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MULTIPLEXING
Introduction
Due to the increasing cost of cabling in most telephone systems, and the high cost of
digging trenches and ducting, it is uneconomical to transmit individual data links at a
time.

In telecommunications and computer networks, multiplexing (also known as muxing) is

a process where multiple analog message signals or digital data streams are combined
into one signal over a shared medium. The aim is to share an expensive resource.

The multiplexed signal is transmitted over a communication channel, which may be a

physical transmission medium.

TYPES OF MULTIPLEXING

MENY
MULTIPLEXING

ANALOG DIGITAL

A
FDM WDM TDM

The multiplexing divides the capacity of the low-level communication channel into
several higher-level logical channels, one for each message signal or data stream to be
transferred. A reverse process, known as demultiplexing, can extract the original
channels on the receiver side.
A device that performs the multiplexing is called a multiplexer (MUX), and a device
that performs the reverse process is called a demultiplexer (DEMUX).
Inverse multiplexing (IMUX) has the opposite aim as multiplexing, namely to break one
data stream into several streams, transfer them simultaneously over several
communication channels, and recreate the original data stream.

Multiplexer is an electronic device that combines several individual links together to

give one output. It does this by either;

a) Shifting the frequency of different channels to different parts of the available

bandwidth (frequency division multiplexing) FDM or
b) Sampling each channel in time sequence (Time division multiplexing) TDM

Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

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 Useful bandwidth of medium exceeds required bandwidth of channel

 Each signal is modulated to a different carrier frequency
 Carrier frequencies separated so signals do not overlap (guard bands) e.g. broadcast
radio
 Channel allocated even if no data

MENY
When FDM is applied in telephony systems, each speech is translated to a different part
frequency spectrum

Bandwidth of speech signal is 300 – 3400Hz.

 The first voice signal occupies these bands in the frequency spectrum.
 The second voice will be shifted to a band of 4300 – 7400Hz
 The third would be shifted to 8300 – to 11400Hz

A
Between each channel, a gap of 900Hz is left unoccupied. This is called an inter-
channel gap or guard band. Its main purpose is to eliminate signal interference between
channels

The three channels occupy a range of 300 – 11400Hz. This can be transmitted over a
common line at the same time. The process by which the signal is shifted from one
frequency to a different frequency range is called modulation. The frequency it is shifted
to is determined by the frequency of the “carrier wave”.

A simple 3 channel FDM system is as illustrated below.

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Band pass Filter

Ch1
300 – 3400 Hz

MENY Common
Line
300 – 3400 Hz

A
4.3 – 7.4 KHz
Modulator Filter
demodulator
Ch2
300 – 3400 Hz 4.3 – 7.4 KHz
0 – 11.4 300 – 3400 Hz
KHz Carrier 4 KHz
Carrier 4 KHz

8.3 – 11.4 KHz

Ch3
300 – 3400 Hz 8.3 – 11.4 KHz Filter
300 – 3400 Hz
Demodulator
Carrier 8 KHz

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MENY
A
The common line may be a telephone cable, UHF, VHF, microwave link or
even satellite communication system

Principles of operation of FDM systems

To ensure compatibility in telecommunication industry and between different
networks of different countries, an organization called International
Telecommunication Union (I.T.U) was set up. I.T.U set up two committees to
carry out the standardization process of communication parameters e.g. carrier
frequencies, bandwidths, acceptable noise levels etc. These committees are the
CCIRR and CCITT i.e. Consultative Committee for Radar Radio and
Consultative Committee for Telephony Telegraphy consecutively.
Almost all countries of the world are represented in these committees, and most
equipment’s are manufactured to conform to CCITT and CCIRR.

Some of the recommendations affecting FDM are;

 Carrier frequencies and channel bandwidths, used by the 12 channel
telephony
 Combination of 12 channel groups to form larger capacity systems
o (5x12) channels – Super groups

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o (15x12) channels – Hyper groups

 International trunk switching plan

 Allocation of frequencies to different external etc

The block diagram below illustrate the 12 channel FDM telephony group

MENY
A

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Transmitting end

Receiving end

AUDIO
IN
CH1
ATTENUATOR
COMPENSATORY
NETWORK
MENY
BALANCED
MODULATOR
ATTENUATOR 0 – 3400HzCOMPENSATORY
104.6 – 107.7
KHz NETWORK

A
AUDIO OUT

ATTENUATOR ATTENUATOR DE - AMP

MODULATOR
108 KHz CH1

COMMON LINE
108 KHz 60 - 108 KHz
AUDIO ATTENUATOR BALANCED ATTENUATOR 100.6 – 103.7 0 – 3400Hz
IN MODULATOR
CH2
KHz

FROM CHANNEL
ATTENUATOR DE - AMP
3 - 12
104 KHz MODULATOR
CH 2

104 KHz

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Transmitting end
The input attenuator reduces the audio signal voltage (modulating signal voltage) to
ensure that the carrier voltage is always higher than the modulating signal voltage. This is
necessary for the correct operation of the modulator.
The attenuator after modulator ensures that;
i. Filter and modulator are matched
ii. Enables the channel output to be adjusted to the same level as the other channel
outputs. The filter then selects one band of frequencies that it is tuned to and
suppresses all others. The 12 channel outputs are then combined into a single line
output as shown.
The total bandwidth occupied by the 12 channels ranges from 60 – 108 KHz

Receiving end
The received 60 – 108 KHz is first applied to a parallel channel filter whereby each filter
selects the band of frequencies appropriate to its channel. The attenuator ensures that the
filter and the demodulator are matched. The demodulator extracts the information while
the filter selects the audio range of 0 – 3400Hz
The audio signal is then amplified as the output to the receiver

Frequency spectrum diagram illustrates the frequency occupation of each channel

Each channel is represented by a bandwidth of 0 – 4000 Hz or 4 KHz. The extra 900Hz
(audio channel is 300 – 3400) allows for spacing between channels and eliminates inter
channel interference.

Frequency spectrum diagram of one

0 300 3400 4000 Hz

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Frequency spectrum diagram of a group (12)

60 108 KHz
Frequency spectrum diagram explained for a 12 channel
The basic group (12 channels) can be further grouped to form super-groups then hyper-
12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

60 68 76 84 92 100 108 KHz

900 Hz Guard band

groups using group translating equipment

Advantages
- FDM is cheaper and simpler to install than TDM
- More than one channel is simultaneously transmitted
X12 X5 X15

0.3 – 3.4 CTE Basic GTE Basic STE Basic (312 4028 KHz)
KHz group super hyper
group group
900 channels

Disadvantages
- Insertion guard bands (inter-channel gaps) means the total bandwidth available is
not fully utilized
- Modulation/demodulation equipment makes FDM more expensive

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TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (TDM) (synchronous)

In TDM systems, a number of channels are transmitted over a common line by allocating
the common line to each channel in turn for a given period in time
Each channel is connected to the common line via a channel gate. This is an electronic
switch which only allows data through it when opened by the application of controlling
pulse.
 Fixed time slots/ take your turn or loose it
 Each slot is of duration T
 Frame is of duration NT and then repeats itself
 X sends at constant data rate and Y receives at that rate – no buffering or flow
control needed - though channels may have own flow control (such as V.24
DSR/DTR and RTS/CTS)
 Errors on one channel do not affect behavior of system
 Character interleaving - can eliminate start/stop bits and reinsert later for
asynchronous sources
 Can use 1 bit/frame to indicate slot/frame alignment (101010...)
 Differing data rates managed by buffers and use-based allocation

The diagram below illustrates TDM

In the scheme illustrated the four data channels operate at 300 b/s data rate. The data in
each channel is stored in a data store until the store is given access to the common line.
CH 1 B. S
&G GATE CH 1
300 b/s
300 b/s Clk Clk

CH 2 B. S CH 2
&G Common GATE 300 b/s
300 b/s Clk Line Clk

CH 3 B. S 1200 b/s CH 3
&G GATE 300 b/s
300 b/s Clk Clk

CH 4 B. S Clk
&G GATE CH 4
300 b/s
300 b/s Clk

KEY
B.S & G - Buffer Store and Gate
The clocking pulses are applied in sequence to each gate. It is of at most importance that

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the transmitting and receiving equipments are synchronized; otherwise data would not be
properly routed at the receiving end.

There are two types of TDM namely;

i. Synchronous TDM
ii. Statistical TDM

Synchronous TDM
In this scheme the transmitting channels are sampled sequentially. The frame lengths
resulting from the multiplexing is always constant. As such TDM is also called the Fixed
Frame TDM. The multiplexer constantly scans the data channels by sending clock pulses
to each channel in turn.
Each channel occupies the same frequency band but is applied in time sequence to the
line.
The clock pulse can either allow one bit for each channel (bit interleaved) or one
character (character interleaved). A seven bit or 8 bit character is usually use.

One problem experienced is that data channels have different transmission rates. To
maintain the fixed frame length the multiplexer inserts idle bits or characters for low
transfer rate channels or allows more than one character for the faster transfer rate
channels.

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The frame structure is then locked by a header and trailer that contain the synchronization
signal (start of frame bits), signaling and supervisory signals, as well as error control
signals. The bit rate of synchronous TDM line is given as the sum of individual channel
transfer rates

Data field Data field

Tailer Header Tailer Header

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

- Sequential
Start -Error -Start of frame
End of sampled channel
of control -Signaling
frame - Fixed frame frame
length -End of -Synchronous
frame -Address
Disadvantages
- transfer of idle bits
- Fixed frames thus not possible to carry all data bits

Statistical TDM
With the evolution of large scale integration circuits, STDM was produced with the
ability to multiplex many hundreds of channels.
STDM does not use the fixed frame format. The frame length and data content of each
channel can vary.
Data channel positions are not fixed but are only allocated when there is data in that
particular channel. I.e. if only one channel has data, then all the data character positions
in the frame (data field) are allocated to that channel. When all or more than one channel
is active, then the data character positions in the frame are allocated according to the
priority of each channel.
This means that STDM takes more channels than synchronous TDM since the frame
length is variable and time and space not wasted by sending idle character or space.

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Data fields

Tailer Header

2 4 4 1 1 6 8 3 2 2 2 2 5

Variable length

Variable channel arrangement

Hundreds of channels possible
Channels arranged as per priority (not order) and amount of
data

Advantages of STDM
- More efficient as it does not waste transmission time
- Can be used with more channels
- Data transfer rates are higher
- Can accommodate both slow and fast channels

Disadvantages of STDM
- Greater complexity (design or sampling circuit)
- Increased in cost (addition of a priority inter-phase)
- Cannot be used for small traffic since it is uneconomical

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