Basics of Data Communication

Transferring data over a transmission medium between two or more devices, systems, or
places is known as data communication. Nowadays, computing and telecommunications
depend heavily on this data transmission, which makes a variety of applications conceivable,
including email, video chatting, the Internet, and many more things.
In this article, we will learn about Data communication, Definition, Components, Types, and
Channels.
Components of Data Communication
A communication system is made up of the following components:
1. Message: A message is a piece of information that is to be transmitted from one person to
another. It could be a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.
2. Sender: It is simply a device that sends data messages. It can be a computer, mobile,
telephone, laptop, video camera, or workstation, etc.
3. Receiver: It is a device that receives messages. It can be a computer, telephone mobile,
workstation, etc.
4. Transmission Medium / Communication Channels: Communication channels are the
medium that connect two or more workstations. Workstations can be connected by either
wired media or wireless media.
5. Set of rules (Protocol): When someone sends the data (The sender), it should be
understandable to the receiver also otherwise it is meaningless. For example, Sonali
sends a message to Chetan. If Sonali writes in Hindi and Chetan cannot understand Hindi,
it is a meaningless conversation.

Therefore, there are some set of rules (protocols) that is followed by every computer
connected to the internet and they are:
 TCP(Transmission Control Protocol): It is responsible for dividing messages into packets
on the source computer and reassembling the received packet at the destination or
recipient computer. It also makes sure that the packets have the information about the
source of the message data, the destination of the message data, the sequence in which
the message data should be re-assembled, and checks if the message has been sent
correctly to the specific destination.
 IP(Internet Protocol): Do You ever wonder how computer determines which packet
belongs to which device. What happens if the message you sent to your friend is received
by your father? Scary Right. Well! IP is responsible for handling the address of the
destination computer so that each packet is sent to its proper destination.
Type of data communication
As we know that data communication is communication in which we can send or receive data
from one device to another. The data communication is divided into three types:
1. Simplex Communication: It is one-way communication or we can say that unidirectional
communication in which one device only receives and another device only sends data and
devices uses their entire capacity in transmission. For example, IoT, entering data using a
keyboard, listening music using a speaker, etc.
2. Half Duplex communication: It is a two-way communication, or we can say that it is a
bidirectional communication in which both the devices can send and receive data but not
at the same time. When one device is sending data then another device is only receiving
and vice-versa. For example, walkie-talkie.
3. Full-duplex communication: It is a two-way communication or we can say that it is a
bidirectional communication in which both the devices can send and receive data at the
same time. For example, mobile phones, landlines, etc.

Communication Channels

Communication channels are the medium that connects two or more workstations.
Workstations can be connected by either wired media or wireless media. It is also known as a
transmission medium. The transmission medium or channel is a link that carries messages
between two or more devices. We can group the communication media into two categories:
 Guided media transmission
 Unguided media transmission

1. Guided Media: In this transmission medium, the physical link is created using wires or
cables between two or more computers or devices, and then the data is transmitted using
these cables in terms of signals. Guided media transmission of the following types:
1. Twisted pair cable: It is the most common form of wire used in communication. In a twisted-
pair cable, two identical wires are wrapped together in a double helix. The twisting of the wire
reduces the crosstalk. It is known as the leaking of a signal from one wire to another due to
which signal can corrupt and can cause network errors. The twisting protects the wire from
internal crosstalk as well as external forms of signal interference. Types of Twisted Pair Cable
:
 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): It is used in computers and telephones widely. As the
name suggests, there is no external shielding so it does not protects from external
interference. It is cheaper than STP.
 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): It offers greater protection from crosstalk due to shield. Due
to shielding, it protects from external interference. It is heavier and costlier as compare to
UTP.
2. Coaxial Cable: It consists of a solid wire core that is surrounded by one or more foil or wire
shields. The inner core of the coaxial cable carries the signal and the outer shield provides the
ground. It is widely used for television signals and also used by large corporations in building
security systems. Data transmission of this cable is better but expensive as compared to
twisted pair.
3. Optical fibers: Optical fiber is an important technology. It transmits large amounts of data at
very high speeds due to which it is widely used in internet cables. It carries data as a light that
travels inside a thin glass fiber. The fiber optic cable is made up of three pieces:

1. Core: Core is the piece through which light travels. It is generally created using glass
or plastic.
2. Cladding: It is the covering of the core and reflects the light back to the core.
3. Sheath: It is the protective covering that protects fiber cable from the environment.
2. Unguided Media: The unguided transmission media is a transmission mode in which the
signals are propagated from one device to another device wirelessly. Signals can wave
through the air, water, or vacuum. It is generally used to transmit signals in all directions.
Unguided Media is further divided into various parts :
1. Microwave: Microwave offers communication without the use of cables. Microwave signals
are just like radio and television signals. It is used in long-distance communication. Microwave
transmission consists of a transmitter, receiver, and atmosphere. In microwave
communication, there are parabolic antennas that are mounted on the towers to send a beam
to another antenna. The higher the tower, the greater the range.

2. Radio wave: When communication is carried out by radio frequencies, then it is termed
radio waves transmission. It offers mobility. It is consists of the transmitter and the receiver.
Both use antennas to radiate and capture the radio signal.

3. Infrared: It is short-distance communication and can pass through any object. It is generally
used in TV remotes, wireless mouse, etc.

Difference between Internet, Intranet and Extranet

Point of
difference Internet Intranet Extranet

Accessibility
Public Private Private
of network

To share information
Specific to an with suppliers and
Global system.
organization. vendors it makes the
Availability use of public network.

Restricted area upto

All over the Restricted area upto an organization and
world. an organization. some of its
Coverage stakeholders or so.

Accessible only to the

It is accessible It is accessible only members of
to everyone to the members of organization and
Accessibility connected. organization. external members
of content with logins.

No. of It is largest in The minimal number The connected

 Point of
difference Internet Intranet Extranet

computers number of of devices are devices are more

connected connected connected. comparable with
devices. Intranet.

Single/ Multiple
No one. Single organization.
Owner organization.

It’s purpose is to It’s purpose is to

It’s purpose is to
share share information
share information
information between members
Purpose of throughout the
throughout the and external,
organization.
the network world. members.

It is dependent
on the user of It is enforced via
It is enforced via
the device firewall that separates
firewall.
connected to internet and extranet.
Security network.

Employees of the
Employees of the
General public. organization which
organization.
Users are connected.

There is no hard Policies of the Policies of the

Policies and fast rule for organization are organization are
behind setup policies. imposed. imposed.

It is maintained by It is maintained by
CIO. HR or CIO. HR or
It is maintained
communication communication
by ISP.
department of an department of an
Maintenance organization. organization.

It is more
It is also less
economical to It is less economical.
economical.
Economical use.
 Point of
difference Internet Intranet Extranet

It is the network It is derived from It is derived from

Relation of networks. Internet. Intranet.

What we are WIPRO using internal DELL and Intel using

normally using is network for its network for its
Example internet. business operations. business operations.

What is Transmission Modes?

Transmission mode means transferring data between two devices. It is also known as a communication
mode. Buses and networks are designed to allow communication to occur between in individual
dividual devices
that are interconnected. There are three types of transmission modes:

Simplex Mode

In Simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional, as on a one

one-way
way street. Only one of the two
devices on a link can transmit, the other can only receive. The simplex m
mode
ode can use the entire capacity
of the channel to send data in one direction.
Example: Keyboard and traditional monitors. The keyboard can only introduce input, the monitor can
only give the output.

Advantages of Simplex Mode

  Simplex mode is the easiest and most reliable mode of communication.

 It is the most cost-effective

effective mode, as it only requires one communication channel.

 There is no need for coordination between the transmitting and receiving devices, which
simplifies the communication process.

 Simplex mode is particularly useful in situations where feedback or response is not required,
such as broadcasting or surveillance.

Disadvantages of Simplex Mode

 Only one-way
way communication is possible.

 There is no way to verify if the transmitted data has been received correctly.

 Simplex mode is not suitable for applications that require bidirectional communication.

Half-Duplex Mode

In half-duplex mode,, each station can both transmit and receive, but not at the same time. When one
device is sending, the other can only receive, and vice versa. The half
half-duplex
duplex mode is used in cases
where there is no need for communication in both direction
directionss at the same time. The entire capacity of
the channel can be utilized for each direction.
Example: Walkie-talkie
talkie in which message is sent one at a time and messages are sent in both directions.

Channel capacity=Bandwidth * Propagation Delay

Advantages of Half Duplex Mode

  Half-duplex
duplex mode allows for bidirectional communication, which is useful in situations where
devices need to send and receive data.

 It is a more efficient mode of communication than simplex mode, as the channel can be used for
both transmission and recepti
reception.

 Half-duplex
duplex mode is less expensive than full
full-duplex
duplex mode, as it only requires one
communication channel.

Disadvantages of Half Duplex Mode

 Half-duplex
duplex mode is less reliable than Full
Full-Duplex
Duplex mode, as both devices cannot transmit at the
same time.

 There is a delay between transmission and reception, which can cause problems in some
applications.

 There is a need for coordination between the transmitting and receiving devices, which can
complicate the communication process.

Full-Duplex Mode

In full-duplex
plex mode, both stations can transmit and receive simultaneously. In full_duplex mode, signals
going in one direction share the capacity of the link with signals going in another direction, this sharing
can occur in two ways:

 Either the link must contain two physically separate transmission paths, one for sending and the
other for receiving.

 Or the capacity is divided between signals traveling in both directions.

Full-duplex
duplex mode is used when communication in both directions is required all the time. The capacity of
the channel, however, must be divided between the two directions.
Example: Telephone Network in which there is communication between two persons by a telephone
line, through which both can talk and listen at the same time.

Channel Capacity=2* Bandwidth*propagation Delay