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

Microwave Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• No cables needed
• Multiple channels available
• Wide bandwidth

Disadvantages:

• Line-of-sight will be disrupted if any obstacle, such as new buildings, are in the way
• Signal absorption by the atmosphere. Microwaves suffer from attenuation due to atmospheric conditions.
• Towers are expensive to build

Next: Unguided Media SAQ 2