What is data communication?

Data communication:

Definition:

Data communication is the exchange of data between any connected devices (computer)
via some form of transmission medium such as wire cable, wireless system, microwave
system, satellite system etc.

Parts of Communication system:

The devices on which two parties communicate with each other must be part of the
communication system. The communication system may consist of hardware and software.

Transmission of data: The data is transmitted electronically from one station to another
using standard method.

Example: The very common example of data communication is the connection of

personal computer to the internet in which the user establish a connection between user a
PC and many hundred computers on the internet.

Data communication terminology:

1) Data:

Data is the Latin word derived from datum which means raw facts and figures so data can
be defined as “Facts and figures which may or may not be meaningful.”

Data is facts and figures but we cannot make decisions on data, to take decision on data we
must transform it to information. The processed form of data is called information.

Forms of data: Data may in the form of text, numbers, graphics, sounds and videos etc.
In communication the data is converted or translated into such a form which is easier to
move through a transmission medium.
2) Data transmission:

Definition:
Data transmission means sending and receiving of data through transmission medium. The
transmission mediums include cables (example. Telephone lines or fiber optics) or wireless
medium like microwave, infrared and satellite etc.

Form of data in transmission medium: The can be only transfer in a form of

electromagnetic or light waves when transmitted through transmission medium.

Signals:

The electromagnetic or light waves representing data are called signals. These signals may
be analog or digital depend upon the types of transmitting data in a form of digital or analog.

3) Analog signals:

Definition:

The continuous signals in wave form are called analog signals. Analog refers to data that is
in continuous form no breaks exist. Analog data consist infinite numbers of values.

Figure:

Analog data transmission:

The transfer of data from one place to another in the form of analog signals or in the form of
continuous waves is called analog data transmission. In analog data transmission the data
is first convert into analog form before transmitted on the transmission medium.

Examples of analog signals:

The light waves, sound waves or radio waves are examples of analog signals.
Example of Analog data transmission system:

The transmission through telephone line, microwave system or satellite is the example of
analog data transmission.

4) Digital signals:
Definition: A wave in discrete form is known as digital signals. Here discrete form means
the digital signal can have only limited numbers i.e (‘0’ or ‘1’). At each position there may be
a value ‘0’ or ‘1’.

Digital data transmission:

The transfer of data from one place to another in a digital form is known as digital data
transmission.

Figure: 1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0

Example of digital data transmission:

Computer only accept and processes the data in the digital form. When we inputting data
through keyboard/mouse or other such equipment are they sent data to computer in digital
form and computer process it in digital form.

Conversion or use of Modem:

Data is also transmitted form one computer to another through telephone line, microwave
system or satellite. In this system, a modem is used on both sides. The work of modem is to
convert analog signal to digital and digital signal to analog.

COMPONENTS OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM:

Explanation:
If we want to establish a communication system then we needs some essential components
for this system similarly every system required a set of components. Except of these
components we cannot established the communication system.

Following are the most basic components of a communication system except of these we
cannot establish the communication system.

1) Sender: Definition: The device used in a communication system to send or transmit

data to another device is called sender.

Or the initiator of the message/data is called sender.

Sender is also known as Transmitter and source.

Types/Example of sender:

A sender may be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, video camera, mobile phone,
radio and TV stations.

2) Receiver:

Definition: A device used in communication system to receive messages from another

device (sender) is called receiver or sink.

Or A device which is capable to receive data from sender is called receiver.

Example:

A receiver may be a computer, workstation, telephone handset, mobile phone, television set,
printer, fax machine, and radio set etc.

3) Message:

Definition:

The message is the information or data that is to be transferred from one location to another.

Or the message is actually what is sender want to be send to the receiver.

Kinds of data/message:

It may consist of text, numbers, pictures, sounds, videos or any combination of these.

4) Protocol:

Definition:

A set of rules that guides (or governs) data communication is called protocol. It represents
an agreement between the communicating devices.

Or A set of rules through which two parties establish a communication link with each
other.

Except:

Without the proper protocol the device may be connected but they cannot communicate with
each other. We can say that without protocol we can’t sent and receive data.

Example:

A person whose mother language is English cannot communicate with a person who can
speak only Urdu without protocol.

5) Transmission Medium:

Definition:

It is a physical path between sender and receiver, on which the sender and receiver both
sent and receive data.

Or Transmission medium is a path or channel through which message is transmitted

(sent) or received from one location to another in a communication system
PROPERTIES OF A GOOD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The communication system depends on the following characteristics.

1) Delivery:

Delivery is basically the sending of message to its destination. The communication system
must deliver data to the correct destination.

Explanation:

It means that the message must be received by the only concerned receiver to which the
message is transmitted. If the message is sent to incorrect destination then we cannot say it
a good communication system. So the data must be delivered from source device to
destination device.

2) Accuracy:

Accurate data: The communication system must deliver the data accurately. The state
of data is not change during sending from source to destination.

Inaccurate data:

Data that have been altered in transmission and left uncorrected are unusable. The data
must be delivered accurately.

Error in transmission:

If there is any error occurred during transmission, the data must be retransmitted.

3)Timeliness:

On time delivery:

The communication system must deliver data in a timely manner. Data delivered late are
useless. On time delivery of data is very important in real time system.
Real time transmission:

In the case of video and audio, timely delivery means delivering data as they are produced,
in the same order that they are produced, and without significant delay. This kind of delivery
is called real-time transmission. In real-time systems late data becomes useless.

Example: In live television transmission, the video signals must be delivered within time
as they are produced without any significant delay.

MODES OF DATA COMMUNICATION:

There are two modes of data communication:

1) Synchronous
2) Asynchronous

1) Synchronous transmission:

Definition: Synchronous means occurring something on same time or repeatedly. In

synchronous transmission, large volumes of information can be transmitted at a time. In this
type of transmission, data is transmitted block-by-block or word-by- simultaneously. Each
block may contain several bytes of data.

Synchronized clock: In synchronous transmission, a special communication device

known as synchronized clock is required to schedule the transmission of information.

Use of stat/stop bits:

With synchronous transmission large blocks of bytes are transmitted at regular intervals
without any stat/stop signals.

Requirement of synchronous transmission:

Synchronous transmission requires that both the sending and receiving devices be
synchronized before data is transmitted.

Speed and accuracy:

Synchronous transmission requires more expensive equipment but provides greater speed
and accuracy is depend on the ability of the receiving device to keep an accurate count of
the bits as they come to it.

Figure:

2) Asynchronous transmission:

Definition:

In asynchronous transmission, data is transmitted one byte at a time. This type of

transmission is most commonly used by microcomputers. The data is transmitted character-
by-character as the user types it on a keyboard.

Not synchronized: In asynchronous transmission, transmission does not occur at

predetermined or regular intervals (i.e. not synchronized). A sending device can transmit
bytes at any time, and the receiving device must be ready to accept them as they arrive.

Start and stop bits: In asynchronous transmission, we sent 1 start bit (0) at the
beginning and 1 one stop bit (1) at the end of each byte. There may be a gap between each
byte.

Speed: Asynchronous transmission is relatively slow because of using extra bits i.e.
start and stop bit.
Gaps between bytes: Asynchronous transmission usually involves communications in
which data can be transmitted intermittently instead of in a constant stream of bits.

Figure:

TRANSMISSION
MEDIUM:

Definition: A transmission medium is a pathway over which information can be sent from
one place to another.

Or The physical link between the sender and receiver (source and destination).

Other name:

It is also called transmission link or channel.

Types of transmission medium:

A. Guided media
B. Unguided media

A. Guided Transmission Media ( #.06 at exercise)

It is the transmission media in which signals are confined (limited) to a specific path using
wire or cable.

Or in this type of transmission media, communication devices are directly linked with
each other via physical material (like cables, etc) for data communication. It is also
called Bounded media.

Used in:
These types of transmission media are usually used in LAN (Local Area Network).

The types of Bounded/Guided are discussed below:

1) Twisted Pair Cable

2) Coaxial cable
3) Fiber optic cable

1) Twisted pair cable:

Used: Twisted pair cable is one of the most commonly used communication media for
network cabling. This cable is the most commonly used and is cheaper than others.

Weight and cost:

It is lightweight and cheap than other bounded media.

Installation:

Installed easily, and they support many different types of network.

Data transmission speed: Up to 100/1000 Mb/s.

Structure:

It consists of 8 separate copper wires that are covered by insulating material such as plastic
and are twisted together to form a cable. One of the same color wires used to carry signals
to the receiver, and other is used only as ground reference.

Twisted wires: The wires are twisted together in a helical form to reduce electrical
interference from similar pair.

Example:

The telephone cable wiring uses twisted pair cable.

Uses:

Telephone and in LAN.

Some important points:

 Its frequency range is 0 to 3.5 kHz.

 Repeater spacing is 2km.

Twisted Pair is of two types:

 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

 Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Advantages:

 Easy to install

 Flexible

 Cheap

Figure:

2) Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is also referred to as coax. Coaxial is called by this name because it contains
two conductors that are parallel to each other.
Structure: Coax has a central core conductor of solid copper wire (usually copper)
enclosed in insulating sheath, which is encased in an outer conductor of metal foil/braid. This
outer conductor is also enclosed in an insulating sheath outer conductor.

Figure:

Signal carry:

It carries signals of higher frequency ranges than twisted pair cable.

Uses:

It can be used for voice and data transmission with very high frequency. In traditional cable
TV, CCTV camera.

Data transmission speed:

The data transmission speed of coax is from 10 Mbps to 200 Mbps.

Advantages:

 Bandwidth is high than twisted pair cable.

 Used in long distance telephone lines.

 Transmits digital signals at a very high rate of 10Mbps.

 Much higher noise protection

 Data transmission without distortion.

 It can span to longer distance at higher speeds as they have better shielding
when compared to twisted pair cable

Disadvantages:

 Single cable failure can fail the entire network.

 Difficult to install and expensive when compared with twisted pair.

2) Fiber Optic Cable

A fiber optic cable is made of glass or plastic and transmits signals in the form of light.

Or The core of fiber optic cable is made from glass or plastic.

Structure:

The core in fiber optic cable is surrounded by glass called cladding. This is covered with a
thin plastic jacket to protect the cladding. The fibers are grouped together in bundles
protected by an outer shield.

Figure:
Data transmission form:

A fiber optic cable consists of tubes of glass/plastic through which data is transmitted as
pulses of light.

Data transmission speed:

The data transmission speed is very high because fiber optic cable uses light to transmit
data. The data transmission speed is up to billions bits per second.

Figure of fiber:

Bandwidth:

Fiber optic cable has bandwidth more than 2 gbps (Gigabytes per Second)

Direction/Propagation of light:

How you kept the wire or in which angle you set the direction of light

Advantages:

 Provides high quality transmission of signals at very high speed.

 These are not affected by electromagnetic interference, so noise and distortion

is very less.
 Used for both analog and digital signals.

Disadvantages:

 It is expensive.

 Less flexible

 Difficult to install.

 Unidirectional propagation of light if we need bidirectional then we need two

fibers

 Maintenance is expensive and difficult.

B. UNGUIDED TRANSMISSION MEDIA

Definition:

Unguided or wireless media sends the data through air (or water), which is available to
anyone who has a device capable of receiving them.

Also known as:

It is also called unbounded media.

Why we use unguided transmission media:

This transmission medium is used when it is impossible to install the cables. The data can
be transmitted all over the world through this medium.

Types of unguided/ unbounded media are discussed below:

1) Radio Transmission
2) Microwave Transmission
3) Infrared
4) Satellite
1) Radio waves:

Definition: It is a wireless transmission medium that is used to communicate information

through radio signals in air, over long distance such as between cities and countries.

Requirement for send and receive radio signal:

In this medium a transmitter is required to send messages (signals) and receiver is required
to receive them. To receive the broadcast radio signal, the receiver has an antenna that is
located in the range of signal.

Omnidirectional propagation: The

radio signal propagates in all
direction.

Figure:

Transceiver:

Some networks use a special device called transceiver used to send and to receive
messages in the form of radio signals.

Data transmission speed:

The data transmission speed of broadcast radio is up to 54 Mbps (megabits per second)

Applications/uses of radio waves:

Useful for multicasting in which one sender but many receivers are involve:

a) AM and FM
b) TV etc.
.
2) Microwave Transmission

Definition: The electromagnetic waves having frequencies between 1 and 300 Ghz are
called microwaves.

Station-to-station signals transmission:

In Microwaves transmission data is transmitted from one station to another to reach the data
to its destination. Microwave station contains an antenna, transceiver (transmitter and
receiver) and other equipment’s that are required for microwave communication.

Line of sight transmission:

In microwave transmission the signal is transmitted in straight line. Simply transmission is

done in straight line.

Unidirectional: Microwave is spread/propagate in one direction unlike radio waves which

are used for multicasting the microwave is used for unicasting. It has the ability to create
one-to-one communication among sender-and-receiver.

Installation of microwaves antenna:

Microwave stations or antennas are usually installed on the high towers or buildings. Thus
microwave stations need to be placed within 20 to 30 miles of each other. Each microwave
station receives signals from the previous stations. In this fashion the data is transmitted
from one place to other.

Applications/Uses of Microwave transmission:

 Cellular phones
 Satellite network
 Wireless LAN

3) Infrared:
Definition:

Infrared technology allows computing devices to communicate via short range wireless
signals.

Line-or-sight propagation:

Infrared transmission is also done in line of sight propagation of signals.

Bi-directional transmission:

With infrared, computers can transfer files and other digital data bi-directionally. Computer
infrared network adapters both transmit and receive data.

Use for short range:

It is use for short distance/range communication inside a single room.

Prevent interference:

It prevents interference of one system on another mean’s one room system not affect the
other room system.

Example:
TV remote using, sending images from one mobile to another etc.

Speed:

It supports data rates from 100 Kbps to 4 Mbps.

Advantages:

 Prevent interference of one system on other.

 Isolated system can establish in each room.

Disadvantages:

 Can’t use for long transmission/communication.

 Can’t use outside the building because sun ray’s contain infrared waves.
4) Satellite Microwave:

Definition:
This is also a type of microwave transmission. This is a microwave relay station which is
placed in outer space.
Or A communication satellite is a space station that receives microwave signals from
earth microwave station (earth based station).

TRANSMISSION IMPAIRMENTS IN COMMUNICATION MEDIUMS:

Definition: The factors which effect the communication.

Transmission impairments is a condition that causes information to be lost.

Explanation: If the transmission media were perfect, the receiver could receive exactly
the same signal that the transmitter sent. But communication lines are usually not perfect,
so the receive signal is not the same as the transmitted signal. What is sent is not what is
received.

When data is sent through transmission media it may be affected by the external forces like
sound, frequency same etc.

The causes of impairment are:

1. Attenuation
2. Distortion
3. Noise

1) Attenuation: Definition: Attenuation means a loss of energy. Or signal loose power

in time.(Weak signals)

Or It is the loss of energy as the signal propagates outwards. The amount of energy
depends on the frequency

Explanation: When signal travels through transmission media its losses some energy and
signal become weak. If the attenuation(loose of signal) is high the receiver is not able to
receive the signal correctly.

Solution of this problem: For reliable transmission the range of frequencies of

transmission should be constant.

To recover/compensate for this loss, amplifiers are used to amplify/give(regulate) strength

to the weak signal.
Figure:

2) Distortion:

Definition: Signal tends to spread as they travel.

Distortion means that the signal changes its shape and form.

Explanation:

It can occur in a composite signal made of different frequencies. Each frequency in a

composite signal has different propagation speed through medium. So that why at receiver
side they reach at different time and causes change in signal as it is sent by transmitter. E.g
radio and TV transmission.

Figure:

3) Noise: The additional signals inserted between transmission and receive.

This is another cause of impairment in signal that is noise. Several types of noise such as
crosstalk, thermal noise, induced noise etc.

Figure:
Different types of noise:

a) Cross talk:

Definition: Cross talk is the effect of one wire on the other. One wire acts as a sending
antenna and the other as receiving antenna.

Example: Sometimes when talking on the telephone, the listener can hear another
conversation in the background, which is cross talk.

1) Signal to noise Ratio:

Definition:

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is the ratio of the relative power levels of a voice / data
communication signal.

Or SNR is actually the ratio of what is wanted (signal) to what is not wanted (noise).

Explanation: SNR basically shows either that is, where the data is less corrupted or
more corrupted. It shows the effect of noise on the data which is transmitted through
communication channel.

Expressed by:

The noise on a line, expressed in decibels (dB). Decibels shows that the signal gets strength
or lost.

Formula:

SNR = Signal / Noise

SNR is actually the ratio of what is wanted (signal) to what is not wanted (noise).
 A high SNR means the signals is less corrupted by noise; a low SNR means the signal
is more corrupted by noise.

It shows the effects of Noise on the data which is transmitted through communication
channel.