Course Name-Computer Networks

Course Code- COM-502

Topic –Transmission Media

Model Institute of
Engineering & Technology
 Course Outcomes

Course Description Mapping with Program Outcomes

Outcomes and Program Specific Outcomes

CO1 Articulate the fundamental concepts in computer networks and justify their 1,2,3,5,9,11,12
layered implementation.

CO2 Appreciate the challenges involved and available protocols for facilitating low- 1,2,3,5,9,10,11,12
level data communication.

CO3 Analyze the design issues in ensuring error free data construction, deconstruction 1,2,3,4,5,9,10,11,12
and transmission across devices.

CO4 Justify the application of appropriate routing algorithms in different scenarios 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12
based on through understanding of prevalent routing algorithms

CO5 Articulate the role of higher network layers in the OSI models and the working of 1,2,3,4,5,9,10,12
common network Applications.
Assessment and Evaluation Plan

◻ Assessment Tools:
◻ Evaluation:
✔ Assignments
◻ Internal- 50 Marks
✔ Sessionals
✔ A1- 10 marks
✔ Tutorials
✔ A2- 10 marks
✔ Quiz
✔ S1- 10 marks
✔ Solving examples
✔ S2- 10 marks
✔ Attendance- 10 marks
◻ External Exam- 100 marks
 Course Outcome 2-Delivery Plan

Course Outcomes Topics Blooms Taxonomy

Transmission media
Understand

Guided Transmission Understand

CO2

Unguided Transmission Understand

Outcomes of Today’s Lecture

• Transmission media
• Guided Transmission
• Unguided Transmission
 Introduction

• Transmission media is a communication channel that carries the information from the sender to the
receiver. Data is transmitted through the electromagnetic signals.
• The main functionality of the transmission media is to carry the information in the form of bits
through LAN(Local Area Network).
• It is a physical path between transmitter and receiver in data communication.
• In a copper-based network, the bits in the form of electrical signals.
• In a fibre based network, the bits in the form of light pulses.
• In OSI(Open System Interconnection) phase, transmission media supports the Layer 1. Therefore, it is
considered to be as a Layer 1 component.
• The electrical signals can be sent through the copper wire, fibre optics, atmosphere, water, and vacuum.
• The characteristics and quality of data transmission are determined by the characteristics of medium and
signal.
• The transmission media is available in the lowest layer of the OSI reference model, i.e., Physical layer.
Some factors need to be considered for designing the transmission media:

• Bandwidth: All the factors are remaining constant, the greater the bandwidth of a medium, the
higher the data transmission rate of a signal.

• Transmission impairment: When the received signal is not identical to the transmitted one due to
the transmission impairment. The quality of the signals will get destroyed due to transmission
impairment.

• Interference: An interference is defined as the process of disrupting a signal when it travels over
a communication medium on the addition of some unwanted signal.
 Transmission Media
In data communication terminology, a transmission medium is a physical path between the transmitter
and the receiver, i.e, it is the channel through which data is sent from one place to another.
Transmission Media is broadly classified into the following types:
1. Guided Media:
It is also referred to as Wired or Bounded transmission media. Signals being transmitted
are directed and confined in a narrow pathway by using physical links.

Features:
•High Speed
•Secure
•Used for comparatively shorter distances
There are 3 major types of Guided Media:

(i) Twisted Pair Cable –

It consists of 2 separately insulated conductor wires wound about each other. Generally, several such
pairs are bundled together in a protective sheath. They are the most widely used Transmission Media.
Twisted Pair is of two types:
• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP):
This type of cable has the ability to block interference and does not depend on a physical
shield for this purpose. It is used for telephonic applications.

Advantages:
⇢ Least expensive
⇢ Easy to install
⇢ High-speed capacity
⇢ Susceptible to external interference
⇢ Lower capacity and performance in comparison to STP
⇢ Short distance transmission due to attenuation
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP):
This type of cable consists of a special jacket to block external interference. It is used in fast-
data-rate Ethernet and in voice and data channels of telephone lines.

Advantages:
⇢ Better performance at a higher data rate in comparison to UTP
⇢ Eliminates crosstalk
⇢ Comparatively faster
⇢ Comparatively difficult to install and manufacture
⇢ More expensive
⇢ Bulky
(ii) Coaxial Cable –
It has an outer plastic covering containing 2 parallel conductors each having a separate insulated
protection cover.
Cable TVs and analog television networks widely use Coaxial cables.

Advantages:
High Bandwidth
Better noise Immunity
Easy to install and expand
Inexpensive

Disadvantages:
Single cable failure can disrupt the entire network
(iii) Optical Fibre Cable –
It uses the concept of reflection of light through a core made up of glass or plastic. The core is
surrounded by a less dense glass or plastic covering called the cladding. It is used for the
transmission of large volumes of data.
The cable can be unidirectional or bidirectional.
Advantages:
• Increased capacity and bandwidth
• Lightweight
• Less signal attenuation
• Immunity to electromagnetic interference
• Resistance to corrosive materials
Disadvantages:
• Difficult to install and maintain
• High cost
• Fragile
2. Unguided Media:
It is also referred to as Wireless or Unbounded transmission media. No physical medium is
required for the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
Features:
•The signal is broadcasted through air
•Less Secure
•Used for larger distances

There are 3 types of Signals transmitted through unguided media:

(i) Radiowaves
(ii) Microwaves
(i) Radiowaves – These are easy to generate and can penetrate through buildings. The sending and
receiving antennas need not be aligned.
FM radios and cordless phones use Radiowaves for transmission.

(ii) Microwaves – It is a line-of-sight transmission i.e. the sending and receiving antennas
need to be properly aligned with each other. The distance covered by the signal is directly
proportional to the height of the antenna.
These are majorly used for mobile phone communication and television distribution.
(iii) Infrared –
Infrared waves are used for very short distance communication. They cannot penetrate
through obstacles. This prevents interference between systems. Frequency Range:300GHz
– 400THz. It is used in TV remotes, wireless mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.
 Comparison

i. Radio wave is omnidirectional in nature. Conversely, a microwave is unidirectional.

ii. Microwaves can cover shorter distances. On the contrary, radio waves can travel a long distance.

iii. Radio wave is usually propagated through sky mode while microwave uses the line of sight

propagation.

iv. Radio waves are commonly used in AM, FM, cellular systems, etc. In contrast, radar systems,

aircraft navigation, microwave oven are the common applications of microwaves.

Thank You