Transmission modes
○ The way in which data is transmitted from one device to another device is known
as transmission mode.
○ The transmission mode is also known as the communication mode.
○ Each communication channel has a direction associated with it, and
transmission media provide the direction. Therefore, the transmission mode is
also known as a directional mode.
○ The transmission mode is defined in the physical layer.
The Transmission mode is divided into three categories:
○ Simplex mode
○ Half-duplex mode
○ Full-duplex mode
Simplex mode
○ In Simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional, i.e., the data flow in one
direction.
○ A device can only send the data but cannot receive it or it can receive the data
but cannot send the data.
○ This transmission mode is not very popular as mainly communications require
the two-way exchange of data. The simplex mode is used in the business field as
in sales that do not require any corresponding reply.
○ The radio station is a simplex channel as it transmits the signal to the listeners
but never allows them to transmit back.
○ Keyboard and Monitor are the examples of the simplex mode as a keyboard can
only accept the data from the user and monitor can only be used to display the
data on the screen.
○ The main advantage of the simplex mode is that the full capacity of the
communication channel can be utilized during transmission.
Advantage of Simplex mode:
○ In simplex mode, the station can utilize the entire bandwidth of the
communication channel, so that more data can be transmitted at a time.
Disadvantage of Simplex mode:
○ Communication is unidirectional, so it has no inter-communication between
devices.
Half-Duplex mode
○ In a Half-duplex channel, direction can be reversed, i.e., the station can transmit
and receive the data as well.
○ Messages flow in both the directions, but not at the same time.
○ The entire bandwidth of the communication channel is utilized in one direction at
a time.
○ In half-duplex mode, it is possible to perform the error detection, and if any error
occurs, then the receiver requests the sender to retransmit the data.
○ A Walkie-talkie is an example of the Half-duplex mode. In Walkie-talkie, one party
speaks, and another party listens. After a pause, the other speaks and first party
listens. Speaking simultaneously will create the distorted sound which cannot be
understood.
Advantage of Half-duplex mode:
○ In half-duplex mode, both the devices can send and receive the data and also can
utilize the entire bandwidth of the communication channel during the
transmission of data.
Disadvantage of Half-Duplex mode:
○ In half-duplex mode, when one device is sending the data, then another has to
wait, this causes the delay in sending the data at the right time.
Full-duplex mode
○ In Full duplex mode, the communication is bi-directional, i.e., the data flow in both
the directions.
○ Both the stations can send and receive the message simultaneously.
○ Full-duplex mode has two simplex channels. One channel has traffic moving in
one direction, and another channel has traffic flowing in the opposite direction.
○ The Full-duplex mode is the fastest mode of communication between devices.
○ The most common example of the full-duplex mode is a telephone network.
When two people are communicating with each other by a telephone line, both
can talk and listen at the same time.
Advantage of Full-duplex mode:
○ Both the stations can send and receive the data at the same time.
Disadvantage of Full-duplex mode:
○ If there is no dedicated path exists between the devices, then the capacity of the
communication channel is divided into two parts.
Differences b/w Simplex, Half-duplex and Full-duplex
mode
Basis for Simplex mode Half-duplex Full-duplex mode
comparis mode
on
Direction of In simplex mode, the In half-duplex In full-duplex mode, the
communica communication is mode, the communication is
tion unidirectional. communication bidirectional.
is bidirectional,
but one at a time.
Send/Recei A device can only Both the devices Both the devices can send
ve send the data but can send and and receive the data
cannot receive it or it receive the data, simultaneously.
can only receive the but one at a time.
data but cannot
send it.
Performanc The performance of The performance The Full-duplex mode has
e half-duplex mode is of full-duplex better performance among
better than the mode is better simplex and half-duplex
simplex mode. than the mode as it doubles the
half-duplex utilization of the capacity of
mode. the communication
channel.
Example Examples of Simplex Example of Example of the Full-duplex
mode are radio, half-duplex is mode is a telephone
keyboard, and Walkie-Talkies. network.
monitor.
