3.

Transmission Media
Guided Media:

1. Twisted Pair Cable:-

A twisted pair cable consists of two insulated copper wires twisted together. The twisting
helps reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk between pairs.

These are a type of guided media. It was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. Twisted pair
cables have two conductors that are generally made up of copper and each conductor has
insulation. These two conductors are twisted together, thus giving the name twisted pair
cables.

There are Two Types of Twisted Pair Cable

1. Unshielded Twisted Pair Cables (UTP) :

These are a pair of two insulated copper wires twisted together without any other insulation
or shielding and hence are called unshielded twisted pair cables. They reduce the external
interference due to the presence of insulation. Unshielded twisted pair cables are arranged
in pairs so that we can add a new connection whenever required. The DSL or telephone lines
in our houses have one extra pair in them. When UTP are arranged in pairs, each pair is
coded with a different color as defined by the 25-pair color code developed by AT&T
Corporation.
Advantages –
1. These cables are cost-effective and easy to install owing to their compact size.
2. They are generally used for short-distance transmission of both voice and data.
3. It is less costly as compared to other types of cables.

Disadvantages –
1. The connection established using UTP is not secure.
2. They are efficient only for a distance up to 100 meters and have to be installed in pieces
of up to 100 meters.
3. These cables have limited bandwidth.

Application –
1. Telephone lines
2. Security cameras
3. Networking (Ethernet) etc

2. Shielded Twisted Pair Cables (UTP) :

These types of cables have extra insulation or protective covering over the conductors in the
form of a copper braid covering. This covering provides strength to the overall structure of the cable.
It also reduces noise and signal interference in the cable. The shielding ensures that the induced
signal can be returned to the source via ground and only circulate around the shield without
affecting the main propagating signal. The STP cables are also color-coded like the UTP cables as
different color pairs are required for analog and digital transmission. These cables are costly and
difficult to install.
Advantages –
1. They are generally used for long-distance communication and transmission and are
installed underground.
2. The protective shield prevents external electromagnetic noise penetration into the cable.
3. They have a higher bandwidth as compared to UTP.

Disadvantages –
1. These cables are very expensive.
2. They require a lot of maintenance which increases the cost more.
3. These can be installed underground only.
4. The length of the segment is similar to UTP for these cables.

Application

1. Medical Equipment Networks

2. Aerospace & Military Communication
3. High-Speed Ethernet & Data Centers
4. Industrial Networks

Connectors- RJ45
RJ45 stands for Registered Jack 45 and is the most commonly used connector in wired
networks. The jacks are mainly used to connect to the Local Area Network (LAN). It was
earlier devised for telephones but is now widely used in Ethernet Networking. The 45 in RJ45
basically stands for the listing number. The width of RJ45 is usually greater than that of the
telephone cables or other Registered Jacks. Compared to additional jacks the bandwidth
provided by these is high and the range is usually 10 Gbps. Because of speed and enhanced
security, they are used to connect personal computers to servers, routers etc. These jacks are
mostly used in Star Topology.
The colors of RJ45 wiring include White/Green, Green, White/Orange, Blue, White/Blue,
Orange, White/Brown, and Brown. Now coming to the coloring of the wires two colour code
schemes are used. On is RJ45 T568 A and RJ45 T568 B. They are different because of the
position change of orange and green wires. In RJ45 T568 A the green color wiring comes
before orange wiring and in the case of RJ45 T568 B orange wiring comes before green
wiring. Another difference between the two is RJ45 T568 A provides backward compatibility
with the old wirings whereas RJ45 T568B offers more resistance to noises in the signals.

Connectors- RJ11
 RJ11 is a narrower connection that is mostly used in telephone interfaces. It is usually of four
or six pins while only two or four are commonly employed for connection to the telephone
line. RJ11 can be described as a type of connector that is installed in homes and offices to
provide a connection for the telephone to wall sockets.

Advantages of RJ11
 Optimized for Telephony: RJ11 is also used exclusively for telephone connections, which
is why it is used as the standard way of signal transmitting analog voice signals in homes
and businesses.
 Compact Size: Apart from that, RJ11 connectors are small in size, and this makes them
easy to handle and fix in place, particularly in areas where there are many connecting
leads.
 Cost-Effective: RJ11 cable and connectors are cheaper than RJ45 thus making them
suitable to be used in telephone systems.

Disadvantages of RJ11
 Limited Data Transmission: RJ11 are Ethernet connectors that are unsuitable for high-
speed data transmission and are used only for telephone connection; thus, not suitable
for networking.
 Less Versatile: Another disadvantage of RJ11 is that as compared to RJ45, which can be
used in different network connections, RJ11 is used mainly in telephone lines only which
limits its usage in other connections.

Application
1. Landline Telephones
2. Fax Machines & Dial-up Modems
3. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet
4. Point of Sale (POS) Systems
2. Coaxial Cable-

Coaxial cable is typically used by cable operators, telephone companies, and internet providers to
transmit data, video, and voice communications to customers. Its installation and implementation
are easy but it is less efficient than optical fiber also it provides moderately low bandwidth in
comparison to optical fiber.

Coaxial Cable is a type of guided media made of Plastics, and copper wires which transmit the signal
in electrical form rather than light form. Coaxial cable is also known as coax. The core copper
conductor is used for the transmission of signals and the insulator is used to provide insulation to the
copper conductor the insulator is surrounded by a braided metal conductor which helps to prevent
the interference of electrical signals and prevent cross talk. This entire setup is again covered with a
protective plastic layer to provide extra safety to the cable.

Structure of Coaxial Cable

 Copper conductor: A central conductor, which consists of copper. The conductor is the
point at which data is transmitted.
 Insulator: Dielectric plastic insulation around the copper conductor. it is used to maintain
the spacing between the center conductor and shield.
 Braided mesh: A braided mesh of copper helps to shield from electromagnetic
interference, The braid provides a barrier against EMI moving into and out of the coaxial
cable.
 Protective plastic layer: An external polymer layer, which has a plastic coating. It is used
to protect internal layers from damage.
Application
1. Cable Television (CATV) & Satellite TV
2. CCTV & Security Systems
3. Military & Aerospace Communication
4. Radio & Broadcast Transmission

BNC-

Bayonet Neill–Concelman (BNC) is a type of coaxial cable connector commonly used in

video and networking applications. A BNC connector works by using a rotating ring to
securely connect two coaxial cables together. The inner conductor of each cable is
connected to a pin, which is then inserted into the opposing connector. The rotating ring is
then twisted to secure the connection.
Types of connectors
Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC): This connector is used with television, video signals, and
radios that operate at frequencies less than 4 GHz.

Threaded Neill-Concelman (TNC):

This connector is a twisted variation of the BNC connector that is found in telephones. TNC
connectors can function at up to 12 GHz.

 SubMiniature version A (SMA):

 This connector is compatible with mobile phones, Wi-Fi antenna systems, microwave
systems, and radios. SMA connectors can function at up to 18 GHz.

 SubMiniature version B (SMB):

 This connector is compatible with telecommunications hardware.
 QMA.-

 QMA connectors are a type of SMA connector that opens quickly and is commonly used
in industrial and communications electronics.

 Radio Corporation of America (RCA):

  These connections are used for audio and video. These are the yellow, white, and red
cables commonly used with vintage televisions. RCA connectors are also known as A/V
jacks

 F connectors:

 Also known as F-type connectors, these are seen in digital and cable televisions. These
commonly use RG-6 or RG-59 cables.

Advantages

BNC connectors offer several advantages over other types of connectors, including their
ability to provide a secure and low-loss connection, their ease of use, and their compatibility
with a wide range of devices. BNC connectors can be used with both analog and digital
signals. They are commonly used in digital video applications that require high bandwidth
and low signal loss.

✔ Quick bayonet-locking mechanism for secure connections

✔ Low signal loss and high-frequency performance
✔ Durable and reliable for RF, video, and military applications

Disadvantages

1. Limited Frequency Range

2. Signal Loss & Interference
3. Not Suitable for High-Power Applications
4. Size & Bulkiness

4. Fiber Optical Cable –

Fiber Optics or Optical Fiber is a technology that transmits data as a light pulse along a glass
or plastic fiber. An Optical Fiber is a cylindrical fiber of glass that is hair-thin in size or any
transparent dielectric medium. The fiber which is used for optical communication is
waveguides made of transparent dielectrics. In this article, we will discuss Optical Fiber/Fiber
Optics in detail.

Fiber optics refers to the technology and method of transmitting data as light pulses along a
glass or plastic strand or fiber. Fiber optic cables are used for long-distance and high-
performance data networking. They are capable of transmitting data over longer distances
and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than electrical cables, making them a critical
component in modern telecommunications, internet, and computer networking.

Structure

 Core: It is the central tube of very thin size made of optically transparent dielectric
medium and carries the light transmitter to receiver and the core diameter may vary
from about 5um to 100 um.
 Cladding: It is an outer optical material surrounding the core having a reflecting index
lower than the core and cladding helps to keep the light within the core throughout the
phenomena of total internal reflection.
 Buffer Coating: It is a plastic coating that protects the fiber made of silicon rubber. The
typical diameter of the fiber after the coating is 250-300 um.
 Advantages

1. Higher Bandwidth
2. Faster Transmission Speeds
3. Smaller Size & Lightweight
4. Minimal Signal Loss
5. Support for Future Technologies

Disadvantages

1. Higher Initial Cost

2. Difficult Installation & Maintenance
3. Limited Availability
4. Higher Cost of Transceivers & Connectors
5. Compatibility Issues

Applications
1. Smart Cities & IoT (Internet of Things)
2. Scientific Research & Space Exploration
3. Banking & Financial Services
4. Scientific Research & Space Exploration

Connectors of fiber optical cables-

 1. Ferrule Core (FC) Connector –

The FC connector was widely popular within fiber optic networks however its use has been
dwindling in recent times replaced with SC and LC. The connector uses a threaded container
and aligned key. Once positioned it can remain in place with perfect precision.

2. MT RJ Connector –

The MT- RJ is a duplex connector where both fibers are in a single polymer
ferrule. It utilizes pins for alignment and has male, female, and plug and jack
formats. The MT-RJ is a duplex and is often difficult to test, as most test sets do
not allow direct adaption to the connector.

3. Lucent Connector –
The LC connectors are highly popular within single-mode networks. It is known
for its good performance and small size. LC connectors have a 1.25mm ferrule,
approximately half the size of SC connectors. It’s also commonly referred to as the
“little connector”.

4. Plastic Fiber Optic Cable Connectors

Plastic FOC connectors are not very popular when compared to glass fiber. These
connectors are cheap and are mainly designed and used for easy application.
Polished or epoxy options are usually not available with plastic connectors.
 5. Opti-Jack

Opti-Jack duplex connectors greatly resemble the commonly known RJ-45

connector. The rugged duplex connector is designed around two ST-Type ferrules
and maintains the same size as RJ-45 connectors. The connectors are plug and jack
(male and female).

6. LX-5

The LX-5 is much like an LC connector but features a shutter over the end of the
fiber. The LX-5 is known to provide high density, high performance, and reliable
connections. The connector utilizes a 1.25mm ferrule with a metal shutter. LX-5
connectors are commonly used in CATV applications as well as
telecommunication networks. The insertion loss of this connector is one of the
lowest at just 0.1 db.

Volition Connector
The Volition connector is unique in its design since it does not use a ferrule.
Instead, this type of connector features a V-shaped groove to align fibers. The
plug-and-jack duplex connector is inexpensive as well.

7. MU Connector

MU connectors resemble a miniature version of SC with a 1.25mm ferrule. Its

small size allows the MU connector to have a reduced footprint and are used in
dense applications. The connector is square and uses a push-pull mechanism to
lock. This type of connector is more popular in countries such as Japan.
 8. E2000 Connector

The E2000 connector is mainly used in modern telecommunication networks. The

connector features a unique spring-loaded shutter that protects the ferrule from dirt,
dust, and scratches. Since the connector uses a monobloc ceramic ferrule, problems
related to different co-efficient of expansion are nonexistent. The E2000 utilizes a
push-pull locking connector. The E2000’s return loss is one of the lowest in the
industry at just 0.1 db.

9. MPO/MTP Connectors
MPO or MTP terminated cables are widely used in high-density cabling
environments like data centers. Traditional, tight-buffered multi-fiber cable needs
to have each fiber individually terminated by a skilled technician. MPO cable
which carries multiple fibers comes pre-terminated. Factory-terminated MPO /
MTP connectors commonly have either 12-fiber or 24-fiber array. MPO stands for
Multi-Fiber Push On. This connector is commonly used to terminate multi-fiber
ribbon connections in indoor environments. To the naked eye, there is very little
difference between the two connectors.

Propagation-

Optical Fiber: An optical fiber is a lightweight, thin, and flexible electrical conductive
material made of a glass or plastic material that is principally designed for data transfer in
telecommunications networks.

Modes of Propagation: The modes of propagation are classical waveforms of light that travel
via different paths within an optical fiber. Whichever mode we are dealing with, it can either
transit us to a multimode propagation or to a single-mode transience.

Multimode Propagation: We can speak of multipath propagation when light rays (beams)
pass through the optical fiber simultaneously, being transmitted via different channels to the
receiver part (end-piece) of the connection.