Data Communication

Communication
⚫This is defined as the process of transmitting data from
a particular device or person to another device or
person.
In dealing with communication, the
following terms will be encountered:
⚫Teleprocessing
⚫This is the process by which files on one computer are
allowed to be accessed by files on another computer.
⚫Data Communication
⚫Data communication is the transmission of data and
information through a communications medium.
⚫Telecommunication
⚫This is the transmission of data over a far distance
without the data being changed.
⚫Sender
⚫This is the creator (or source) of the information to be
transmitted.
⚫Receiver
⚫This is the destination of the unchanged information
that was transmitted.
⚫Transmission Medium
⚫This is the physical material between the sender and
the receiver that is along the path which the data
travels.
Types of Transmission Media
⚫ Short Distance Transmission media
⚫Twisted Pairs
⚫Coaxial Cable
⚫Fiber Optic Cable
Long Distance Transmission media
(Wireless Technology)
⚫Microwave
⚫Satellite
⚫Infrared
⚫Bluetooth
⚫Wi-Fi
Short Distance Transmission Media
⚫Twisted Pairs
⚫These are pairs of copper wires that have been twisted
together to transmit data, for example, telephone wire
⚫ Advantages
⚫ Available in most households
⚫ Very cheap

⚫ Disadvantages
⚫ Subject to magnetic interference
Coaxial Cable
⚫This consists of a single copper wire surrounded by at
least three layers:
1. an insulating material
2. a woven or braided metal/ Copper Mesh
3. a plastic outer coating
⚫Advantages
⚫Transmits faster than twisted pairs
⚫Not subjected to magnetic interference
⚫Can be used for analog and digital signals

⚫Disadvantages
⚫It is heavy and bulky
⚫Needs booster over long distance
Fiber Optic Cable
⚫This is a cable made up of dozens or hundreds of thin
strands of glass or plastic that use light to transmit
signals. Since a fiber-optic cable is light-based, data
can be sent through it at the speed of light.
⚫Advantages
⚫Smaller and lighter
⚫Faster
⚫No interference
⚫Raw material used to manufacture the medium is in
abundant supply.
⚫Able to bend light around corners
⚫Disadvantages
⚫Expensive
⚫Difficult to install and modify
Activity
⚫Fill in the blanks with the correct transmission medium
beside each statement

1.Transmits signals at the speed of light

_______________
2.Can be used to send signals to televisions
____________
3.It is made up of many copper wires twisted together
and is inexpensive
_____________________________
Long Distance Transmission
Media
⚫This is any media used to transmit data and
information over very large areas using wireless
technology.
⚫ Types of these media include:
1. Microwave
2. Satellite
3. Infrared
4. Bluetooth
5. Wi-Fi
Microwave Transmission Media
⚫This is a communications system that uses a beam of
radio waves in the microwave frequency range to
transmit video, audio, or data between two locations.
These locations can be a few feet or several miles apart
from each other.

⚫These are mostly used by television broadcasters to

transmit programmes across the country, for instance,
from an outside broadcast back to a studio.
Satellite
⚫A satellite is a specialized wireless receiver/transmitter
that is launched by a rocket and placed in orbit around
the earth. A satellite transmits signals by reflecting or
relaying a radio signal.

⚫They are used for many purposes such as weather

forecasting, television broadcast, Internet
communications, and radio communications. A
satellite orbits the earth directly over the equator, at
about 22,000 miles up.
Bluetooth
⚫Bluetooth is a specification for the use of low-power
radio communications to wirelessly link phones,
computers and other network devices over short
distances.

⚫The name Bluetooth is borrowed from Harald

Bluetooth, a king in Denmark more than 1,000 years
ago.
Wi-Fi
⚫This is a popular wireless networking technology that
uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed
Internet and network connections.
Infrared
⚫Infrared is a line-of-sight wireless technology that uses
a beam of invisible light to transmit information. This
means that the infrared ports of both devices must be
nearby and aimed at each other for a connection to
succeed.
Analog/Digital Signals
⚫Data is transferred using either of two modes: Digital
and Analog.
 
⚫With analog signal, the data is transferred using
waveform.

⚫With digital signal, data is transferred in binary form

(0 or1).
⚫To convert data from one form to the other, a modem
(Modulater/Demodulater) is used.
Modes of Transmitting Data
⚫Simplex
⚫In this case, data is transferred in one direction only.
⚫Half-Duplex
⚫This channel allows data to be transmitted in both
directions, but not at the same time.
⚫Full-Duplex
⚫This channel allows data to be transmitted in both
directions simultaneously (at the same time).
BANDWIDTH
⚫This is the characteristic of a communication channel
that determines the speed at which data is transmitted
over the channel. This is measured in bits per second
(bps).
⚫There are four types of bandwidths:
⚫Narrowband
⚫Voiceband
⚫Mediumband
⚫Broadband
⚫Narrowband
⚫This is a channel transmits data at 45 - 90 bps, and is
used in the transmission of telegraphs.
⚫Voiceband
⚫This is a channel transmits data at 110 - 9600 bps, and
is used in the transmission of data by microcomputers.
This is commonly used in telephone lines.
⚫Mediumband
⚫This is a channel that is mostly used with mini-
computers and mainframes, that transmits data at 9600
- 256000 bps.
⚫Broadband
⚫This is a channel that transmits data at 256,000 -
1,000,000 bps, and it is used for high-speed data
transmission. Examples are, microwave, satellite, and
fiber optic channels.
Data communication terms
⚫Upload
⚫This is the process of transferring documents,
graphics, and other objects from a computer to the
server on the Internet.
⚫Download
⚫This is the process of a computer receiving
information, such as a web page from a server on the
internet.
⚫Point to point transmission
⚫This is the process by which data is sent from one
location to the other.
⚫Hotspot
⚫A specific geographic location in which an access
point provides public wireless broadband network
services to mobile visitors through a Wireless LAN
(WLAN).

⚫Hotspots are often located in heavily populated places

such as airports, train stations, libraries, marinas,
conventions centers and hotels. Hotspots typically
have a short range of access.
NETWORKING
⚫Definition of a Network
⚫This is defined as a set of two or more computers
which are connected together to share resources, such
as files, printers, drives, etc.
⚫There are two main types of networks, in:

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

2. Wide Area Network (WAN)
⚫Local Area Network (LAN)
⚫This is a network that connects computers and devices
in a limited geographical area, such as a home, school
or computer lab.
⚫Characteristics of a LAN
⚫Used in a single building or site
⚫Owned by the user
⚫Users share data and hardware
⚫High bandwidth
⚫Cable used is inexpensive
⚫Wide Area Network (WAN)
⚫This a network that covers a large geographical area
such as a city, country or the world, using a
communications channel that combines many types of
media such as telephone lines, cables and radio waves.

⚫A WAN can be one large network or can consist of two

or more LANs connected together.
⚫Characteristics of a WAN
⚫Large number of computers with multiples host
computers
⚫Covers a wide geographical area
⚫Routers and gateways are used to connect the different
networks
⚫Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
⚫This is a high speed network that connects local area
networks such a city or town and handles a bulk of
communication activity across the region.
Network Topology
⚫This relates to how the computers are physically
connected within the network. The three basic ones
are as follows:

1. Star
2. Ring
3. Bus
⚫Star Topology
⚫This is a topology where all the devices must connect
to a central concentrator, hub or switch. Star topologies
are relatively easy to install and manage, but can have
bottlenecks occur as all the information must pass
through the hub..
⚫Key points to note about the star topology:
⚫If the host computer fails, then the entire network fails.
(disadv.)
⚫It allows for the easy control of data.
⚫If any computer other than the host computer fails, no
other computer is affected.
⚫Ring Topology
⚫In this case, each computer is connected to its two
adjacent computers (the one to its right and the other to
its left), forming a ring.
⚫Key points to note about the ring topology:
⚫If any node stops working then the entire network fails.
(disadv)
⚫This topology uses less cabling.
⚫Communication is not routed through a central computer
or server.
⚫Bus Topology
⚫In this case, there is one communication line
which allows communication in both directions, to
which each node is connected.
Key points to note about the bus topology:
⚫The network is not affected by the failing of any one
node.
⚫It is not suitable for connecting a large number of
computers.
Class Activity
1. What type of network is currently used at the Vere
Technical High school?
2. What type of network topology is currently used in the
computer labs at Vere Technical High school.
3. List all the types of transmission media used for
communication in the Vere Technical High School
computer network.
4. Do you think there is room for improvement with the
network we currently use? Give reasons for your
answer.

Due: Today 12:50 p.m.