FEDERAL TECHNICAL ANDVOCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Faculty of Electrical-Electronics and ICT

Department of Electrical-Electronics Technology
Chapter one
Introduction to Communication II
Communication is the process of exchanging information. People communicate to convey their
thoughts, ideas, and feelings to others. The process of communication is inherent to all human
life and includes verbal, nonverbal (body language), print, and electronic processes.
Two of the main barriers to human communication are language and distance. Language barriers
arise between persons of different cultures or nationalities. Communicating over long distances
is another problem. Communication between early human beings was limited to face-to-face
encounters.
Well-known forms of electronic communication, such as the telephone, radio, TV, and the
Internet, have increased our ability to share information.
All electronic communication systems have a transmitter, a communication channel or medium,
and a receiver. The process of communication begins when a human being generates some kind
of message, data, or other intelligence that must be received by others. A message may also be
generated by a computer or electronic current. In electronic communication systems, the message
is referred to as information, or an intelligence signal. This message, in the form of an electronic
signal, is fed to the transmitter, which then transmits the message over the communication
channel. The message is picked up by the receiver and relayed to another human. Along the way,
noise is added in the communication channel and in the receiver. Noise is the general term
applied to any phenomenon that degrades or interferes with the transmitted information.

Fig 1.1 Basic electronic communication components

Transmitter
The first step in sending a message is to convert it into electronic form suitable for transmission.
For voice messages, a microphone is used to translate the sound into an electronic audio signal.
For TV, a camera converts the light information in the scene to a video signal. In computer
systems, the message is typed on a keyboard and converted to binary codes that can be stored in
memory or transmitted serially. Transducers convert physical characteristics (temperature,
pressure, light intensity, and so on) into electrical signals. The transmitter itself is a collection of
electronic components and circuits designed to convert the electrical signal to a signal suitable
for transmission over a given communication medium. Transmitters are made up of oscillators,
amplifiers, tuned circuits and filters, modulators, frequency mixers, frequency synthesizers, and
other circuits. The original intelligence signal usually modulates a higher-frequency carrier sine
wave generated by the transmitter, and the combination is raised in amplitude by power
amplifiers, resulting in a signal that is compatible with the selected transmission medium.
Communication Channel
The communication channel is the medium by which the electronic signal is sent from one place
to another. Many different types of media are used in communication systems, including wire
conductors, fiber-optic cable, and free space.
Electrical Conductors. In its simplest form, the medium may simply be a pair of wires that
carry a voice signal from a microphone to a headset. It may be a coaxial cable such as that used
to carry cable TV signals. Or it may be a twisted-pair cable used in a local-area network (LAN).
Optical Media. The communication medium may also be a fiber-optic cable or “light pipe” that
carries the message on a light wave. These are widely used today to carry long-distance calls and
all Internet communications. The information is converted to digital form that can be used to turn
a laser diode off and on at high speeds. Alternatively, audio or video analog signals can be used
to vary the amplitude of the light.
Free Space. When free space is the medium, the resulting system is known as radio. Also known
as wireless, radio is the broad general term applied to any form of wireless communication from
one point to another. Radio makes use of the electromagnetic spectrum. Intelligence signals are
converted to electric and magnetic fields that propagate nearly instantaneously through space
over long distances. Communication by visible or infrared light also occurs in free space.

Receivers
Receiver is a collection of electronic components and circuits that accepts the transmitted
message from the channel and converts it back to a form understandable by humans. Receivers
contain amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, tuned circuits and filters, and a demodulator or detector
that recovers the original intelligence signal from the modulated carrier. The output is the
original signal, which is then read out or displayed. It may be a voice signal sent to a speaker, a
video signal that is fed to an LCD screen for display, or binary data that is received by a
computer and then printed out or displayed on a video monitor.
Transceivers
Most electronic communication is two-way, and so both parties must have both a transmitter and
a receiver. As a result, most communication equipment incorporates circuits that both send and
receive. These units are commonly referred to as transceivers. All the transmitter and receiver
circuits are packaged within a single housing and usually share some common circuits such as
the power supply. Telephones, handheld radios, cellular telephones, and computer modems are
examples of transceivers.
Attenuation
Signal attenuation, or degradation, is inevitable no matter what the medium of transmission.
Attenuation is proportional to the square of the distance between the transmitter and receiver.
Media are also frequency-selective, in that a given medium will act as a low-pass filter to a
transmitted signal, distorting digital pulses in addition to greatly reducing signal amplitude over
long distances. Thus considerable signal amplification, in both the transmitter and the receiver, is
required for successful transmission. Any medium also slows signal propagation to a speed
slower than the speed of light.
Noise
Noise can be defined as unwanted signal from sources other than the transmitted signal
source. It is a signal that does not convey any information. Electrical noise is defined as any
unwanted electrical signal that falls within the passband of the signal. Its effect is experienced in
the receiver part of any communications system. While some noise can be filtered out, the
general way to minimize noise is to use components that contribute less noise and to lower their
temperatures. The measure of noise is usually expressed in terms of the signal-to-noise (S/N)
ratio (SNR), which is the signal power divided by the noise power and can be stated numerically
or in terms of decibels (dB). Obviously, a very high SNR is preferred for best performance.

TRANSMISSION MODES
Transmission mode is the flow of information signal between two devices. These modes
direct the direction of flow of information signal. Buses and networks are designed to allow
communication to occur between individual devices that are interconnected. The
transmission modes can be characterized in the following three types based on the
direction of exchange of information as shows in figure below.
1. Simplex System
2. Half duplex System
3. Full duplex System
Simplex System
In these systems, the information is communicated in only one direction. For example, the
radio or TV broadcasting system can only transmit, they cannot receive. Another example of
simplex communication is the information transmitted by the telemetry system of a satellite to
earth. The telemetry system transmits information about the physical status of the satellite such
as its position or temperature.
Half duplex System
These systems are bidirectional, i.e. they can transmit as well as receive but not
simultaneously. At a time, these systems can either transmit or receive, for example, a
transceiver or walky talky set. The direction of communication alternates. The radio
communications such as those in military, firefighting, citizen band (CB) and amateur radio are
half duplex system.
Full duplex System
These are truly bidirectional systems as they allow the communication to take place in
both the directions simultaneously. These systems can transmit as well as receive
simultaneously. For example, the telephone systems.
Digital communication refers to the exchange of digital information between the sender and
receiver using different devices and methods.

The data transmission using analog methods for long-distance communication suffers from
distortion, delays, interferences, and other losses. To overcome these problems, the digitization
and sampling of signals using different techniques help in making the transmission process
more efficient, clear, and accurate.

Digital communication is a popular technology used today in electronics. It allows us to

access video conferencing, digital meetings, online education, etc. The data can travel upto
long distances within a second with the help of the internet and other modes of digital
communication. It not only saves money but also saves time and effort. It has also raised the
standard of an individual's social, political, and economic life.

Fig 1.2 the block diagram of a digital communication system

Difference between Analog Communication and Digital Communication
In electrical and electronics engineering, the communication is defined as the process of
broadcasting, transmitting, storing or viewing the data and information using electronic devices
and circuits.
Based on the nature of signals and devices used for processing the information, the electronic
communication can be classified into following two types −
 Analog Communication
 Digital Communication
In this post, we will take a look at the major differences between analog communication and
digital communication by considering various parameters such as basic definition, cost,
hardware technology, noise, power requirement, need of modulation, applications, etc. Also, a
short description of analog communication and digital communication is added for your
reference.
Analog Communication
Analog communication is in which the data and information is transferred with the help of
analog signals in between transmitter and receiver. Therefore, the analog communication
uses continuous time signals for transmission of information.

The process involved in analog communication is illustrated in Figure-above. Where, the

information in the form of analog signal is input to a transducer, which supplies it to the
modulator. The modulator broadcast the modulated information on a communication channel.
At receiver end, a demodulator circuit is employed for extracting the information from the
modulated signal to produce the output message.
Digital Communication
The communication in which the information is transferred by using digital signals in between
transmitter and receiver is known as digital communication.
Hence, in case of digital communication, discrete time signals are used for carrying the
information from one point to another. The block diagram shown in Figure-below illustrates the
digital communication system.

Here, the information is first encoded in digital signals (binary form) and modulated. The
modulator then broadcast the information in digital form (in the form of data packets) on the
communication channel. On the receiver end, the demodulator recovers the information and
supplies it to the decoder, so that output message can be obtained.
Difference between Analog Communication and Digital Communication
The following table highlights the fundamental differences between analog communication and
digital communication –
 Basis of Analog Communication Digital Communication
Difference

The method of information transmission The communication in which digital

between transmitter and receiver in signals are used for transferring
Definition which analog signals are used for information between transmitter and
conveying the information is known as receiver is known as digital
analog communication. communication

Type of signals Analog communication uses continuous Digital communication uses discrete
used time signals. time signals.

The main components used for analog The components of digital

communication are: transmitter, communication are: transmitter,
Major components
transducers, modulator, channel, encoder, modulator, channel,
demodulator and receiver. demodulator, decoder and receiver.

In analog communication, the sinusoidal In digital communication, the signals

Signal
waveforms represent the signals used for used for information transmission are
representation
transferring information. represented by square waveforms.

Analog communication needs low High bandwidth is required in digital

Bandwidth
bandwidth. communication.

Analog communication is less immune The immunity to noise of digital

Noise
to noise. communication is good.

In analog communication, it is not In digital communication, the noise

Separation of
possible to separate the noise signal from can be easily separated from the
noise
message signal. message signal.

The probability of error in analog Digital communication has less

Error
communication is high. probability of errors.

Analog communication involves The hardware design of digital

Hardware design complicated and less flexible hardware communication is simple and more
design. flexible than analog communication.

The modulation techniques used in The modulation techniques used in

analog communication are: ‘pulse digital communication are −
Modulation
amplitude modulation (PAM)’, ‘pulse ‘amplitude shift keying (ASK)’,
techniques
width modulation (PWM)’, ‘pulse ‘frequency shift keying (FSK)’,
position modulation (PPM)’. ‘phase shift keying (PSK)’.

Multiplexing Analog communication uses frequency Digital communication uses time

technique division multiplexing (FDM). division multiplexing (TDM).
 Basis of Analog Communication Digital Communication
Difference

Power Analog communication involves high Digital communication consumes less

consumption power consumption. power.

Analog communication is comparatively Digital communication is highly

Security
less secured. secured.

In case analog communication, The synchronization is easier in case

Synchronization synchronization of difference of digital communication.
components is hard.

Analog communication is less accurate. The accuracy of digital

Accuracy
communication is high.

In analog communication, there is a In digital communication, a large

Number of
limited number of communication number of communication channels
broadcasting
channels that can be broadcasted can be broadcasted simultaneously.
channels
simultaneously.

The components used for analog Digital communication involves

Portability of
communication are heavy, hence are less compact components, hence their
components used
portable. portability is high.

Analog communication involves less The cost of digital communication is

Cost
cost for information transmission. comparatively high.

Due to many technical and economic advantages, digital communication has now become the
preferred mode of data transmission over analog communication.