Transmission Methods

Within this blog I am going to be discussing specific transmission methods and i

will be giving examples of where they are used and I will be explaining why they
are used. I will also be giving advantages and disadvantages of each.
Coaxial

Coaxial cables are a transmission device used by cable TV

companies to attach a community antenna with the users TV. For example many
households and business use this to be able to watch TV. Advantages of this are
most electronic that have been released are compatible with the coaxial cable.
Coaxial cables also have the capability to prevent any interference caused
towards the television allowing the best possible quality of pictures.
Disadvantages of a coaxial cable are they are very bulky and are often only
sold at one length meaning that you might have to purchase excess cable. It is
also very difficult to install or uninstall and often needs the use of specific
tools.
Coaxial cables are often chosen as the main transmission method for TVs due to
the fact that most homes have multiple outlets for coaxial cables within each
room. For example sky boxes use coaxial cables to ensure every household that
purchases them; they are able to use it easily.

Optical fibre

Optical fibre cable is a cable that contains one or more

optical fibres that are used to transport light. Each element is usually
individually coated with plastic layers and kept protected within a tube to
ensure it isnt damaged where it will be deployed. Examples of this are,
broadcast
Cable Companys use them when wiring CATV, HDTV, internet, video on demand
and

other applications. Advantages of this are the amount of data that can be
transmitted within one unit time of fibre over other transmission media.
Another advantage is that it is much smaller than a coaxial cable.
Disadvantages of this are that it can be very expensive to install.
The main purpose for optical fibre cables is to provide high speed internet within
someones home or for a business. They are also used by many telephone
companies and are replacing traditional telephone lines.
Unshielded twisted
pair (UTP)

Unshielded twisted pair is a pair of wires that are twisted

around each other to help prevent or reduce any possible interference.
Telephone and Ethernet cables are examples of UTPs. Advantages of this are the
fact that interference is reduced and minimised, they are also extremely fast.
Disadvantages of this are that they can be affected by any radio frequency or
electromagnetic interference. The main purpose of unshielded twisted pair is to
be used for local area networks and for telephone connections.
Shielded twisted pair
(STP)

Shielded twisted pair is a special kind of copper telephone

wiring. A shield covering is simply added over a twisted pair wire. The main
purpose of shielded twisted pairs is to be used as Ethernet or Telephone cables.
Advantages of a shielded twisted pair
are that they are less likely to be interfered by any electrical devices and in
turn are less likely to cause interference to other devices. Disadvantages of
this are that they are very big and space consuming and they are also very
expensive.

Infra-red

Infra-red transmission is where energy within the

electromagnetic radiation spectrum has wavelengths that is lower than radio
waves, but is higher than those from visible light. The main purpose of this is the
LED in a TV remote, when you push a button it flashes 38,000 times a second
allowing it to transmit data. An advantage of this is that it is inexpensive
and it is undetectable by the human eye. Disadvantages of this are that it only
has a short range. Another disadvantage is that the transmission can be blocked
if the light is covered. The speed is also slower than wired transmission.
Radio

Radio is simply radiation or wireless transmission of

electromagnetic signals within the air. The main purpose of this is to allow the
transmission
of television and radio programmes. Advantages of radio transmission is that a
radio programme receiver does not need to be in direct view of the transmitter
and therefore can be used on a large scale. A disadvantage of this is that
repeater stations are often needed to improve the quality of the signals which
can also be very expensive.

Microwave

Microwave transmitters and receivers are devices that

transmit signals such as mobile phone calls. Microwave radiation is transferred
through the air and can be used to transmit information to and from satellites
that are in orbit. Advantages of this are that it can be used on such a large
scale and is used by most people daily. Disadvantages of this are that some
people believe there to be health risks linked to it due to the microwave
radiation being transmitted and they think that it can be a main cause for
cancer, although this is not accepted by everyone because scientific studies
prove that the intensity of the microwaves is too low to damage any tissue and
they are not ionising. The main purpose of Microwave transmitters is to make it
possible for people to make mobile phone calls or for them to send texts.
Satellite

A satellite that is used for communication is artificial and

is sent into space manually. These are used for telecommunications. An example
of a use for satellites is astronomy satellites that allow astronomers to study
space and receive live feeds or constant pictures to update them. Advantages of
this are that it has a large range and allows endless possibilities.
Disadvantages of this are that it can be very expensive to make and can be very
difficult to repair if there is any damage.
Comparison
Each transmission method is effective in its own way and each has positives and
negatives that make them better within certain situations. For example coaxial
wiring is the best option for specific devices such as sky boxes. This is effective
as it minimises the interference from other sources which might cause the image
to become distorted. Therefore this means that it is effective for its purpose. If
radio waves were used to transmit the data then there will be a high chance for
there to be interference and therefore the quality of the images will become
distorted, therefore it would not be effective if it was used for this purpose.

Another comparison that can be made would be what transmission method

would be the best for connecting to the internet. STP is the best choice for
security; however it is not as affective in bandwidth as fibre optic. A UTP would
also be an effective choice as it is cheap and easy to install, however it might not
provide the best security and bandwidth for the user. An STP is a lot more
expensive than UTP due to the higher security. An optical fibre cable is possibly
the best option for this as it provides the best security and the highest
bandwidth; it also provides very high broadband speeds. However a
disadvantage of this would be that it can be very expensive to install compared
to UTP and STP. All three examples work effectively for their purpose and it is
down to the users preference. The most effective transmission method for
mobile phones would be microwaves, this is because they can work in a large
area and can be used anywhere across the world within a certain amount of
distance away from a small antenna in order for them to connect and receive
signal. An alternative could be radio waves, however this can become interfered
easily and therefore it in not as effective for this purpose.