COM 122 Introduction to Internet Lecture Note 3

Transmission Media
Transmission media can be defined as physical path between transmitter and receiver in a data
transmission system. Or Transmission media is a path way that carries the information from
sender to receiver. The transmission medium is usually free space, metallic cable, or fiber-optic
cable.

Fig 1: Diagram showing Transmission medium and physical layer

Classification of Transmission Media

Fig 2: Diagram showing the classes of transmission media

Basically, the classification of transmission media is based on two types, they are:
Guided Transmission Media
Unguided Transmission Media

Guided Transmission Media: This can also be called Wired or Guided Media or Bound
Transmission Media: Guided transmission media are the cables that are tangible or have

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physical existence and are limited by the physical geography. They provide a conduit from one
device to another. A signal traveling along any of these media is directed and contained by the
physical limits of the medium. Transmission capacity depends critically on the medium, the length,
and whether the medium is point-to-point or multipoint (e.g. LAN). Popular Guided transmission
media in use are:

Twisted pair cable

Co-axial cable
Fiber optical cable.

Twisted Pair Cable

A twisted pair consists of two conductors [normally copper], each with its own plastic
insulation twisted together in a curl to reduce interference between the two conductors. One
of the wires is used to carry signals to the receiver, and the other is used only as a ground
reference. Twisting decreases the cross-talk interference between adjacent pairs in a cable.
Typically, a number of pairs are bundled together into a cable by wrapping them in a tough
protective sheath.

Fig 3: Diagram showing Twisted-pair cable

There are two types of Twisted-Pair cable, these are:

Shielded Twisted-Pair [STP]
Unshielded Twisted-Pair [UTP].

Shielded Twisted-Pair [STP]: This is a type of copper telephone wiring in which each of the two
copper wires are twisted together and coated with an insulating coating that functions as a

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ground for the wires. The extra covering in shielded twisted pair wiring protects the
transmission line from electromagnetic interference leaking into or out of the cable. STP cabling
often used in Ethernet networks, especially fast data rate Ethernets. It is very expensive but
capable of supporting higher transmission rates across longer distances.

Unshielded Twisted-Pair [UTP]: This is a 100 ohm copper cable that consists of 2 to 1800
unshielded twisted pairs surrounded by an outer jacket. They have no metallic shield. This
makes the cable small in diameter but unprotected against electrical interference. The twist
helps to improve its immunity to electrical noise and electromagnetic interference [EMI].

Fig 4: Diagram showing Unshielded and Shielded Twisted Pairs Cable

Characteristics of a twisted-pair cable

It can use for both analog and digital communication.
The data rate supported over a twisted-pair cable is inversely proportional to the square
of the line length.
Maximum transmission distance of 1 Km can be achieved for data rates up to 1 Mb/s.
Amplifiers are required about every 6 Km for analog voice signals while repeaters are
needed for about 2 Km for digital signals.

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Twisted pair is shielded with metallic braid to reduce interference

Uses of twisted-pair cable

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 unshielded twisted- pair cables.
Local-area networks, such as lOBase-T and lOOBase-T, also use twisted-pair cables

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable (or coax) carries signals of higher frequency ranges than those in twisted pair cable, in
part because the two media are constructed quite differently. Instead of having two wires, coax has
a central core conductor of solid or stranded wire (usually copper) enclosed in an insulating sheath,
which is, in turn, encased in an outer conductor of metal foil, braid, or a combination of the two.
The outer metallic wrapping serves as a shield against noise as well as the second conductor which
completes the circuit. This outer conductor is also enclosed in an insulating sheath, and the whole
cable is protected by a plastic cover.

Fig 5: Diagram showing Coaxial Cable

Characteristics of Coaxial Cable

Co-axial cable has superior frequency characteristics compared to twisted-pair and can
be used for both analog and digital signaling.

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In baseband LAN, the data rates lies in the range of 1 KHz to 20 MHz over a distance in
the range of 1 Km.
Co-axial cables typically have a diameter of 3/8".
Coaxial cables are used both for baseband and broadband communication.
Co-axial cable is less susceptible to interference and cross talk than the twisted-pair. For
long distance communication, repeaters are needed for every kilometer.
Data rate depends on physical properties of cable, but with the default of 10 Mbps.

Uses of Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable was widely used in analog telephone networks where a single coaxial
network could carry 10,000 voice signals.
It was used later in digital telephone networks where a single coaxial cable could carry
digital data up to 600 Mbps, thou it has been largely replaced today with fiber-optic
cable in telephone networks.
It is used in traditional cable TV network, but was replaced with fiber-optic cable.
It is used by the hybrid networks only at the network boundaries, near the consumer
premises. Cable TV uses RG-59 coaxial cable
Coaxial cable is used in traditional Ethernet LANs, because of its high bandwidth, and
consequently high data rate. It was chosen for digital transmission in early Ethernet
LANs.

Optical fiber

Optical fiber is a cable that accepts and transports signals in the form of light. Optical fiber
consists of thin glass fiber that can carry information at frequencies in the visible light
spectrum.

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Fig 6: Diagram showing Optical fiber

Advantages Optical Fiber

Small size and light weight
Easy availability and low cost
No electrical or electromagnetic interference
Large Bandwidth
No cross talk
Greater immunity to tapping
Less signal attenuation.
Resistance to corrosive materials.

Disadvantages of Optical Fiber

Unidirectional light propagation

Physical vibration will show up as signal noise.

Limited physical arc of cable that is if bend too much, it will break.
Difficult to splice
Installation and maintenance is high

Unguided Transmission Media: This type of media transport electromagnetic waves without
using a physical conductor. This type of communication is often referred to as wireless

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communication. Signals are normally broadcast through free space and available to anyone
who has a device capable of receiving them. Unguided signals can travel from the source to
destination in several ways which are:
Ground propagation
Sky propagation
Line-of-sight propagation
Ground propagation
In ground propagation, radio waves travel through the lowest portion of the atmosphere,
hugging the earth. These low- frequency signals emanate in all directions from the transmitting
antenna and follow the curvature of the planet. Distance depends on the amount of power in
the signal: The greater the power, the greater the distance. AM is an example of Ground Wave
Propagation.

Fig 7: Diagram showing Ground propagation

Sky propagation
In sky propagation, higher-frequency radio waves radiate upward into the ionosphere where
they are reflected back to earth. This type of transmission allows for greater distances with
lower output power.

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COM 122 Introduction to Internet Lecture Note 3

Fig 8: Diagram showing Sky propagation

Line-of-sight propagation
In line-or-sight propagation, very high-frequency signals are transmitted in straight lines
directly from antenna to antenna. Antennas must be directional, facing each other and either
tall enough or close enough together not to be affected by the curvature of the earth. Line-of-
sight propagation is tricky because radio transmissions cannot be completely focused.

Fig 9: Diagram showing Line-of-sight propagation

Assignment

1. Define the term Transmission Media

2. Briefly explain the classes of transmission media
3. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of Optical Fiber?
4. Write short note on the various ways by which unguided signals can travel from source to
destination.

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