Science XI

Communication channels
 The signal may be transferred in various ways using
different channels of communication including :

1. wire-pairs
2. Coaxial cables
3. Radio and microwave links
4. Optic fibres
1. Wire-pairs
 Wire-pairs provide a very simple link between a
transmitter of information and the receiver.

 In modern communication systems, wire-pairs are

used mainly for short-distance communication at a
relatively low frequencies.

 Example : linking telephones to the nearest exchange

2. Coaxial cables
 Consist of two wire conductor.

 The signal in coaxial cables suffer far less from

distortion than wire-pairs and provide better security

 Is used to connect an aerial to a television receiver

3. Radio waves and microwave
 Radio wave Have very low frequency (30 kHz to 30
GHz) and very long wavelength

 Microwaves have frequency 3GHz to 30GHz

4. Optic fibres
 Consist of a fine strand of very pure glass surrounded
by a protective covering.

 The glass fibre itself is thinner than a hair

 MODULATION
 Is the process whereby either the amplitude (in AM) or the
frequency (in FM) of a carrier wave is varied so as to carry
information .

 FM stands for frequency modulation

 AM stands for amplitude modulation

 AM
 The carrier wave has constant frequency

 The amplitude of the carrier wave is made to vary

 The variation are in synchrony with the displacement

of the information signal
 FM
 The carrier wave has constant amplitude

 The frequency of the carrier wave is made to vary

 The variation are in synchrony with the displacement

of the information signal
 Bandwidth
 Is the range of frequencies that is used in any particular
broadcast.

 Higher Bandwidth FM broadcasts giving better sound

quality

 The bandwidth is equal to 2 x Fs

Fs is frequency signal (max. Frequency)

 Relative advantages of AM and FM
transmissions
 FM transmissions are more expensive than AM

 FM transmissions cover smaller area than AM

 FM has a greater bandwidth than AM

 The quality of the received FM signal is much better

(sound quality), AM is noisy
 The general formula for wave

V=fλ

 With :
V : speed of the wave (m/s)
f : frequency (Hz)
λ : (Lambda) the wavelength (m)
 Questionsssssss
1. A particular transmitter is broadcasting an AM
sifnal of frequency 200 kHz and the speed is 3 x 108
m/s . The transmitter is broadcasting a programme
of music with a maximum frequency of 4.5 kHz.
Determina, for this AM signal :

a. The wavelength
b. The bandwidth
 Analogue and Digital Signal
 Analogue is an information signal that has the same
variations with time as the information itself.

 Digital is is an information that consists of a series of

highs and lows
 Digital communication involves :

1. Analogue to digital conversion (ADC) on

transmission
2. Digital to analogue (DAC) on reception

 The ratio of two powers is measured in decibels (dB)

 Relative merits of channels of
communication
Wire-pairs Coaxial cables
 are used for short distance  Is more costly
communication
 Cause less attenuation
 Cause high attenuation of a
signal

 Easily pick up noisy  Less noisy

 Low security  More secure

 Have limited bandwidth  Has a larger bandwidth

 Relative merits of channels of
communication
Radio & microwave links Optic fibres

 Has wide range of frequencies  Very High security and

negligible cross-talk

 Security is achieved only by

encoding the information  Large bandwidth

 Their mode of use and range  Much lower cost than metals
depend on frequency wires
 Communication satellites
 Long distance communication using radio wave is possible
on the MW (medium wave) as surface waves and the SW
(short wave) as sky waves. But for modern communication
systems there are three major disadvantages.

1. Long distance communication using sky wave is unreliable

in that in depends on reflection from layers of ions in the
upper atmosphere.
2. The wave bands available on MW and SW are already
crowded
3. The bandwidths that are available are narrow and
consequently unable to carry large amounts of information
 Polar satellites are satellites that have low orbits and
pass over the poles

 Attenuation is lossing of power when a signal passes

along a wire or a fibre.