1c: Principles of Data Communications: Media Characteristics

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
   1. Electromagnetic Spectrum Visualised
   2. EM Waves SAQ
3. Media Characteristics
   1. Guided media
4. Coaxial Cable
   1. Types of Coaxial Cable
   2. Thinnet (10Base2)
   3. Thinnet Connections
   4. BNC Components
   5. Thicknet (10Base5)
   6. Thicknet Connections
   7. Cabling SAQ 1
5. Twisted Pair
   1. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
   2. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
   3. Twisted Pair Cable Components
   4. TIA/EIA Standards
   5. Other UTP Standards
   6. Cabling SAQ 2
6. Fibre Optic Cable
   1. How Fibre-Optic Cable Works
   2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Fibre
   3. Multi-Mode Fibre
   4. Single Mode (Mono Mode)
   5. Fibre Connectors
   6. Cabling SAQ 3
   7. Cabling SAQ 4
   8. Balanced and Unbalanced Lines
7. Unguided Media
8. Radio Transmission
   1. Satellite Transmission
   2. Satellite Orbits
   3. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
   4. Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)
   5. Polar Orbit
   6. A Satellite's Coverage Area
   7. Satellite Advantages and Disadvantages
   8. Unguided Media SAQ 1
   9. Satellite Practical
9. Microwave Transmission
   1. Principles of Microwave Transmission
   2. Microwave Advantages and Disadvantages
   3. Unguided Media SAQ 2
   4. Media Characteristics Crossword
   5. Formative Assessment

A Satellite's Coverage Area

Satellites can cover massive areas of the Earth's surface and this area is called a satellite's footprint. The further from the Earth a satellite is the larger its footprint.

Satellites use two frequencies for communications. One band sends while the other receives. Transmission from the Earth to a satellite is called an uplink whereas transmission from the satellite to the Earth called a downlink.

Click on this link to see different views of Earth from satellites.

Next: Satellite Advantages and Disadvantages