Differences between

Analog and Digital

Signals

Analog
Transmission
Older transmission form
Signal is sent via copper wire
Characterized by continuous variability
along amplitude and frequency
Any signal can generate frequencies
over a wide bandwidth
Conducts only low-speed data
communications

Digital
Transmission
Modern transmission
Two typical forms of transmission media
Electrical
Optical

Digital transmission produces simpler

signal than analog
Signals are simplified into numeric
representation, eliminating noise.

Unlike analogs continuous waveform,

digital is a series of discrete pulses
representing binary code.

Digital
Transmission

Types of Digital
Transmission
Electrical
Networks
1 bits are represented
by high voltage
0 bits are represented
by not existent voltage
or low voltage
Made out of copper or
aluminum
Examples are twistedpair cable and coaxial
cable

Optical Networks
1 bits are
represented by
presence of light
0 bits are
represented by
absence of light
Made out of glass
bound fibers
Example is fiberoptic cable

Digital
Transmission
Easier to reproduce; therefore, less care
is needed
Transmission interruptions are easily
compensated

THE PRESENT

THE PAST