DATA COMMUNICATION

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 MODES OF DATA COMMUNICATION
• There are two possible techniques of sending data from
the sender to the receiver and these include:
Parallel transmission
Serial transmission
Parallel transmission: In this type of transmission, each
bit of character has a separate channel and all bits of
characters are transmitted simultaneously
Qn. When is parallel transmission used to send data?
i. In case data is to be sent quickly
ii. In case large amounts of data are being sent 2
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Serial transmission: This refers to the type of transmission where data is sent
as one whole bit at a time, hence , data having a single channel for all the
bits.
Types of Serial transmission
There are two basic transmission modes (techniques) for separating the
groups of bits. These include;
a) Asynchronous Transmission mode. - This transmits one byte at a time over
a line at random intervals. –
Asynchronous transmission is relatively slow and used for low speed
transmission.
b) Synchronous Transmission mode. - This transmits groups of bytes
simultaneously at regular intervals.
- It provides much higher speeds and greater accuracy than asynchronous
transmission.
Qn. When is serial transmission used to send data?
i) In case the amount of data being sent is small 4
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 TRANSMISSION DIRECTION
The direction in which data flows along transmission
media is characterized as;
A. Simplex transmission.
B. Half duplex transmission.
C. Full duplex transmission.
D. Multiplex transmission.

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A. Simplex Transmission mode Refers to the transfer of
data in one direction only.
A sending device. A receiving device

A B
It is used only when the sending device does not
require a response from the receiving device e.g
Television Broadcasting, Radio Broadcasting

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B. Half duplex transmission mode.
• Refers to the transfer of data in either direction but
only one way at a time.
A sending device. A receiving device

A B
Examples include; Automatic Teller Machines, Fax
machines, Police radio calls, credit card verification
systems e.t.c.
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C. Full duplex transmission mode.
A sending device. A receiving device

A B

• Refers to the transfer of data in both directions at the

same time e.g A regular telephone line 9
D. Multiplex transmission mode.
A sending device. A receiving device

A B

Refers to the transfer of several different types of

signals that can be carried at once through the same
line e.g video calls, video conferencing.
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 TRANSMISSION MEDIA (CHANNELS)
• Refers to the pathway that carries information from
the sender to receiver.
• Transmission channels can be categorized into two;
• Guided/Physical/Wired Transmission media refers to
the physical material used to carry communication
signals from one device to another e.g coaxial cables,
Fiber optic cables, Twisted Pair cable.

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i) Twisted pair cables
• These come with two varieties shielded and
unshielded twisted pair cables
Advantages of using twisted pair cables.
• It is of low cost.
• There small in size.
• There easy to install.
Disadvantages.
• They are subjected to interference.
• They are used in limited distances, usually less than
100 meters. 12
ii) Coaxial cable.
Coaxial cable consists of a single copper wire
surrounded by at least three layers.
Advantages of using coaxial cables.
• It is insulated more heavily than twisted pair cable so
it is highly resistant to signal interference.
• Can be used for longer distances.
• Transmits faster than twisted wire.
Disadvantages.
• Heavy and bulky.
• Needs booster over longer distances.
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iii) Optic cable.
• Each strand, called an optical fiber, is as thin as a human hair.
• Each optical fiber is surrounded by an insulating glass and a protective
coating.
• Fiber optic cables are used by many local and long distance telephone
companies, cable TV and High traffic networks.
Advantages of using fiber Optic cables.
• Can carry more signals than other cables.
• They are faster in data transmission.
• There less vulnerable to electrical noise from other devices.
• Better security for signals during transmission.
Disadvantages.
• Expensive to buy as compared to other Medias.
• They are harder to install and modify.

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 Unguided/Unbound/Wireless transmission
media
• Wireless communication technology, is one where the
transfer of information over a distance is done without
the use of cables(wires) as a medium.
e.g Bluetooth, Microwaves, infrared, radio waves.

i) Microwave transmission refers to the technology of

conveying information or energy by the use of radio
waves whose wavelengths between one metre and one
millimeter.
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Microwave transmission requires line of sight in order to work properly because it is a
point-to- point connection.
This means microwave must be transmitted in a straight line (with no obstacles such as
buildings or hills in the line of sight between the microwave stations).
Microwave communication can take two forms: terrestrial (ground) links and satellite links.

Terrestrial microwaves use Earth-based transmitters and receivers, sending data from one
microwave station to another.

Microwave antennas are usually placed on top of buildings, towers, hills, and mountain
peaks to avoid obstructions.

Microwave transmissions use parabolic antenna and dishes that produce a narrow, highly
directional signal.
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 Advantages of using microwaves transmission Medias

Microwave radio systems can broadcast large

quantities of information because of their high
frequencies.
Microwave communication systems have relatively low
construction costs compared with other forms of data
transmission, such as optic fiber cables, twisted cables
among others.
No cables needed.
Can transmit multiple channels available.
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 Disadvantages of using microwaves transmission medias.

They can’t pass in tall buildings, mountain regions if

you are to send signals from city to another.
They are affected by devices that emit electromagnetic
radiations like electric wires, electric cars if placed
between the transmitter and receiver.
 Microwaves suffer from attenuation due to
atmospheric conditions.
Microwave Towers are expensive to build

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ii) Radio waves.
Radio is the transmission of signals, by converting them into
electromagnetic waves.
• The electromagnetic waves are transmitted in space towards the
destination.
• Electromagnetic waves are intercepted by the receiving Antenna.
The signal power is collected at the receiving antenna.
• Radio waves are not a line of sight transmission, therefore not
affected by presence of objects between the transmitter and
receiver.

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 Advantages of using radio waves

Infrastructure costs much lower (transmitter, receiver,

antenna, power)
You can actually talk to the other person (no code
needed).
Depending on time of day and frequency, no wires,
cables or reflectors needed)
Clouds, fog, smoke, light have little effect.
Much quicker to set up.
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 Disadvantages
• Susceptible to atmospherics (lightning, static,
fading)
• Interference. Can be “jammed” or interfered
with easily, especially when received signal
strength is low.
• Lack of security. Without special codes or
encoding, anyone with the proper receiver can
listen in.
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iii) Communications Satellites
• Satellites are communication devices stationed in space
and use microwave radio as their telecommunications
medium to communicate with the earth based
communication facilities.
• Satellites are capable of receiving and relaying voice,
data, and TV signals to and from earth based
communication facilities (earth stations) that use
parabolic antennas (satellite dishes) to communicate
with the satellites.
• Satellite microwave communication is flexible and
possible with most remote sites and with mobile
devices, because no cables are required, which enables
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iv) Infrared transmission. Infrared (IR) light is electromagnetic
radiation with longer wavelengths than those of visible light.
• Infrared signal is usually transmitted across relatively short
distances to transmit data between personal devices for
example, between a computer and a cell phone.

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 Advantages of IrDA (Infrared)

• The devices are very cheap.

• The devices are compact, light weight and
consume low power.
• The technology based devices are easy to use.
• It is non interfering from radioactive frequency
waves.
• It is more secure compare to other technologies.

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 Disadvantages of IrDA (Infrared)

• It requires both transmitter and receiver to

be in line of sight.
• Devices cannot move around while
transmission is in progress.
• Used for very short distance applications.

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v) Bluetooth.
Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for data
exchange over short distances.

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 Advantages of Bluetooth Technology
• It is cheap
• It makes connecting to different devices
convenient
• It is wireless
• It is free to use if the device is installed
with it

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 Disadvantages of Bluetooth Technology

• It can be hacked into

• If installed on a cell phone it is prone to receiving cell
phone viruses
• It only allows short range communication between
devices
• It can only connect two devices at once
• It can lose connection in certain conditions

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