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27 Sept 2005
Introduction
Data Transmission
serial or parallel
Transmission Media
copper cable, fibre optic, microwave, satellite
Signalling
analogue or digital
Data Transmission
Parallel transmission
several bits are transmitted at the same time.
Serial transmission
one bit of information is transmitted at a time.
Parallel Transmission
Transmits several bits of information at the same time, using separate wires. Useful: it maximises data transmission 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Serial Transmission
Transmits one bit at a time. Benefits: only need one wire, so it is much cheaper over long distances. Transmission media link may be:
telephone cable coaxial cable fibre optic microwave satellite
Strobe
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Coaxial cable
Coaxial cables
single conductor wire within a protective enclosure Bundles of cables can be laid underground or undersea Transmit data faster than telephone wires and are less prone to noise.
Plastic jacket
Aluminium tubing
Polyethylene dielectric
Centre Conductor
Transmission Media
Fibre optic
uses light to send data cables made of very thin glass fibres supports voice, picture, music, video has broad bandwidth (explained later)
Fibre Optic
Optical fibre
Sheath
Reinforcing material
Cladding
Transmission Media
Microwaves
uses line of sight transmission of data signals through the atmosphere Signals cannot bend so need relay stations every 30 miles
Synchronisation of Devices
For two devices to communicate with each other, both devices must be synchronised ie. run at the same speed Sending device has clock which tells it when to transmit next bit of data Clock at receiving end signals when to check for the next bit of data The two clocks must run at the same speed.
Satellite
Radio signals are sent and received by earth stations A satellite transponder receives the signal, amplifies it, changes the frequency and re-transmits it.
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Synchronous Mode
Sending clock keeps receiving clock in step Needs a second wire between the communicating devices Data is sent in a continuous synchronised stream or in large blocks with a few synchronisation bits at the front of each block Less prone to distortion Usable at higher transmission speeds.
Asynchronous mode
Most common mode for connecting PCs Data may be sent at any moment with variable time gaps between characters Communications hardware is told when a character is about to be received and when the transmission stops Bits of data enclosed with start and stop bits.
Asynchronous mode
Advantages
less connective wires best for irregular data streams, e.g. keyboard
A m p l i t u d e
Analogue signal
cycle 1 cycle 2
Disadvantages
start bits can be missed interference pulses may generate start bits slower, since there are lots of extra (control) bits transmitted.
Time
CM2011 Computer Networks CM2011 Computer Networks
Digital Signal
Logic Levels
1 0 1 0 0 0
Modems
Modems (modulators/demodulators) Convert a digital signal into an analogue signal for transmission through a telephone wire to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and vice versa. Transmission over the PSTN is digital, but the telephone line transmission to the PSTN exchange is analogue.
Time
CM2011 Computer Networks CM2011 Computer Networks
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Modulation
Various properties of the analogue signal can be used to represent digital data:
frequency amplitude phase
PSTN
(Digital Network)
Computer B
Telephone Exchange
Frequency modulation
cycle 1
Digital Digital
Amplitude modulation
cycle 1 cycle 2
cycle 2
Analogue
Analogue
Phase Modulation
cycle 1 cycle 2
Bandwidth
Every communications channel is only capable of carrying data over a certain range of frequencies. The bandwidth is difference between the highest and lowest frequencies that can be transmitted over a communications channel. Usually measured in Hertz Voice needs less than 4KHz TV needs 8KHz Music needs 15 KHz
Digital
Analogue
Data transmission rate is measured in bits per second (maximum data rate that a channel can handle)
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Noise
Unwanted signals that exist on the communication channel Can cause corrupted messages Sources
Component noise External interference Crosstalk
Attenuation (weakening)
Signals lose their amplitude over a distance Caused by
heat dissipation frequency dependent losses
Summary
Data transmission: serial or parallel Devices communicate using synchronous or asynchronous modes Modems are used to convert digital signals into analogue signals and vice versa Bandwidth is the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies that can be transmitted Noise is unwanted data Attenuation is loss of amplitude.