Signal

Theory
Rei Sanchez

Principles of Signal Theory

In a computer network in order to send data

a digital signal needs to be sent to the
receiving computer, this signal is created by
the hardware using a peer to peer interface
so both computers know there is a
connection. To maintain the connection, a
very small trickle of signal will be sent
between the computers to keep the
connection active, if this was not sent the
connection would die and not work.

Digital Signals
Digital

signalling is also called discrete

state signalling. Digital signals change
from one state to another almost
instantaneously, without stopping at an
in-between state. Digital signals
represent discrete states over time.

Representing Data (bits, bytes,

packets)
A bit is either of two states: on (1) or off (1).
Physically, this is usually represented as voltages
or magnetic fields.
A byte is eight bits, for example: 10100111. A byte
can represent 256 distinct values, from 0-255.

Packet structure depends on the protocol being

used; usually a header and information about the
packet size, and perhaps a checksum, followed by
the body of the packet, and then a terminator or
tail portion of data is contained in a data packet.

Asynchronous
Transmission
Asynchronous

connection, this
connection does not use clocking so the
connections are not in sync, but instead
on demand. The devices what typically
use this type of connection is: monitors,
printers etc

Synchronous Transmission
Synchronous

connection, this
connection uses a clock signal to work
the computers in pairs; this is used in
computer networks. This means the
computers are synchronised hence the
name synchronous connection. Usually
a DCE will send the data to keep the
computers in sync.

Error detection and Correction

Error

detection is used in a network so

that data can be sent correctly around
the network. Interference from other
things such as weather and hardware
may cause data to be corrupted.
Error correction is used within a network
so that data can be checked for any
errors in order to stop data from being
corrupted.

Bandwidth / Limitation
Bandwidth

limitation means decreasing the

amount of information transmitted from sender
to receiver per second. This either means the
information arrives slower, or the information
contains less detail.
Noise introduces randomness into a signal. This
means that some of the information is lost and
replaced with nonsense. In a radio signal, the
randomness of noise results in swirling or
hissing sounds that come and go randomly.

Channel Types
Radio the transmission on telephone is by radio signals.
This allows people to talk to each other no matter how far
they are to each other.
Satellite - Satellite transmission requires an unobstructed
line of sight. The line of site will be between the orbiting
satellite and a station on Earth. Satellite signals must
travel in straight lines but do not have the limitations of
ground based wireless transmission. Satellite is useful for
broadcasting live content around the world.Because
satellites are in orbit, the signals can be sent
instantaneously into space and then redirected to
another satellite or directly to their destination.