example of a broadcast
channel is a satellite in geostationary orbit, which covers about one-third of the
Earth’s surface.

5. Noise & Distortion: During transmission and reception, the signal gets distorted due to noise
introduced into the system. Noise is an unwanted signal which tends to interfere with the required
signal. The noise signal is always random in character. Noise may interfere with signals at any point in
a communication system. However, the noise has the greatest effect on the signal in the channel.
Distortion is changing the shape of the communicating signal that may mislead the
destination about the content of the message. This occurs due to the inability of the channel
to convey all frequencies, phase, and amplitude information truthfully from one to another
side of a limitation that characterises a channel.
The loss in amplitude or strength of the signal as it travels through the channel is called
attenuation.

6. Receiver: The primary function of the receiver is to reproduce the message signal in electrical form
from the distorted received signal. This reproduction of the original signal is accomplished by a process
known as demodulation or detection. Demodulation is the reverse process of modulation carried out
in the transmitter.

7. Output Transducer/ Destination/Output Information: Destination is the final stage of converting an

electrical message signal into its original form. For example, in radio broadcasting, the destination is a
loudspeaker, which works as a transducer, i.e., converts the electrical signal into the original sound
signal.

Question: Discuss various transmission mediums or communication Channels

a) Open wire line
b) Paired cables
c) Quad cables
d) Coaxial cables
e) Radio
f) Waveguides
g) Optical fibres
h) Satellite communication
i) Radar communication
 Question: Explain the radio frequency spectrum used in communication systems.
The information signal should first be converted into an electromagnetic signal before transmission
because wireless transmission uses electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves consist of both
electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves can travel a long distance through space. The
electromagnetic signals are also called radio frequency (RF) waves. The EM waves oscillate; they are
sinusoidal, and their frequency is measured in Hz. The frequency of the EM signal can be very low, or
it can be extremely high. This entire range of frequencies of EM waves is called the Electromagnetic
spectrum.

Sr. No Frequency Range Wavelength Range EM Spectrum Typical Application

1. 0-300Hz 107 − 106 𝑚𝑚 Extremally low Power Line Transmission
frequency (ELF)
2. 0.3-3KHz 106 − 105 𝑚𝑚 Voice Frequency Face to Face
Communication
3. 3-30KHz 105 − 104 𝑚𝑚 Very low frequency Submarine Communication
(VLF)
4. 30-300KHz 104 − 103 𝑚𝑚 Low frequency (LF) Submarine Communication
5. 0.3-3MHZ 103 − 102 𝑚𝑚 Medium frequency AM Broadcasting
(MF)
6. 3-30MHz 102 − 101 𝑚𝑚 High frequency (HF) Landline telephony
7. 30-300MHz 101 − 100 𝑚𝑚 Very high frequency FM broadcasting and TV
(VHF)
8. 0.3-3GHZ 100 − 10−1 𝑚𝑚 Ultra-high frequency TV, Cellular Telephony
(UHF)
9. 3-30GHz 10−1 − 10−2 𝑚𝑚 Super high frequency Microwave over, Radar
(SHF)
10. 30-300GHz 10−2 − 10−3 𝑚𝑚 Extremally High Satellite and Radar
Frequency communication
11. 0.3-3THz 0.1 − 1𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 Experimental For all new equipment
12. 43-430THz 7 − 0.7𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚 Infrared LED, LASER, TV remote
13. 430-750THz 0.7 − 0.4𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚 Visible light Optical Communication
14. 750-3000THz 0.4 − 0.1𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚 Ultraviolet Medical Application
15. >3000THz < 0.1𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚 X-Ray, Cosmic Ray Medical Application
 Basic terminologies in communication system

1. Time: Time(t) is the fundamental quantity for all communication. For instant,
the duration of conversation (message) is charged in ‘second’ is based on the
duration for which the service of communication system is used.

2. Frequency: Frequency define as the number of oscillations per second and its
measured in hertz. For instant, the message in a communication system
usually measured in terms of “range of frequencies” and carrier have one
frequency value.

3. Wavelength: “Distance travelled by and EM wave during the time of on cycle”.

𝐜𝐜
𝛌𝛌 =
𝐟𝐟

4. Bandwidth: Bandwidth is defined as portion of EM spectrum occupied by a

signal. More specifically is the “range of frequences” over with the information
is present in the original signal and hence it may also be termed as
“Bandwidth”.

5. Channel Bandwidth: Range of frequencies which the channel allow to pass

without any distortion or attenuation.
CB ≥ Signal Bandwidth