1.

INTRODUCTION

A transmission media are the material substance which can propagate signals. Guided
Transmission Media uses a "cabling" system that guides the data signals along a specific path.
The data signals are bound by the "cabling" system. Guided Media is also known as Bound
Media. Cabling is meant in a generic sense in the previous sentences and is not meant to be
interpreted as copper wire cabling only.

2. TWISTED PAIR CABLE

The wires in Twisted Pair cabling are twisted together in pairs. Each pair would consist of a wire
used for the positive data signal and a wire used for the negative data signal. Any noise that
appears on 1 wire of the pair would occur on the other wire. Because the wires are opposite
polarities, they are 180 degrees out of phase. When the noise appears on both wires, it cancels or
nulls itself out at the receiving end. Twisted Pair cables are most effectively used in systems that
use a balanced line method of transmission: polar line coding (Manchester Encoding) as opposed
to unipolar line coding (TTL logic).

Straight copper wires tend to act as antennas and pick up extraneous signal. The twisting helps
reduce the amount of interferences. Twisted pairs often are bundled together and wrapped in
protective coating. There are two types of twisted pair cable; Unshielded and Shielded twisted
pair.

Cables without a shield are called Unshielded Twisted Pair or UTP. Twisting the wires together
results in a characteristic impedance for the cable. A typical impedance for UTP is 100 ohm for
Ethernet 10BaseT cable. UTP or Unshielded Twisted Pair cable is used on Ethernet 10BaseT and
can also be used with Token Ring.

The degree of reduction in noise interference is determined specifically by the number of turns
per foot. Increasing the number of turns per foot reduces the noise interference. To further
improve noise rejection, a foil or wire braid shield is woven around the twisted pairs. This
"shield" can be woven around individual pairs or around a multi-pair conductor (several pairs).
STP or Shielded Twisted Pair has a characteristic impedance of 150 ohms.

Table 7.1 Categories of ttwisted-pair cables

DATA
CATEGORY SPECIFICATION RATE APPLICATION
Mbps
CAT 1 UTP <0.1 Analog voice grade, ISDN BRI, lowspeed
data, speaker wire, alarm cable
CAT 2 UTP 2 4 Mbps Token Ring LANs
CAT 3 Improved CAT 2 16 Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), ISDN,
T1, 10Base - T LAN
CAT 4 Improved CAT 3 20 16 Mbps Token Ring LAN
CAT 5 STP 24 AWG 100 10/100Base - T LAN
CAT 5e Extension to CAT 5 100+ 10/100Base - T LAN, 155 Mbps ATM,
1000Base - T (GbE)
CAT 6 STP with high data rate 250 1000Base – T
CAT 7 Shielded Screen Twisted Pair 600 10 GbE

3. COAXIAL CABLE
Coaxial Cable consists of 2 conductors. The inner conductor is held inside an insulator with the
other conductor woven around it providing a shield. An insulating protective coating called a
jacket covers the outer conductor.

The outer shield protects the inner conductor from outside electrical signals. The distance
between the outer conductor (shield) and inner conductor plus the type of material used for
insulating the inner conductor determine the cable properties or impedance. Typical impedances
for coaxial cables are 75 ohms for Cable TV, 50 ohms for Ethernet Thinnet and Thicknet. The
excellent control of the impedance characteristics of the cable allow higher data rates to be
transferred than Twisted Pair cable.

There are two types of coax cable; Baseband and Broadband.

Baseband: In this, the frequency band occupied by a single or composite signal in its original or
unmodulated form. The cable id dedicated for only one channel.

Broadband: It uses high frequency transmission over medium, several streams of data can be
transmitted at different frequencies simultaneously.

Table 7.2 Categories of coaxial cables

4. OPTICAL FIBER

Optical Fiber consists of thin glass fibers that can carry information at frequencies in the visible
light spectrum and beyond. The typical optical fiber consists of a very narrow strand of glass
called the Core. Around the Core is a concentric layer of glass called the Cladding. A typical
Core diameter is 62.5 microns (1 micron = 10-6 meters). Typically Cladding has a diameter of
125 microns. Coating the cladding is a protective coating consisting of plastic, it is called the
Jacket.
If the angle of incidence is small, the light rays are reflected and do not pass into the water. If the
angle of incident is great, light passes through the media but is bent or refracted.

Optical Fibers work on the principle that the core refracts the light and the cladding reflects the
light. The core refracts the light and guides the light along its path. The cladding reflects any
light back into the core and stops light from escaping through it - it bounds the media!

Optical Transmission Modes:

a) Step Index
b) Grade Index
c) Single Mode

Step Index has a large core the light rays tend to bounce around, reflecting off the cladding,
inside the core. This causes some rays to take a longer or shorted path through the core. Some
take the direct path with hardly any reflections while others bounce back and forth taking a
longer path. The result is that the light rays arrive at the receiver at different times. The signal
becomes longer than the original signal. LED light sources are used. Typical Core: 62.5 microns.
Grade Index has a gradual change in the Core's Refractive Index. This causes the light rays to
be gradually bent back into the core path. This is represented by a curved reflective path in the
attached drawing. The result is a better receive signal than Step Index. LED light sources are
used. Typical Core: 62.5 microns.

Both Step Index and Graded Index allow more than one light source to be used (different colours
simultaneously!). Multiple channels of data can be run simultaneously!

Single Mode has separate distinct Refractive Indexes for the cladding and core. The light ray
passes through the core with relatively few reflections off the cladding. Single Mode is used for a
single source of light (one colour) operation. It requires a laser and the core is very small: 9
microns.

Table 7.3 Fiber types

Advantages of Optical Fiber:

• Noise immunity: RFI and EMI immune (RFI - Radio Frequency Interference, EMI
-ElectroMagnetic Interference)
• Security: cannot tap into cable.
• Large Capacity due to BW (bandwidth)
• No corrosion
• Longer distances than copper wire
• Smaller and lighter than copper wire
• Faster transmission rate
Disadvantages of Optical Fiber:

• Physical vibration will show up as signal noise!

• Limited physical arc of cable. Bend it too much & it will break!
• Difficult to splice

The cost of optical fiber is a trade-off between capacity and cost. At higher transmission
capacity, it is cheaper than copper. At lower transmission capacity, it is more expensive.

5. CONNECTORS USED

Connector used with Twisted Pair Cable is RJ-45.

Coaxial Cables use BNC Connector.

 Fiber Optics cable use SC, ST, MTRJ Connectors etc.

6. TRANSMISSION MEDIA SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of the most effective transmission system for a given application must be made in
the context of a number of key design considerations. Such considerations include general
transmission characteristics such as bandwidth and error performance, both of which affect
throughput. Additionally, you must consider the allowable distance between devices as well as
issues of propagation delay, security, mechanical strength, physical dimensions, and speed of
deployment. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, consider local availability and cost,
including cost of acquisition, deployment, Operation and Maintenance (O & M), and upgrade or
replacement.

i. Transmission Characteristics

The basic transmission characteristics of a given medium are of primary importance. Those
characteristics include bandwidth, error performance, and distance between network elements.
These three dimensions of a transmission system, in combination, determine the effective
throughput, or the amount of information you can put through, that is, send over, the system.
 Bandwidth, in this context, refers to the raw amount of bandwidth, or capacity, the medium
supports. Error performance refers to the number or percentage of errors introduced in the
process of transmission. Distance refers to the minimum and maximum spatial separation
between devices over a single link, rather than over a complete, end - to - end circuit. Clearly, the
attractiveness of any given transmission system increases to the extent that you realize greater
available bandwidth, fewer errors, and a greater maximum distance between various network
elements such as amplifiers and repeaters.

ii. Propagation Delay

Propagation delay refers to the length of time required for a signal to travel from transmitter to
receiver across a transmission system. Factors impacting propagation delay include the distance
between transmitter and receiver and the density of the medium.

iii. Security

Security, in the context of transmission systems, addresses the protection of data from
interception as it transverses the network. Clearly, increasing amounts of sensitive data are being
transmitted across public networks, well outside the range of physical protection on the user’s
premises. Therefore, security is of greater concern than ever before. The airwave systems (e.g.,
microwave and satellite) are inherently insecure, as access to the signal is easily accomplished
and virtually undetectable through an antenna properly tuned and in proximity to the signal path.
It is much more difficult to physically tap a wire line circuit. Also the digital systems offer much
greater security potential than analog systems by virtue of the fact that application software can
quite effectively encrypt, or encode, the data to conceal its true meaning.

iv. Mechanical Strength

Mechanical strength applies especially to wired systems. Installers must physically manipulate
twisted pair, coaxial, and fiber optic cables while deploying and reconfiguring them. Clearly,
each type of wire, fiber, and cable has certain physical limits to the maximum severity of the
bend it can tolerate (bend radius) without cracking or breaking and the amount of bending and
twisting (flex strength) it can tolerate. There also are limits to the amount of weight or
longitudinal stress a cable or wire can support (tensile strength) without suffering deformation or
breaking (break strength). Strength members improve the tensile strength of OutSide Plant (OSP)
aerial cables and inside riser cables. Fiber optic cables are used for improved strength and
increased protection of the fragile glass fiber from physical damage.

v. Physical Dimensions

The physical dimensions of a transmission system must be considered as well. Certainly, you
must consider the sheer weight of a cable system. The bulk (diameter) of the cable is important,
 as conduit and raceway space often is at a premium. The physical dimensions of airwave systems
are no less important, as the size and weight of a reflective microwave or satellite dish and
mounting system (e.g., bracket and tower) may require support, particularly in locations that
experience high winds.

vi. Speed of Deployment

Speed can be of the essence at times. Wired connections take some time, even under the best of
circumstances and even using the most pliable wires and quickest connectors. Radio antennas
may take some time to install, but once they are in place, the time required to configure and
reconfigure the connections between them can take little time, if any. If fact, the antennas can
even establish and maintain connections while in motion. Portability and even mobility are key
wireless advantages. It is said that time is money, which leads us to consider cost.

vii. Cost

Ultimately, financial considerations rule, and media selection is no exception. Cost

considerations include acquisition, deployment, operation and maintenance (O & M), and
upgrade or replacement. Without getting involved in a lengthy discussion of each cost issue at
this point, it certainly is particularly worth pausing for a moment to compare the deployment
costs of wireline and wireless media.

Wired transmission systems require securing legal rights - of - way and digging trenches, boring
tunnels, planting poles, placing conduits and manholes, pulling and splicing cables, placing
amplifiers or repeaters, and so on. Such costs, clearly, are not trivial. Wireless systems, on the
other hand, require securing rights - of - way, erecting towers, mounting antennas, securing
spectrum licenses, and so on. While it is difficult to make hard - and - fast generalizations, the
deployment of wired systems certainly involves a set of cost issues that can be problematic.

Further, wired systems tend to be more susceptible to the forces of man (e.g., cable - seeking
backhoes, posthole diggers, and trains) and nature (e.g., earthquakes and floods). Whether caused
by man or nature, catastrophic failures add repair costs to the equation.

Twisted Pair Coaxial Optical Fiber

Cost Low Medium High
Speed Low Medium High
Distance Upto 1 mile 2-3 miles 20-30 miles
(1-2 Mbps for 1 mile
10 Mbps for 100 m)
Expandability Normal Normal Difficult
Security Yes Yes Yes
Noise Immunity Low Medium-High High
Interference Electrical Electrical Immune