SUBMITTED

COMPUTER To: Sir Shahzad

Ali
Rana.
COMMUNICATION
&

NETWORKS
Assignment:

Roll no. 4637

Name: Danyal Ahmed
BSIT 6th Semester
Morning

Communication Channel & its Types

Communication Channel:
Communication channel is a connection between transmitter and receiver through
which Data can be transmitted. Communication channel also called as communication
media or transmission media.

It is divided into two types

1) Guided Media (or) Bounded Media
2) Unguided Media (or) Unbounded Media

1) BOUNDED MEDIA:
Bounded media are the physical links through which signals are confined to narrow
path. These are also called guided media or wired media or physical transmission
media. Bounded media are made up of an external conductor (Usually Copper)
bounded by jacket material. Bounded media are great for LABS because they offer high
speed, good security and low cast. However, some time they cannot be used due
distance communication. Three common types of bounded media are used for the data
transmission. These are
a) Coaxial Cable
b) Twisted Pairs Cable
c) Fiber Optics Cable

a) COAXIAL CABLE:
Coaxial cable consists of copper wire as a core, which is surrounded by an insulating
material. This insulating material is enclosed in a cylindrical wire mesh. The whole is
again covered by a protective plastic sheath. When compared to twisted pair it can
carry signals to longer distances at higher speeds.
Gauge is the measure of the cable thickness. It is measured by the Radio grade
measurement or RG number.
Higher bandwidth 400 to 600Mhz.Up to 10,800 voice conversations. These cables can
transmit data with 10 megabits per second (Mbps). It is more expensive than Twistedpair wires.
Coaxial cables are commonly used in cable TV and LAN networks.

b) TWISTED PAIR CABLE:

The most popular network cabling is twisted pair. It is light weight, easy to install,
inexpensive and support many different types of network. It also supports the speed
of 100 mbps. Twisted pair cabling is made of pairs of solid or stranded copper twisted
along each other. It is commonly used in LAN networks and telephone lines.
There are two types of twisted pairs cabling

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

Shielded twisted pair (STP)
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP):
Each wire is insulated with plastic wrap, but the pair is encased in an outer covering.

Shielded twisted pair (STP):

The pair is wrapped with metallic foil or braid to insulate the pair from electromagnetic
interference.

c) FIBER-OPTIC CABLE:

Consist of bundle of glass threads which is capable of transmitting messages

modulated onto light waves. Many extremely thin strands of glass or plastic bound
together in a sheathing which transmit signals with light beams. It has a cylindrical
shape and consists of three concentric sections: the core, the cladding, and the jacket.

The core material is usually made of ultra-pure fused silica or glass and the cladding is
either made of glass or plastic. The cladding is surrounded by a jacket made of plastic.
The jacket is used to protect against moisture, abrasion, crushing and other
environmental hazards.
Very high data rate, low error rate. 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over distances of kilometers
common. Error rates are so low they are almost negligible . Can be used for voice, data
and video systems

Bounded Media Transfer Rates:

2) UNBOUNDED MEDIA:
Unbounded media doesn't use any physical connectors between the two devices
communicating. These are also called unguided media or wireless transmission media.
Usually the transmission is send through the atmosphere but sometime it can be just
across the rule. Wireless media is used when a physical obstruction or distance blocks
are used with normal cable media. The three types of wireless media are:
a) Radio Waves
b) Micro Waves
c) Infrared Waves

a) RADIO WAVES:
Data signals are digitized and transformed into radio-frequency electromagnetic fields.
They can travel long distances and are easy to generate. Properties of radio waves
change with frequencies. High frequency radio waves will travel in straight lines and
gets reflected by obstacles. Low frequency radio waves can penetrate obstacles and
walls, so they are mostly used for indoors and outdoors communications. Cheap form
of communication.

It has frequency between 10 K Hz to 1 G Hz.

b) MICRO WAVES:
Radio waves having frequency higher than 100MHz will travel in straight line. These
waves are called Microwaves. The microwaves travel in straight lines the transmitter
and receiver should be properly aligned. They can travel a long distances. Information is
converted to a microwave signal, sent through the air to a receiver, and recorded.
These are placed within the distance of 20 to 30 miles to each other.

c) INFRARED WAVES:

This type of transmission uses infrared light to send data. Infrared frequencies or waves
are just below visible light. These high frequencies allow high speed data transmission.
This technology is similar to the use of a remote control for a TV. Infrared transmission
can be affected by objects obstructing sender or receiver. It is common in PDAs
(Personal Digital Assistants). It is used in TV remotes, wireless speakers etc.
These transmissions fall into two categories.
i.
ii.
i.

Point to point
Broadcast

Point to Point: Point to point infrared transmission signal directly between two
systems. Many laptop system use point to point transmission. These systems
require direct alignment between many devices.

ii.

Broad Cast: These infrared transmission use sprayed signal, one broad cast in
all directions instead of direct beam. This help to reduce the problems of proper
alignment and abstraction. It also allows multiple receiver of signal.