Data Communication and Networking

Data communication is the process of transferring information from one point to another. It consists of three basic elements, which are: 1.Transmitter: is the source of information or from where information is sent. 2.Medium:Which 2.Medium:Which carries information such as telephone lines, coaxial cables, fiber optics. 3.Receiver: it receive information.

Modes of Data Communication

The mode of transmission used depends upon the type of terminal used in the data communication network and the speed at which data must be transmitted. There are three modes of transmission: 1.Simplex: It is capable of transmitting data in only one direction.i.e unidirectional. Radio and television broadcasting are examples of simplex transmission.

2.Duplex
In this type , data is transmitted in bidirectional way. Duplex is further divided into two types: a. Half Duplex: In this type, data is transferred in both directions but one at a time. Wireless set is an example of half-duplex . halfb. Full Duplex: In this type, data is transferred in both directions simultaneously. Examples are telephone lines

Communication speed
Bandwidth describes the data communication capacity of a communication system. It is range of frequencies available for the transmission of data. The data communication is measure in a unit called baud. In general, baud as same as number of bits transmitted per second. It classified into three categories: a. Low speed or Narrow Band b. Medium Speed or Voice Band c. High speed or Broadband

Communication speed (cont)

a. Low Speed or Narrow band: It transmits data at a range of 45-300.Telegraphic 45system is an example of this speed. b. Medium Speed or Medium band: It transmit data at a rate varying from 300 to 56,000 baud. Fax machine work on voice band systems. c.Broad Band: It transmits data at a very high baud rate of 1 million. Microwave communication is an example of this.

Medium of Transmission
Following are the different medium of transmission: 1.Cable Medium 2.Cable less Medium 1.Cable Medium: is further divided into : a. Twisted pair cable:
It is a copper wire twisted together and used for short distance communications and data transmission speed is up to 9600 baud. They are commonly use in telephone system. Its further divided into shielded twisted pair(STP) and unshielded twisted pair(UTP).

Medium of Transmission (cont)

b. Coaxial Cable: It contains a single central wire, surrounded by special insulation and wire mesh. It is capable of transmitting data 10 mega bits per second. It used in long distance telephone lines. c. Fiber Optic: It contains a hair thin strand of optical fiber made of glass or plastic, surrounded by special shielding and insulation. Optical fiber optics carries pulses of light instead of bursts of electricity. Converters are use at the ends of these fibers, which convert light waves into electricity and electricity into light waves.

2.Cableless Medium
It also further divide into two types: a. Microwave Transmission: Microwave transmission signals travel through open space much like radio signals. This system transmit information with transmitters which are normally installed on high buildings, mountain tops or high towers. Long distance channels consist of a series of rely stations boosters) spaced approximately 30 miles away apart. They amplify signals. Two stations must be within sight of one another.

2.Cableless Medium (Cont)

b.Communication satellites: Satellites are lunch by rockets in a space approximately 22,000 miles above the earth. These satellites act as a rely stations for the transmission of signals generated from earth. Earth stations consisting of ground antennas beam signals to satellite.The satellite amplifies and retransmits the signal to another earth station which can be located many thousand of miles away. It revolve around its orbital with a uniform speed of earth to overcome the problem of line- of-sight. line- of-