1.

What are the two types of twisted pair wires and what
is the difference between
them? [10]
The two types of twisted pair wires are shielded twisted pair (STP) and unshielded twisted pair
(UTP). The difference between them is that STP has an additional layer of shielding around
each pair of wires inside the cable, while UTP does not. This shielding helps to reduce
electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk between the wires, which can affect the quality
and speed of data transmission. STP is more expensive, difficult to install, and suitable for
longer distances than UTP. UTP is cheaper, easier to install, and suitable for shorter distances
than STP.

2. Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of twisted

pair wires. [4]

- Advantages:
- They are more affordable compared to other types of cables
- They are lightweight, flexible, and easy to install

- Disadvantages:
- They are more vulnerable to interference if not properly shielded
- Their data transfer speed is lower compared to optical fiber cables.

3. What is the advantage of FM over AM? [4]

The advantage of FM over AM is that FM is less prone to noise and interference than AM. Noise
and interference affect the amplitude of a signal, which is where the information is stored in AM.
However, in FM, the information is stored in the frequency of the signal, which remains constant.
Therefore, FM can provide better sound quality and higher data transfer speed than AM.

4. Why does FM take so much more bandwidth than AM?

[4]
FM takes so much more bandwidth than AM because FM modulates the frequency of the carrier
wave according to the signal that carries the information, while AM modulates the amplitude of
the carrier wave. This means that FM signals have a larger range of frequencies than AM
signals, and therefore require more space in the frequency spectrum. The bandwidth of an FM
signal is determined by the formula:

B = 2(f_m + f_d)

where B is the bandwidth, f_m is the frequency of the modulating signal, and f_d is the
frequency deviation, which is the maximum change in frequency caused by the modulating
signal. For example, if the modulating signal has a frequency of 15 kHz and the frequency
deviation is 75 kHz, then the bandwidth of the FM signal is:
B = 2(15 + 75) = 180 kHz

On the other hand, the bandwidth of an AM signal is determined by the formula:

B = 2f_m

where f_m is the frequency of the modulating signal. For example, if the modulating signal has a
frequency of 15 kHz, then the bandwidth of the AM signal is:

B = 2 \times 15 = 30 kHz

As you can see, FM signals have a much larger bandwidth than AM signals for the same
modulating signal. This allows FM signals to transmit higher quality audio signals with less noise
and interference, but also limits the number of FM channels that can fit in a given frequency
band.

5. What is the advantage of SSB-SC compared to

DSB-SC?
The advantage of SSB-SC compared to DSB-SC is that SSB-SC requires only
half of the bandwidth used by DSB-SC for the same modulating signal. This is because SSB-SC
transmits only one of the sidebands (either lower or upper) and suppresses the other one, while
DSB-SC transmits both the sidebands and suppresses the carrier. By transmitting only one
sideband, SSB-SC also reduces the power consumption and interference from the other
sideband. SSB-SC is more efficient and suitable for long-distance communication than DSB-SC.

6. What happens to an over-modulated signal? Can the signal

still be used? [4]
An over-modulated signal is a signal that has been modulated beyond the limit of 100%
modulation, which means that the amplitude of the modulating signal is greater than the
amplitude of the carrier signal. This causes the envelope of the modulated signal to have sharp
edges or bends, which distort the original information and create unwanted frequencies or
harmonics. ¹²

An over-modulated signal can still be used, but it will have lower quality and higher interference
than a properly modulated signal. Depending on the type of modulation and demodulation used,
different methods can be applied to recover the original information from an over-modulated
signal. For example, for amplitude modulation (AM), a synchronous detector can be used
instead of an envelope detector to demodulate an over-modulated signal without distortion. For
frequency modulation (FM), a limiter can be used to clip the amplitude variations of an
over-modulated signal and preserve the frequency variations. However, these methods are
more complex and expensive than the conventional ones, and they may not be able to
completely eliminate the effects of over-modulation. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid
over-modulation as much as possible and maintain a reasonable level of modulation for optimal
performance.

7. Give three advantages and 2 disadvantages of satellite transmission

[10]
Some possible advantages and disadvantages of satellite transmission are:

- Advantages:
- Satellite transmission can cover a large geographical area, especially for sparsely populated
or remote areas¹.
- Satellite transmission can provide high bandwidth and broadcast possibilities, which enable
wireless and mobile communication applications¹.
- Satellite transmission can offer accessibility and mobility, which means that users can
communicate from anywhere and anytime using portable devices³.
- Disadvantages:
- Satellite transmission can be expensive, as it requires high initial cost for designing,
developing, launching, and insuring satellites¹.
- Satellite transmission can have latency issues, as it takes time for the signals to travel
between the earth stations and the satellites¹.
- Satellite transmission can be affected by weather conditions, interference, and multipath
propagation, which can cause signal degradation and distortion.

8. Draw a diagram to show the classification of switching

techniques in
communication [10]

9. Describe the 3 phasesof the circuit switching technique. [6]

The three phases of the circuit switching technique are:

- Circuit establishment: This is the phase where a dedicated path or circuit is created between
the source and the destination nodes within a network before starting the data transfer. This
involves finding an available route and allocating the necessary resources, such as bandwidth
and switch ports, along the path. The circuit establishment may require signaling protocols and
messages to coordinate the process.
- Data transfer: This is the phase where the actual data or voice signals are transmitted between
the source and the destination nodes along the established circuit. The data transfer can be
continuous or intermittent, depending on the application. The data transfer can use different
methods of multiplexing, such as frequency division multiplexing (FDM) or time division
multiplexing (TDM), to combine multiple signals into a single carrier. The data transfer can also
use different methods of modulation, such as amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency
modulation (FM), to encode the information in the carrier wave.
- Circuit disconnect: This is the phase where the circuit or path between the source and the
destination nodes is terminated or disconnected after the completion of the data transfer. This
involves releasing the resources that were allocated for the circuit and sending signaling
messages to notify the end nodes and intermediate switches. The circuit disconnect can be
initiated by either of the end nodes or by a network administrator.

10. Give three Advantages of Message Switching [3]

Some possible advantages of message switching are:

- It enables efficient usage of network resources by sharing communication channels among

multiple devices¹.
- It reduces network congestion by storing and forwarding messages at intermediate nodes until
the next hop and link are available².
- It supports message lengths of unlimited size and allows broadcasting of messages to multiple
receivers by appending broadcast addresses.

11. In space division switches, what is the disadvantage of a

crossbar switch, and what
is the solution to that disadvantage?[4]
The disadvantage of a crossbar switch in space division switches is that it requires a large
number of switching elements and wiring, which makes it expensive and complex to implement.
For example, to connect n inputs to m outputs using a crossbar switch, n * m crosspoints are
needed. This also makes the switch inefficient, as many of the crosspoints may be idle at any
given time.

The solution to this disadvantage is to use a multistage switch, which combines several
crossbar switches in different stages. In a multistage switch, the devices are connected to
switches that are linked to other switches. This reduces the number of crosspoints and wiring
required, as well as the cost and complexity of the switch. However, a multistage switch may
introduce blocking, which occurs when two inputs try to access the same intermediate channel.
To avoid blocking, additional stages or paths can be added to the switch.

12. Give the differences between Datagram and virtual circuit

approach [10]

Some possible differences between datagram and virtual circuit approach are:

- Datagram approach is connectionless, meaning that each packet is sent independently without
any prior setup or reservation of resources. Virtual circuit approach is connection-oriented,
meaning that a dedicated path or circuit is established between the sender and receiver before
data transmission. ¹²
- Datagram approach uses dynamic routing, meaning that each packet can take a different path
to the destination based on the network conditions. Virtual circuit approach uses static routing,
meaning that all packets follow the same path that was determined during the connection setup.
¹²
- Datagram approach has lower overhead, meaning that each packet only contains the
destination address and other necessary information. Virtual circuit approach has higher
overhead, meaning that each packet also contains a virtual circuit identifier and other
connection-related information. ¹²
- Datagram approach provides unreliable delivery, meaning that packets may be lost, corrupted,
duplicated, or delivered out of order. Virtual circuit approach provides reliable delivery, meaning
that packets are guaranteed to arrive at the destination in order and without errors. ¹²
- Datagram approach does not support quality of service (QoS), meaning that different types of
traffic are treated equally and there is no guarantee of bandwidth, delay, or jitter. Virtual circuit
approach supports QoS, meaning that different types of traffic can be prioritized and allocated
specific resources according to their requirements.

13. What type of propagation is used for satellite

communication The type of propagation that is used for satellite communication is
mainly **space wave propagation**, which is the transmission of electromagnetic waves in the
space between the earth and the satellite. Space wave propagation can be affected by various
atmospheric phenomena, such as ionospheric scintillation, tropospheric scintillation, rain
attenuation, cloud attenuation, water vapor attenuation, oxygen attenuation, and dust storm
attenuation. These phenomena can cause signal degradation and distortion, which can affect
the quality and reliability of satellite communication.