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Data Communication & Computer Networks: Week-10 (Lecture 1)

This document discusses different types of transmission media used for data communication and computer networks. It describes three main types of guided media: twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable. It provides details on the construction, performance characteristics, and applications of each medium. Twisted-pair cable is used for telephone lines and low-speed networks. Coaxial cable was used in older telephone and television networks but has been replaced by fiber-optic cable for high-speed backbones due to its much higher bandwidth and lower attenuation over distance.

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Muhammad Nadeem
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50 views

Data Communication & Computer Networks: Week-10 (Lecture 1)

This document discusses different types of transmission media used for data communication and computer networks. It describes three main types of guided media: twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable. It provides details on the construction, performance characteristics, and applications of each medium. Twisted-pair cable is used for telephone lines and low-speed networks. Coaxial cable was used in older telephone and television networks but has been replaced by fiber-optic cable for high-speed backbones due to its much higher bandwidth and lower attenuation over distance.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Nadeem
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

Data Communication &

Computer Networks
Week-10 (Lecture 1)

Data communication and computer networks 1


Transmission
Media
Figure 7.1 Transmission medium and physical layer
Electromagnetic energy, a combination of electric and magnetic fields vibrating in relation to
each other, includes power, radio waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, and X,
gamma, and cosmic rays. Each of these constitutes a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

Data communication and computer networks 4


Figure 7.2 Classes of transmission media

Hierarchical Structure of Transmission Media


7.1 Guided Media

1. Twisted-Pair Cable
2. Coaxial Cable
• Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic
(copper) conductors that accept and transport
signals in the form of electric current
3. Fiber-Optic Cable
• Optical fiber is a cable that accepts and
transports signals in the form of light
Figure 7.3 Twisted-pair cable

One of the wires is used to carry signals to the receiver, the other is used only
as a ground reference
The receiver uses the difference between the two
Figure 7.4 UTP and STP

There are tow types of Twisted pair cable

1. Un-shield Twisted Pair


2. Shield Twisted Pair

Expensive
Table 7.1 Categories of unshielded twisted-pair cables

Category Bandwidth Data Rate Digital/Analog Use

1 very low < 100 kbps Analog Telephone

2 < 2 MHz 2 Mbps Analog/digital T-1 lines

3 16 MHz 10 Mbps Digital LANs

4 20 MHz 20 Mbps Digital LANs

5 100 MHz 100 Mbps Digital LANs

6 200 MHz 200 Mbps Digital LANs

7 (draft) 600 MHz 600 Mbps Digital LANs


Figure 7.5 UTP connector

Performance
One way to measure the performance of twisted-pair cable is to compare attenuation versus
frequency and distance.
Applications
Twisted-pair cables are used in telephone lines to provide voice and data channels.

RJ -> Registered jack


Figure 7.6 UTP performance
Figure 7.7 Coaxial cable

Coaxial cable (or coax) carries signals of higher frequency ranges than those
in twisted pair cable, in part because the two media are constructed quite
differently.
Table 7.2 Categories of coaxial cables

Category Impedance Use

RG-59 75 W Cable TV

RG-58 50 W Thin Ethernet

RG-11 50 W Thick Ethernet

RG-> Radio Government


Figure 7.8 BNC connectors

To connect coaxial cable to devices, we need coaxial connectors. The most common
type of connector used today is the Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector.
the attenuation is much higher in coaxial cable than in twisted-pair cable.

In other words, although coaxial cable has a much higher bandwidth,


the signal weakens rapidly and requires the frequent use of repeaters.

Applications
Coaxial cable was widely used in analog telephone networks where a single coaxial
network could carry 10,000 voice signals. Later it was used in digital telephone
networks where a single coaxial cable could carry digital data up to 600 Mbps.

Data communication and computer networks 15


Fiber Optics

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

As the figure shows, if the angle of incidence I is less than the critical
angle, the ray refracts and moves closer to the surface. If the angle of incidence is equal
to the critical angle, the light bends along the interface. If the angle is greater than the
critical angle, the ray reflects (makes a turn) and travels again in the denser substance.
A glass or plastic core is surrounded by a cladding of less dense glass or plastic.

Data communication and computer networks 16


Figure 7.11 Optical fiber
Figure 7.12 Propagation modes

There are tow major types of Fiber Optic:

1. Multimode
2. Single-Mode
Figure 7.14 Fiber construction
Figure 7.15 Fiber-optic cable connectors

The subscriber channel (SC) connector is used for cable TV


The straight-tip (ST) connector is used for connecting cable to networking devices. It uses a bayonet
locking system and is more reliable than SC. MT-RJ is a connector that is the same size as RJ45.

Fiber-optic cable is often found in backbone networks because its wide bandwidth iscost-effective.
Data communication and computer networks 21

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