Network+ Guide to Networks

6th Edition
Chapter 3
Transmission Basics and
Networking Media
Objectives

Explain basic data transmission concepts, including

full duplexing, attenuation, latency, and noise

Describe the physical characteristics of coaxial

cable, STP, UTP, and fiberoptic media

!ompare the benefits and limitations of different

net"or#ing media

Explain the principles behind and uses for serial

cables

$dentify "iring standards and the best practices for

cabling buildings and "or# areas
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )
Transmission *asics

Transmit

$ssue signals along net"or# medium

Transmission

Process of transmitting

Signal progress after transmitting

Transceiver

Transmits and receives signals

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +
,nalog and Digital Signaling

$mportant data transmission characteristic

Signaling type- analog or digital

.olt

Electrical current pressure

Electrical signal strength

Directly proportional to voltage

Signal voltage

Signals

!urrent, light pulses, electromagnetic "aves

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /
,nalog and Digital Signaling 0cont1d23

,nalog data signals

.oltage varies continuously

4undamental properties of analog signals

,mplitude

5easure of strength at given point in time

4re6uency

%umber of times amplitude cycles over fixed time

7avelength

Distance bet"een one pea# and the next

Phase

Progress of "ave over time compared to a fixed point

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8
(
4igure +9 ,n example of an analog signal
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
:
4igure +) 7aves "ith a ;< degree phase difference
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
,nalog and Digital Signaling 0cont1d23

,nalog signal benefit over digital

5ore variable

!onvey greater subtleties "ith less energy

Dra"bac# of analog signals

.aried and imprecise voltage

Susceptible to transmission fla"s

Digital signals

Pulses of voltages

Positive voltage represents a 9

=ero voltage represents a <

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition >
;
4igure ++ ,n example of a digital signal
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +/ !omponents of a byte
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
,nalog and Digital Signaling 0cont1d23

!onvert byte to decimal number

Determine value represented by each bit

,dd values

!onvert decimal number to a byte

?everse the process

!onvert bet"een binary and decimal

*y hand or calculator
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9<
,nalog and Digital Signaling 0cont1d23

Digital signal benefit over analog signal

5ore reliable

@ess severe noise interference

Digital signal dra"bac#

5any pulses re6uired to transmit same information

Overhead

%ondata information

?e6uired for proper signal routing and interpretation

Example- net"or# layer addressing information

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 99
Data 5odulation

Data relies on digital transmission

%et"or# connection may handle only analog signals

5odem

,ccomplishes translation

5odulatorAdemodulator

Data modulation

Technology modifying analog signals

5a#e data suitable for carrying over communication

path
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9)
Data 5odulation 0cont1d23

!arrier "ave

!ombined "ith another analog signal

Produces uni6ue signal

Transmitted from one node to another

Preset properties

Purpose- convey information

$nformation "ave 0data "ave3

,dded to carrier "ave

5odifies one carrier "ave property

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9+
Data 5odulation 0cont1d23

4re6uency modulation

!arrier fre6uency modified by application of data

signal

,mplitude modulation

!arrier signal amplitude modified by application of

data signal

Digital subscriber line 0DS@3

,lso ma#es use of modulation

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9/
98 %et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition
4igure +8 , carrier "ave modified through fre6uency modulation
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Simplex, BalfDuplex, and Duplex

Simplex

Signals travel in one direction

Balfduplex transmission

Signals travel in both directions

One at a time

Shared communication channel

4ullduplex

Signals travel in both directions simultaneously

Used on data net"or#s

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9(
9: %et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition
4igure +( Simplex, halfduplex, and fullduplex transmission
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Simplex, BalfDuplex, and Duplex
0cont1d23

!hannel

Distinct communication path bet"een nodes

Separated physically or logically

4ull duplex advantage

$ncreases speed of data travel

Some modems and %$!s allo" specifying half or

fullduplex communication

5odern %$!s use full duplex by default

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9>
5ultiplexing

5ultiplexing

5ultiple signals

Travel simultaneously over one medium

Subchannels

@ogical multiple smaller channels

5ultiplexer 0mux3

!ombines many channel signals

Demultiplexer 0demux3

Separates combined signals

?egenerates them
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 9;
5ultiplexing 0cont1d23

Time division multiplexing 0TD53

Divides channel into multiple time intervals

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )<
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4igure +: Time division multiplexing
5ultiplexing 0cont1d23

Statistical multiplexing

Transmitter assigns slots to nodes

,ccording to priority, need

5ore efficient than TD5

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )9
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +> Statistical multiplexing
5ultiplexing 0cont1d23

4re6uency division multiplexing 04D53

Uni6ue fre6uency band for each communications

subchannel

!ellular telephone transmission

DS@ $nternet access

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition ))
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4igure +; 4re6uency division multiplexing
5ultiplexing 0cont1d23

7avelength division multiplexing 07D53

One fiberoptic connection

!arries multiple light signals simultaneously

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )+
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +9< 7avelength division multiplexing
5ultiplexing 0cont1d23

Dense "avelength division multiplexing 0D7D53

Used on most modern fiberoptic net"or#s

Extraordinary capacity
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )/
?elationships *et"een %odes

Pointtopoint transmission

One transmitter and one receiver

Pointtomultipoint transmission

One transmitter and multiple receivers

*roadcast transmission

One transmitter and multiple, undefined receivers

Used on "ired and "ireless net"or#s

Simple and 6uic#

%onbroadcast

One transmitter and multiple, defined recipients

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )8
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )(
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +99 Pointtopoint versus broadcast transmission
Throughput and *and"idth

Throughput

,mount of data transmitted during given time period

,lso called capacity or band"idth

Expressed as bits transmitted per second

*and"idth 0strict definition3

Difference bet"een highest and lo"est fre6uencies

medium can transmit

?ange of fre6uencies

5easured in hertC 0BC3

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition ):
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition )>
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Table +9 Throughput measures
*aseband and *roadband

*aseband transmission

Digital signals sent through direct current 0D!3 pulses

applied to "ire

?e6uires exclusive use of "ire1s capacity

Transmit one signal 0channel3 at a time

Example- Ethernet

*roadband transmission

Signals modulated as radio fre6uency 0?43 analog

"aves

Uses different fre6uency ranges

Does not encode information as digital pulses

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition );
Transmission 4la"s

%oise

,ny undesirable influence degrading or distorting

signal

Types of noise

E5$ 0electromagnetic interference3

Example- radio fre6uency interference

!ross tal#

Signal on one "ire infringes on adjacent "ire signal

%ear end cross tal# 0%EDT3 occurs near source

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +<
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +9
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +9) !ross tal# bet"een "ires in a cable
Transmission 4la"s 0cont1d23

,ttenuation

@oss of signal1s strength as it travels a"ay from

source

Signal boosting technology

,nalog signals pass through amplifier

%oise also amplified

?egeneration

Digital signals retransmitted in original form

?epeater- device regenerating digital signals

,mplifiers and repeaters

OS$ model Physical layer

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +)
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition ++
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +9/ , digital signal distorted by noise and then repeated
4igure +9+ ,n analog signal distorted by noise and then amplified
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Transmission 4la"s 0cont1d23

@atency

Delay bet"een signal transmission and receipt

5ay cause net"or# transmission errors

@atency causes

!able length

$ntervening connectivity device

?ound trip time 0?TT3

Time for pac#et to go from sender to receiver, then

bac# from receiver to sender
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +/
!ommon 5edia !haracteristics

Selecting transmission media

5atch net"or#ing needs "ith media characteristics

Physical media characteristics

Throughput

!ost

%oise immunity

SiCe and scalability

!onnectors and media converters

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +8
Throughput

5ost significant factor in choosing transmission

method

!auses of throughput limitations

@a"s of physics

Signaling and multiplexing techni6ues

%oise

Devices connected to transmission medium

4iberoptic cables allo" faster throughput

!ompared to copper or "ireless connections

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +(
!ost

Precise costs difficult to pinpoint

5edia cost dependencies

Existing hard"are, net"or# siCe, labor costs

.ariables influencing final cost

$nstallation cost

%e" infrastructure cost versus reuse

5aintenance and support costs

!ost of lo"er transmission rate affecting productivity

!ost of do"ntime

!ost of obsolescence
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +:
%oise $mmunity

%oise distorts data signals

Distortion rate dependent upon transmission media

4iberoptic- least susceptible to noise

@imit noise impact on net"or#

!able installation

4ar a"ay from po"erful electromagnetic forces

Select media protecting signal from noise

,ntinoise algorithms
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +>
SiCe and Scalability

Three specifications

5aximum nodes per segment

5aximum segment length

5aximum net"or# length

5aximum nodes per segment dependency

,ttenuation and latency

5aximum segment length dependency

,ttenuation and latency plus segment type

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition +;
SiCe and Scalability 0cont1d23

Segment types

Populated- contains end nodes

Unpopulated- no end nodes

,lso called lin# segment

Segment length limitation

,fter certain distance, signal loses strength

!annot be accurately interpreted

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /<
!onnectors and 5edia !onverters

!onnectors

Bard"are connecting "ire to net"or# device

Specific to particular media type

,ffect costs

$nstalling and maintaining net"or#

Ease of adding ne" segments or nodes

Technical expertise re6uired to maintain net"or#

5edia converter

Bard"are enabling net"or#s or segments running on

different media to interconnect and exchange signals
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /9
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /)
Courtesy of Omnitron Systems Technology
4igure +98 !opper "iretofiber media converter
!oaxial !able

!entral metal core 0often copper3 surrounded by-

$nsulator

*raided metal shielding 0braiding or shield3

Outer cover 0sheath or jac#et3

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /+
4igure +9( !oaxial cable
Courtesy Course
Technology/Cengage
Learning
!oaxial !able 0cont1d23

Bigh noise resistance

,dvantage over t"isted pair cabling

!arry signals farther before amplifier re6uired

Disadvantage over t"isted pair cabling

5ore expensive

Bundreds of specifications

?' specification number

Differences- shielding and conducting cores

Transmission characteristics
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition //
!oaxial !able 0cont1d23

!onducting core

,merican 7ire 'auge 0,7'3 siCe

@arger ,7' siCe, smaller "ire diameter

Data net"or#s usage

?'(

?'>

?'8>

?'8;
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /8
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /(
Courtesy of MCM lectronics! "nc#
4igure +9: 4Type connector
$ "gor Smichko%/Shutterstock#com
4igure +9> *%! connector
T"isted Pair !able

!olorcoded insulated copper "ire pairs

<2/ to <2> mm diameter

Encased in a plastic sheath

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /:
Courtesy Course
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4igure +9; T"isted pair cable
T"isted Pair !able 0cont1d23

5ore "ire pair t"ists per foot

5ore resistance to cross tal#

Bigher6uality

5ore expensive

T"ist ratio

T"ists per meter or foot

Bigh t"ist ratio

'reater attenuation
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition />
T"isted Pair !able 0cont1d23

Bundreds of different designs

T"ist ratio, number of "ire pairs, copper grade,

shielding type, shielding materials

9 to /)<< "ire pairs possible

7iring standard specification

T$,AE$, 8(>

5ost common t"isted pair types

!ategory 0cat3 +, 8, 8e, (, (a, :

!,T 8 or higher used in modern @,%s

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition /;
T"isted Pair !able 0cont1d23

,dvantages

?elatively inexpensive

4lexible

Easy installation

Spans significant distance before re6uiring repeater

,ccommodates several different topologies

T"o categories

Shielded t"isted pair 0STP3

Unshielded t"isted pair 0UTP3

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8<
STP 0Shielded T"isted Pair3

$ndividually insulated

Surrounded by metallic substance shielding 0foil3

*arrier to external electromagnetic forces

!ontains electrical energy of signals inside

5ay be grounded
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 89
4igure +)< STP cable
Courtesy Course
Technology/Cengage Learning
UTP 0Unshielded T"isted Pair3

One or more insulated "ire pairs

Encased in plastic sheath

%o additional shielding

@ess expensive, less noise resistance

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8)
Courtesy Course
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4igure +)9 UTP cable
!omparing STP and UTP

Throughput

STP and UTP can transmit the same rates

!ost

STP and UTP vary

!onnector

STP and UTP use ?egistered Eac# /8

Telephone connections use ?egistered Eac# 99

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8+
!omparing STP and UTP 0cont1d23

%oise immunity

STP more noise resistant

SiCe and scalability

5aximum segment length for both- 9<< meters

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8/
Terminating T"isted Pair !able

Patch cable

?elatively short cable

!onnectors at both ends

Proper cable termination techni6ues

*asic re6uirement for t"o nodes to communicate

Poor terminations-

@ead to loss or noise

T$,AE$, standards

T$,AE$, 8(>,

T$,AE$, 8(>*
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 88
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8(
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage
Learning
4igure +)/ T$,AE$, 8(>, standard
terminations
Courtesy Course
Technology/Cengage Learning
4igure +)8 T$,AE$, 8(>* standard
terminations
Terminating T"isted Pair !able
0cont1d23

Straightthrough cable

Terminate ?E/8 plugs at both ends identically

!rossover cable

Transmit and receive "ires on one end reversed

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8:
4igure +)( ?E/8 terminations
on a crossover cable
Courtesy Course
Technology/Cengage Learning
Terminating T"isted Pair !able
0cont1d23

Termination tools

7ire cutter

7ire stripper

!rimping tool

,fter ma#ing cables-

.erify data transmit and receive

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8>
4iberOptic !able

4iberoptic cable 0fiber3

One or more glass or plastic fibers at its center 0core3

Data transmission

Pulsing light sent from laser or lightemitting diode

0@ED3 through central fibers

!ladding

@ayer of glass or plastic surrounding fibers

Different density from glass or plastic in strands

?eflects light bac# to core

,llo"s fiber to bend

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition 8;
4iberOptic !able 0cont1d23

Plastic buffer outside cladding

Protects cladding and core

Opa6ue to absorb escaping light

Surrounded by Fevlar 0polymeric fiber3 strands

Plastic sheath covers Fevlar strands

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (<
4igure ++< , fiberoptic cable
Courtesy of Optical Ca&le Corporation
4iberOptic !able 0cont1d23

Different varieties

*ased on intended use and manufacturer

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (9
4igure ++9 =ipcord fiberoptic patch cable
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
4iberOptic !able 0cont1d23

*enefits over copper cabling

Extremely high throughput

.ery high noise resistance

Excellent security

,ble to carry signals for longer distances

$ndustry standard for highspeed net"or#ing

Dra"bac#s

5ore expensive than t"isted pair cable

?e6uires special e6uipment to splice

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition ()
S54 0Single5ode 4iber3

!onsists of narro" core 0>9< microns in diameter3

@asergenerated light travels over one path

@ittle reflection

@ight does not disperse as signal travels

!an carry signals many miles-

*efore repeating re6uired

?arely used for shorter connections

Due to cost
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (+
554 05ultimode 4iber3

!ontains core "ith larger diameter than singlemode

fiber

!ommon siCes- 8< or ()28 microns

@aser or @ED generated light pulses travel at

different angles

'reater attenuation than singlemode fiber

!ommon uses

!ables connecting router to a s"itch

!ables connecting server on net"or# bac#bone

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (/
4iberOptic !onverters

?e6uired to connect multimode fiber net"or#s to

singlemode fiber net"or#s

,lso fiber and copperbased parts of a net"or#

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (8
4igure ++> Singlemode to multimode
converter
Courtesy Omnitron Systems Technology
Serial !ables

Data transmission style

Pulses issued se6uentially, not simultaneously

Serial transmission method

?S)+)

Uses D*;, D*)8, and ?E/8 connectors

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition ((
Structured !abling

!able plant

Bard"are that ma#es up the enterprise cabling

system

!abling standard

T$,AE$,1s joint 8(> !ommercial *uilding 7iring

Standard

,lso #no"n as structured cabling

*ased on hierarchical design

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (:
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (>
4igure +/) T$,AE$, structured cabling in an enterprise
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Structured !abling 0cont1d23

!omponents

Entrance facilities

5D4 0main distribution frame3

!rossconnect facilities

$D4 0intermediate distribution frame3

*ac#bone "iring

Telecommunications closet

BoriContal "iring

7or# area
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition (;
Structured !abling 0cont1d23
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition :<
Table +) T$,AE$, specifications for bac#bone cabling
Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning
*est Practices for !able $nstallation
and 5anagement

!hoosing correct cabling

4ollo" manufacturers1 installation guidelines

4ollo" T$,AE$, standards

%et"or# problems

Often traced to poor cable installation techni6ues

$nstallation tips to prevent Physical layer failures

See Pages 9)99)) in the text

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition :9
Summary

$nformation transmission methods

,nalog

Digital

5ultiplexing allo"s multiple signals to travel

simultaneously over one medium

4ull and halfduplex specifies "hether signals can

travel in both directions or one direction at a time

%oise distorts both analog and digital signals

,ttenuation

@oss of signal as it travels

%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition :)
Summary 0cont1d23

!oaxial cable composed of core, insulator,

shielding, sheath

Types of t"isted pair cable

Shielded and unshielded

4iberoptic cable transmits data through light

passing through the central fibers
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition :+
Summary 0cont1d23

4iberoptic cable categories

Single and multimode fiber

Serial communication often used for short

connections bet"een devices

Structured cabling standard provides "iring

guidelines
%et"or#& 'uide to %et"or#s, (th Edition :/