Guided Vs Unguided Transmission Media

Classes of transmission media

1. Twisted pair consists of two conductors each surrounded by an insulating material.

Shielded twisted-pair cable

2. Coaxial cable is the kind of copper cable used by cable TV companies between the community antenna and user homes and businesses. Coaxial cable is sometimes used by telephone companies from their central office to the telephone poles near users. It is also widely installed for use in business and corporation Ethernet and other types of local area network.

Advantages of Optical Communications

Fundamentals of Fiber Optic Systems

Radio waves are used for multicast communications, such as radio and television, and paging systems.
They can penetrate through walls. Highly regulated. Use Omni directional antennas

1. Microwaves are used for unicast communication such as cellular telephones, satellite networks, and wireless LANs. 2. Higher frequency ranges cannot penetrate walls. 3. Use directional antennas - point to point line of sight communications - Unidirectional antennas

Infrared signals can be used for short-range communication in a closed area using line-of-sight
propagation.

Unguided Transmission - Technical Focus:

Also called wireless communication. It transports electromagnetic Waves without using a physical conductor. Signals are broadcast through the air (in some cases water). There are available to anyone who can receive them. Radio Frequency Allocation - the selection of the electromagnetic spectrum defined as radio communication is divided into 8 ranges, called bands, each regulated by government. These bands are rated from very low frequency (VLF) to very high frequency (EHF) VLF and HF - this propagate very close to the surface. MF and HF - upper layers and then reflect back to the earth VHF and UHF - transmitted using line of sight EHF and SHF - space propagation.