Difference between FDMA and TDMA

FDMA stands for the Frequency Division Multiple Access. In the FDMA the available frequency range is split into the smaller bands. Each user gets their own frequency band to use. Its like having the different radio stations each station uses its own frequency so they dont interfere with each other. TDMA stands for the Time Division Multiple Access. In the TDMA the users take turns using the same frequency. Each user gets the short time slot to send their data.

The main difference is that the FDMA divides by the frequency while TDMA divides by the time. FDMA lets users send the data at the same time on the different frequencies. TDMA has users send data one after another using the same frequency.

What is Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)?

The FDMA is the channelization protocol in which the bandwidth is divided into the various frequency bands. Each station is allocated with band to send data and that band is reserved for particular station for all the time which is as follows. The frequency bands of different stations are separated by small band of unused frequency and that unused frequency bands are called as guard bands that prevent interference of stations.

It is like access method in data link layer in which data link layer at each station tells its physical layer to make bandpass signal from data passed to it. The signal is created in allocated band and there is no physical multiplexer at physical layer.

What is Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)?

The TDMA is the channelization protocol in which the bandwidth of channel is divided into the various stations on time basis. There is time slot given to each station, station can transmit data during that time slot only which is as follows. Each station must aware of its beginning of time slot and location of the time slot. TDMA requires synchronization between different stations. It is type of access method in data link layer. At each station data link layer tells station to use allocated time slot.

Difference between FDMA and TDMA

Conclusion

FDMA and TDMA are two ways to share a communication channel. FDMA splits the channel into different frequencies, like separate lanes on a highway. Each user gets their own lane to use all the time. TDMA, on the other hand, is like taking turns to use a single lane. Users get short time slots to send their data, one after another. Both the methods help multiple users communicate without interfering with each other but they do it in the different ways FDMA by dividing frequencies and the TDMA by dividing the time.