Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Erbil Polytechnic University

Erbil Technical Engineering College
Information System Engineering Department

Transmission Media

Prepared by:
1. Yahya Fouad Kadhim
2. Muslima Sabr

Supervised by: Dr. Salar Kheder Shaikhah

Table of Contents
7.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 2
7.2 GUIDED MEDIA ................................................................................................................................ 2
7.2.1 Twisted-Pair Cable ........................................................................................................................... 2
Categories .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Connectors ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Applications ............................................................................................................................................... 3
7.2.2 Coaxial Cable ................................................................................................................................... 3
Performance .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Applications ............................................................................................................................................... 3
7.2.3 Fiber-Optic Cable ............................................................................................................................ 4
Propagation Modes ................................................................................................................................... 4
Multimode.................................................................................................................................................. 5
7.3 UNGUIDED MEDIA: WIRELESS ................................................................................................... 5
7.3.1 Radio Waves ..................................................................................................................................... 5
7.3.2 Microwaves ....................................................................................................................................... 5
7.3.3 Infrared ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Question bank ........................................................................................................................................... 6

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7.1 INTRODUCTION
Transmission media are below the physical layer and directly controlled by it. They are anything
that can carry information from a source to a destination. For instance, air can serve as a
transmission medium for a conversation or a smoke signal. For example, the transmission
medium for two people having a dinner conversation is the air. The air can also be used to convey
themessage in a smoke signal or semaphore.

7.2 GUIDED MEDIA

•Guided media, which are those that provide a conduit from one device to another, include
twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.
•A signal traveling along any of these media is directed and contained by the physical limits of
the medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic (copper) conductors that accept and
transport signals in the form of electric current. Optical fiber is a cable that accepts and transports
signals in the form of light.

7.2.1 Twisted-Pair Cable

Twisted-pair consists of two insulated copper conductors twisted together. It can be
unshielded (UTP) or shielded (STP). UTP is common, and its performance is measured by
attenuation versus frequency and distance. It's used in telephone lines for voice and data
channels.
Figure that is below shows the difference between UTP andSTP. Our discussion focuses
primarily on UTP because STP isseldom used outside of IBM.

Categories
The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) has developed standards to classify unshielded
twisted-pair cable into seven categories. Categories are determined by cable quality, with 1 as
the lowest and 7 as the highest. Each EIA category is suitable for specific uses.

Connectors
The most common UTP connector is RJ45 (RJ stands for registered jack), as shown in Figure
7.5. The RJ45 is a keyed connector, meaning the connector can be inserted in only one way.
Performance. One way to measure the performance of twisted-pair cable is to compare
attenuation versus frequency and distance. A twisted-pair cable can pass a wide range of
frequencies. Note that gauge is a measure of the thickness of the wire.

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 Applications
Twisted-pair cables are used in telephone lines to provide voice and data channels. The local
loop—the line that connects subscribers to the central telephone office— commonly consists of
unshielded twisted-pair cables.

7.2.2 Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable carries higher frequency signals than twisted-pair and is categorized by Radio
Government (RG) ratings. Connectors like BNC are used, and while it has high bandwidth, it
requires frequent repeaters.

Performance
As we did with twisted-pair cable, we can measure the performance of a coaxial cable.
* We notice that the attenuation is much higher in coaxial cable than in twisted-pair cable. In other
words, although coaxial cable has a much higher bandwidth, the signal weakens rapidly and
requires the frequent use of repeaters

Applications
Coaxial cable was widely used in analog telephone networks where a single coaxial network
could carry 10,000 voice signals. Later it was used in digital telephone networks where a single
coaxial cable could carry digital data up to 600 Mbps.
However, coaxial cable in telephone networks has largely been replaced today with fiberoptic
cable.

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 7.2.3 Fiber-Optic Cable
* Fiber-optic cables transmit signals as light through glass or plastic. They
support multimode and single-mode propagation modes. Fiber-optic cables have
advantages like high bandwidth, less attenuation, and immunity to electromagnetic
interference. They are commonly used in backbone networks.
* Figure that is below shows how a ray of light changesdirection when going
from a more dense to a less densesubstance.

As the figure shows, if the angle of incidence I (the angle the ray makes with the line
perpendicular to the interface betweenthe two substances) is less than the critical angle, the
ray refracts and moves closer to the surface.

Propagation Modes

Current technology supports two modes (multimode and single mode) for propagating light along
optical channels, each requiring fiber with different physical characteristics.
Multimode can be implemented in two forms: step-index or graded-index

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 Multimode
Multimode is so named because multiple beams from a light source move through the core in
different paths.

7.3 UNGUIDED MEDIA: WIRELESS

Unguided media transport electromagnetic waves without a physical conductor, allowing
wireless communication. Signals can propagate through ground, sky, or line-of-sight. Wireless
transmission is divided into radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves.
This type of communication is often referred to as wireless communication.

7.3.1 Radio Waves

Radio waves (3 kHz to 1 GHz) are used for multicasting with omnidirectional antennas. They
penetrate walls and find applications in radio, television, and paging systems.

7.3.2 Microwaves
Microwaves are line-of-sight, high-frequency waves (1-300 GHz). Unidirectional antennas like
parabolic dishes and horns are used. Microwaves are suitable for unicast communication, such as
cellular telephones and satellite networks.

7.3.3 Infrared
Infrared waves can be used for short-range communication.
Infrared waves, having high frequencies, cannot penetrate walls. This advantageous characteristic
prevents interference between one system and another.
Infrared signals can be used for short-range communication in a closed area using line-of-sight
propagation

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Question bank
Multiple-Choice Questions:
1. What is the primary role of transmission media?
• a) Data processing
• b) Information storage
• c) Information transport
• d) Encryption
2. Which connector is commonly used for connecting twisted-pair cables in networking
devices?
• a) RJ45
• b) SC
• c) BNC
• d) ST
3. What is the primary function of the metallic casing in shielded twisted-pair (STP)
cable?
• a) Enhancing signal strength
• b) Preventing noise penetration
• c) Transmitting light signals
• d) Increasing bandwidth
4. Which propagation mode involves very high-frequency signals transmitted directly
from antenna to antenna?
• a) Ground propagation
• b) Sky propagation
• c) Line-of-sight propagation
• d) Multimode propagation
Short Answer Questions:
5. Explain the difference between unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) and shielded twisted-
pair (STP) cables. Difference between UTP and STP cables: Unshielded Twisted-Pair
(UTP) cables lack metal casing, while Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) cables have a metal
foil or braided mesh covering, providing protection against noise.

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 6. Describe the role of the Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector in coaxial cables.
Role of BNC connector in coaxial cables:
The Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector is used to connect coaxial cables to
devices. It provides a secure connection and is often used in networking equipment.
Matching Questions:
7. Match the cable types with their descriptions:
• a) Twisted-Pair Cable
• b) Coaxial Cable
• c) Fiber-Optic Cable

I. Uses metallic conductors for signal transmission. a) Twisted-Pair Cable

ii. Transmits signals in the form of light. c) Fiber-Optic Cable
iii. Has a central core conductor enclosed in an insulating sheath. b) Coaxial Cable
8. Match the propagation modes with their descriptions:
• a) Ground Propagation
• b) Sky Propagation
• c) Line-of-Sight Propagation
i. Radio waves travel through the lowest portion of the atmosphere. a) Ground Propagation
ii. Very high-frequency signals transmitted directly from antenna to antenna. c) Line-of-Sight
Propagation
iii. Higher-frequency radio waves radiate upward into the ionosphere. b) Sky Propagation

True/False Questions:
9. True or False: Coaxial cables have a lower signal attenuation compared to twisted-
pair cables. False Reason: Coaxial cables actually have higher signal attenuation
compared to twisted-pair cables. While coaxial cables offer higher bandwidth, the signal
weakens more rapidly, requiring the frequent use of repeaters.
10. True or False: Infrared waves can penetrate walls, making them suitable for indoor
communication. False Reason: Infrared waves cannot penetrate walls. Although they are
suitable for short-range communication in a closed area using line-of-sight propagation,
the inability to penetrate walls limits their coverage and makes them unsuitable for indoor
communication through barriers.