Computer Network Systems

and Protocols – CS333

Instructor:
Dr. Omar Khattab
 Chapter 7
Transmission Media
 Chapter Outline

 Transmission Media
 Lecture Outline

 Classes of Transmission Media

 Guided Media
 Twisted-Pair Cable
 ….
 ….
 Unguided Media
 ….
 ….
 ….
 Revision
Transmission medium

 The transmission medium is the physical path by which a

message travels from sender to receiver such as a wire cable
or wireless
Classes of transmission media
Guided Media

Guided media, which are those that provide a conduit (a physical

conductor) from one device to another, include twisted-pair cable,
coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.

1. Twisted-Pair Cable
Use copper to transport signal
2. Coaxial Cable

3. Fiber-Optic Cable Uses glass to transport signal

 1. Twisted-Pair Cable
Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) vs. Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP)

 Cost: STP usually more expensive than UTP

 Noise Immunity: STP more noise-resistant
 Connector: Both mostly use RJ-45

 Size and scalability: Max segment length for both is 100 m

 UTP is the most common twisted-pair cable used in communications
 Types of Patch Cables
a. Crossover
 Used to connect same type of devices

 Example:
 PC to PC

 Switch to switch
 Types of Patch Cables
b. Straight-through
 Used to connect different type of devices

 Example:
 Router to Switch

 Pc to Switch
 Types of Patch Cables
c. Rollover (Console)
 Used to connect a PC to the console port of a
router/switch to program the device
 Examples:
 PC to router console port

 PC to switch console port

 Applications of UTP

 Twisted-pair cables are used in telephone

lines to provide voice and data channels
 The DSL lines that are used by the telephone
companies to provide high-data-rate connections
also use the high-bandwidth capability of UTP
cables
Computer Network Systems
and Protocols – CS333

Instructor:
Dr. Omar Khattab
 Previous Lecture

 Classes of Transmission Media

 Guided Media
 Twisted-Pair Cable
 ….
 ….
 Unguided Media
 ….
 ….
 ….
 Revision
 Lecture Outline

 Classes of Transmission Media

 Guided Media
 ….
 Coaxial Cable
 Fiber Optic Cable
 Unguided Media
 ….
 ….
 ….
 Revision
 2. Coaxial Cable
 High resistance to noise
 Expensive
 Coaxial Cable Connectors
 To connect coaxial cable to devices, we need coaxial connectors. The most common type of
connector used today is the Bayonet-Neill-Concelman (BNC)
 Three popular types of these connectors:
 BNC connector: is used to connect the end of the cable to a device, such as a TV set

 BNC T connector: is used in Ethernet networks to branch out to a connection to a

computer or other device

 BNC terminator: is used at the end of the cable to prevent the reflection of the signal
(in bus topology, to prevent the signal from bouncing back and forth)
 Applications
 Analog telephone networks
 Digital telephone networks
 Cable TV networks
 Traditional Ethernet LANs
 3. Fiber Optic Cable: Connectors

 There are three types of connectors for fiber-optic cables:

 The Subscriber Channel (SC) connector is used for cable TV

 The Straight-Tip (ST) connector is used for connecting cable to

networking devices
 MT-RJ is a connector that is the same size as RJ45
 Applications
 Fiber-optic cable is often found in backbone
networks
 Advantages/Disadvantages of
Optical Fibers
Advantages
 Higher bandwidth

 Immunity to electromagnetic interference

 Light weight

Disadvantages
 Installation and maintenance

 Cost
Computer Network Systems
and Protocols – CS333

Instructor:
Dr. Omar Khattab
 Previous Lecture

 Classes of Transmission Media

 Guided Media
 ….
 Coaxial Cable
 Fiber Optic Cable
 Unguided Media
 ….
 ….
 ….
 Revision
 Lecture Outline

 Classes of Transmission Media

 Guided Media
 ….
 ….
 ….
 Unguided Media
 Radio Waves
 Microwaves
 Infrared
 Revision
Unguided Media: Wireless

Unguided media transport electromagnetic waves

without using a physical conductor. This type of
communication is often referred to as wireless
communication. Signals are normally broadcast through
free space and thus are available to anyone who has a
device capable of receiving them.
 1. Radio Waves
 Use omnidirectional antennas
that send out signals in all
directions (multicast)
 Applications:
AM and FM radio, television,
cordless phones, and paging
 Frequencies between 3kHz and
1 GHz
 2. Microwaves

 Use unidirectional antennas

that send out signals in one
direction (unicast)
 Applications:
Cellular phones, satellite
networks, and wireless LANs
 Frequencies between 1 GHz and
300 GHz
 3. Infrared
 Used for short range communication
 Applications:
Wireless keyboards, mice, PC, and
printer
 Frequencies between 300 GHz and 400
THz