Data Communication and Computer Networking

Data Communication
Data Communication is the process of moving information from one point to another by means of some
transmission system (communication equipment).

Data Communication Model

Computer Network
A computer network is a collection of computers which are linked together using communication media
in order to communicate data and share resources.

Signals and Their Properties

In order to transfer data from one point to another, the data has to be converted into a signal.
A signal is an electric or electromagnetic encoding of data. It is used to transmit data from one point to
another.
Electromagnetic signals include power, voice, radio waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light,
X rays and gamma rays.
Signals can be analog or digital.

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Analog Signals

Analog signals are in continuous wave form in

nature and represented by continuous
electromagnetic waves.
Examples: sound, light, temperature

Digital Signals

A digital signal is a signal that represents data as a sequence of discrete values.

At any given time it can only take on one of a finite number of values. Digital signal represent 1’s and
0’s.

Properties of a Signal

 Amplitude
value of the signal at any point on the wave. The maximum amplitude of a sine wave is the highest
value it reaches on the vertical axis. It is measured in meters

 Frequency
Number of cycles (waves) a signal completes in one second. It is measured
in Hertz (Hz).

 Wavelength
The distance between corresponding points (adjacent crests) of two
consecutive waves measured in meters

 Phase
Phase is the particular point in the cycle of a waveform. It is measured as an angle in degrees.

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Propagation Speed in Media
Propagation speed is the speed at which a wave travels through a medium.
The propagation speed also varies from medium to medium depending on the properties of the medium.

Signal Transmission Media

The transmission media is the path through which data is being transmitted. The different media types
can be grouped into two categories:
1. Guided media
2. Unguided (radiated media)
In both cases, communication is in the form of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic signals include
power, voice, radio waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X rays and gamma rays. All these
together constitute an electromagnetic spectrum.

Guided Media
Guided transmission media use a cabling system that guide the data signals along a specific path. There
are four basic types of guided media: twisted-pair, coaxial cable, optical fiber.

Twisted Pair Wires

 The least expensive and most widely used guided transmission medium is twisted pair.
 Pairs of wires are twisted together which are surrounded by an insulating material and an outer layer
called jacket.
 Each pair consists of a wire, used for receiving data signal and a wire used for transmitting data
signal.
 The wires are twisted in order to reduce cross talk (Electromagnetic interference of adjacent channels/
cable pairs).
 These are used in short distance communication (less than 100 meters).

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• Twisted pair wires are available in two forms.
1. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
The pair is wrapped with metallic foil or braid to insulate
the pair from electromagnetic interference
2. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
Each wire is insulated with plastic wrap, but the pair is covered in
an outer covering

Coaxial Cables
 Coaxial cable consists of 2 conductors.
 The inner conductor is held inside an insulator with the other conductor woven around it providing a
shield. An insulating protective coating called a jacket covers the outer conductor.
 The outer shield protects the inner conductor from outside electrical signals.
 Both conductors share a common center axial, hence the term “co-axial”.
 Coaxial cables are commonly used in Cable TV network.

Fiber Optics
 Optical fiber consists of thin glass fibers that can carry data in the form of a light beam.
 It can carry information at frequencies in the visible light spectrum and beyond.
 The very narrow strand of glass in fiber optic is called the core. Around the core is a concentric layer
of glass called the cladding. The cladding is covered by a protective coating of plastic , known as
jacket.
 When the light passes through a medium, the characteristic of a material is to either pass or reflect the
light.
 Optical fibers work on the principle that the core refracts the light and the cladding reflects the light.

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 Cable type Advantages Disadvantages

Twisted Pair • Easy to install • Lack of support for long distances

• Lower cost • Low bandwidth
Coaxial • Supporting long distances • More expensive
• Faster data transmission over long • Difficult to install
distances (higher bandwidth)
Fiber Optic • Supporting long distances • Higher cost
• Faster data transmission (as • Difficult to install & maintain
bandwidth is high)
• Can carry more information
• Smaller size & weight

Unguided Media
In unguided transmission media, data signals flow through the air. They are not guided along a specific
path.

eg: Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Laser

The signal transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna.

Electromagnetic Spectrum for Transmission Media

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Signal Transmission Properites
 Latency - Network Latency is an expression of how much time it takes for a unit of data to travel
from one point to another. Latency is usually measured in milliseconds.

 Bandwidth - Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For
digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second(bps) or bytes per
second. For analog devices, the bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second, or Hertz
(Hz).

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