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Copper Wire
Glass Fibre
Microwave
Infrared
Laser
ë Computer communication involves
encoding data into some form of energy
and sending this across a transmission
medium.
ë This lecture introduces a few basic
transmission concepts as background
ë Specifically, it examines the properties of
different transmission media

 
 
 ë The most common medium as its is
inexpensive and easy to install
ë Why copper?
ë The biggest problem is interference
which results in noise
ë At its worst when wires run parallel and
close together

 
 ë Shield the wires and then twist them
together (e.g., telephone wires)
ë Minimises both radiation and
susceptibility to radiation

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ë Single wire surrounded by cylindrical

metal shield
ë Shield provides a barrier in both
directions
ë Shielded twisted pair may be used if
wires pass through strong
electromagnetic fields
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ë Also known as optical fibre - a thin glass
tube that reflects light internally and is
coated in plastic for flexibility
ë Transmitter uses LED or laser and receiver
uses a light sensitive transistor
ë Advantages
Ń no electrical interference
Ń carry a signal much further than copper
Ń carry more information at a time
Ń only needs one fibre - unlike copper that
requires a pair to form a circuit
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ë Disadvantages
Ń installation requires more specialised
equipment
Ń breaks in the fibre are hard to detect and
repairs are difficult
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ë èroadcast of electromagnetic waves
through the air at radio frequency (RF)
ë Each computer uses an antenna - no
direct connection is required
ë Properties vary according to frequency
ë Size of antenna determines range - 2m
pole across town vs. inside a laptop for
a room
ë -igher frequency electromagnetic waves
ë Advantages:
Ń They are directional (privacy
implications)
Ń Can carry more information than RF
ë Disadvantages:
Ń cannot penetrate metal structures so
require tall towers with direct line of
sight

 

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ë Microwave does not bend round the earth,
so satellites are needed for long distances
ë Satellites are expensive - each will deal
with many customers on different
frequencies
Ń Typically 6-12 transpoders per satellite (
RF)
Ń Ground stations
ë Geosynchronous
Ń 37 784 km
Versus (arrays of)
ë 
  satellites
Ń 200-400 miles
Ń Problems of limited availability + complex
tracking

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  !
 investigating carbon cycling in

freshwater and saline lakes in eastern Antarctica. They need
to build a big picture of Antarctic lake systems which are
responding to climate change very quickly
ë Currently field scientists are poorly supported with limited
links
ë Measurements taken then returned to base then annotated
and models build then new project  "
  
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ë Australian base provides

support for the scientists
ë A range of experiments run
from different stations
ë Measures are some distance
from the base
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ë Remote device deployed to take readings
ë Readings relayed to Davis (via IRIDIUM)
ë Readings moved from Davis to ³the Grid´




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ë Easy Plug and

Play of
Sensors
ë Wireless
connection to
the grid
ë Positioning
information
from GPS aa

ë èuss running
through
wearable to
allow new
sensors

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ë Initially used in remote controls
ë Advantages:
Ń portable - no antennae required
Ń inexpensive
ë Disadvantages:
Ń limited range
Ń sensitive to orientation of transmitter to
receiver



ë Use of light to carry information through

the air (no fibre required)
ë A laser beam will stay focussed over a
long distance
ë Requires a straight line of sight and can
easily be blocked (e.g., by fog).



ë Various transmission media with different
properties in terms of:
Ń range
Ń capacity to carry information
Ń cost
Ń directionality
Ń reliability (noise and blocking)

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