Data Communication Network1

DATA COMMUNICATION & NETWORK
Star Topology
Bus Topology
Ring Topology
Coaxial Cable
Fiber Optic Cable
BNC Connector
Twisted-pair Cable
RJ-45 Connector
so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation.

Repeater
Switch
Hub
ST Connector
Router
SC Connector
Satellite
Modem
Malik Faisal Ayaz

Lecturer (Computer Science)
Govt. College of Commerce, Mianwali.
Topic Overview:
Data Communication
Digital Transmission
Analog Transmission
Basic Elements of Communication System
Sender
Data Transmission Modes
Medium
Receiver
Simplex
Half-duplex
Full-duplex
Data Communication Software (Protocols)
Network
Advantages of Network
Classification of Networks
Types of Network
Geographical Point of View
Network Topologies
Bus Network Topology
Ring Network Topology
Star Network Topology

Tree Network Topology
Mesh Network Topology

Transmission media
Organizational Point of View

Computing Point of View
Guided Media
Un-guided Media
Network Communication Devices
Previous University Exams Questions From This Topic:

Q.1
gf
Q.2
What is network Topology? Explain different types of network topologies?

2006 Annual
Q.3
Define network. Differentiate LAN and WAN
Q.4
Write note on the following:

i.
Communication Devices
2005 Supplementary
ii)
----2005 Supplementary
Q.5
What do you understand by the term Computer Network? Differentiate between LAN, WAN and
MAN with examples?
2004 Supplementary
Q.6
What is a computer network? Differentiate between LAN and WAN with examples.
2003 Supplementary
Q.7
What is a Computer network? Differentiate between LAN, WAN and MAN with examples.
2002 Supplementary
Q.8
What is a Computer network? Differentiate between LAN, WAN and MAN with examples.
2002 Annual
DATA COMMUNICATION
We know that communication means the exchange of information. We all are aware with
some sorts of communication in our day-to-day life. For communication of information and
messages we use telephone and postal communication systems. Similarly data and
information from one computer system can be transmitted to other systems across
geographical areas. Thus data transmission is the movement of information using some
standard methods. These methods include electrical signals carried along a conductor, optical
signals along an optical fibers and electromagnetic areas.
So, data communication can be defined as:
The transfer of data (information) from one point to another point is
called Data Communication.
In this process data is transmitted electronically from one system to other systems using
standard methods.
The electronic systems that transfer data from one point to another are called data
communication systems.
Data is transmitted from one point to another in the form of signals, which may be in
analog form or digital form. Therefore, data transmission is divided into:
Digital Transmission
Analog Transmission
Digital Transmission:
The transfer of data from one point to another in the form of digital signals is called
digital data transmission. Data travel in side the computer in the form of digital signals.
Digital signal may assume only discrete set of values within a given range. Examples are
computer and computer related equipment. A digital signal is a sequence of voltage
represented in binary form.
1
Repeaters are used to regenerate the weak signals in digital transmission.

Examples:
Data Communication in computer
Digital watches
Speedo Meters
Malik Faisal Ayaz
*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Lecturer (Computer Science) Govt. College of Commerce, Mianwali.
Digital weight machine

Analog Transmission:
The transfer of data from one point to another in the form of analog signals is called
analog data transmission.
In analog signal the transmission power varies over a continuous range with respect to
sound, light and radio waves. Analog signal is measured in Volts and its frequency in Hertz
(Hz).
Time
Amplifiers are used to regenerate the weak signals in analog transmission.

Examples:
Sound
Temperature
Pressure
Light
Radio Waves etc.
Basic Elements of Communication System

There are three basic elements of any communication process are:
Sender
Medium
Receiver
Sender:
A sender/transmitter (source), which creates the messages to be transmitted. Usually,
computer system is used as transmitter in data communication.
Medium:
A medium, which carries the messages from one place to another. It may be a guided
media or un-guided media.
Receiver:
A receiver (sink), which receives the messages. It may be a Computer system, printer,
plotter, or fax machine.

Malik Faisal Ayaz

Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
---------------
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
--------------Protocol
Protocol
Message
Medium
Receiver
Sender
Communication System
Data Transmission Modes

There are three ways for transmitting data from one point to another.
1.
Simplex: In simplex mode the communication can take place in one direction. The
receiver receives the signal from the transmitting device. In this mode the flow of information
is Uni-directional. Hence it is rarely used for data communication.
Sender
Simplex A to B only
Receiver
Devices connected to such a circuit are either a send-only or a receive-only device.

Examples:
Radio and Television broadcasts.
Printing with help of Printer
2.
Half-duplex: In half-duplex mode the communication channel is used in both
directions, but only in one direction at a time. Thus a half-duplex line can alternately send
and receive data.
Sender
(or Receiver)
Half-Duplex A to B or B to A
Receiver
(or Sender)
Examples:
Conversation on walkie-talkies
In LAN Bus & Ring Topologies
3.
Full-duplex: In full duplex the communication channel is used in both directions at
the same time. Use of full-duplex line improves the efficiency as the line turn-around time
required in half-duplex arrangement is eliminated.
Sender
(and Receiver)
Full-Duplex A to B and B to A
Receiver
(and Sender)
Examples:
Telephone line
Malik Faisal Ayaz

Cellular Phone system

In LAN Star topology
Data Communication Software (Protocols):
These are the set of rules and procedures established to control transmission between two
points. It instructs computer system and other devices as to exactly how the data is to be
transferred from one place to another. These procedures embedded in software are commonly
called Protocols.
The data transmission software or protocols perform the following functions for the efficient
and error free transmission of data.
Data sequencing: A long message to be transmitted is broken into smaller packets of

fixed size for error free data transmission.
Data Routing: It is the process of finding the most efficient route between source and
destination before sending the data.
Flow control: All machines are not equally efficient in terms of speed. Hence the flow
control regulates the process of sending data between fast sender and slow receiver.
Error Control: Error detecting and recovering is the one of the main function of
communication software. It ensures that data are transmitted without any error.
NETWORK
A group of computers and other devices connected together is called a
network, and the concept of connected computers sharing resources is
called networking.
Computers that are part of a network can share the following:
Data
Messages
Graphics
Printers
Fax machines
Modems
Other Device
This list is constantly growing as new ways are found to share and communicate by
means of computers.
Advantages of Network:
Communication:
The most important feature of computer network is the communication. People can
Malik Faisal Ayaz

communicate efficiently and easily at very low cost via e-mail, chatting, telephone, videoconferencing etc.
Sharing Hardware:
Enables users to share hardware like scanners and printers. This reduces costs by
reducing the number of hardware items bought.
Access to Data:
Allows users access to data stored on others' computers. This keeps everyone up-to-date
on the latest data, since it's all in the same file, rather than having to make copies of the files,
which are immediately out-of-date.
Sharing Programs:
Can even let users run programs that are not installed on their own computers but are
installed elsewhere in the network. This reduces the effort for networks administrators to
keep programs configured correctly and saves a lot of storage space.
Classification of Networks:
Network can be classified into two classes as:
Homogeneous networks
Heterogeneous networks
Homogeneous Network
Homogeneous means similar characteristics, a network is called homogeneous network in
which all clients have the same operating system. It runs a single network layer protocol. An
example of homogeneous networks is a network using Windows over TCP/IP.
Heterogeneous Network
Heterogeneous means containing dissimilar characteristics, a network is called
heterogeneous network when it consists of different manufacturers products. An example of
heterogeneous network is a local area network that connects Windows and Linux-based
personal computers with Apple Macintosh computers.
Types of Network
There are three different ways in which we classify the networks
1) Geographical Point of View
2) Organizational Point of View
3) Computing Point of View
Geographical Point of View

From geographical point of view, there are three types of networks.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

LAN
WAN
MAN
Local Area Network (LAN):

A LAN encompasses a small area such as a floor or a building with all the machines
connected directly via the same medium generally.
A LAN contains four major components that transport data between end users:
1)
Channel (media)
2)
The physical interface
3)
Protocol
4)
User Station
The computers used in LAN also require network interface card (NIC). A NIC enables
the computer to send and to receive information over a cable network. In a LAN, the nodes
normally connected via cables. A LAN may use the star topology, ring topology or bus
topology.
Major Characteristics of LAN:
every computer has the potential to communicate with any other computers of the
network
high degree of interconnection between computers
easy physical connection of computers in a network
inexpensive medium of data transmission
high data transmission rate
Use of LAN:
Followings are the major areas where LAN is normally used
File transfers and Access
Word and text processing
Electronic message handling
Remote database access
Personal computing
Digital voice transmission and storage
Wide Area Network (WAN):

A WAN comprises of a very large physical area that covers countries and continents.
Internet is one good example of a WAN. The machines in a WAN are connected through
different mediums and protocols.
In WAN, telephone lines, satellites, microwave, fiber optic etc. are used as transmission
media.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

In WAN, a modem is used that converts the digital signals into analog signals and vice
versa. The modem enables the computer to send and to receive information over long
distance through telephone line or microwave system.
Wide Area Network

Major Characteristics of WAN:
Followings are the major characteristics of WAN.
1. Communication Facility: For a big company spanning over different parts of the
country the employees can save long distance phone calls and it overcomes the time
lag in overseas communications. Computer conferencing is another use of WAN
where users communicate with each other through their computer system.
2. Remote Data Entry: Remote data entry is possible in WAN. It means sitting at any
location you can enter data, update data and query other information of any computer
attached to the WAN but located in other cities. For example, suppose you are sitting
at Islamabad and want to see some data of a computer located at Karachi, you can do
it through WAN.
3. Centralized Information: In modern computerized environment you will find that big
organizations go for centralized data storage. This means if the organization is spread
over many cities, they keep their important business data in a single place. As the data
are generated at different sites, WAN permits collection of this data from different
sites and save at a single site.
Examples of WAN:
Air Ticketing System: In air ticking system like PIA, many offices can be joined
together using WAN. A person can register a ticket from any office in the country.
Ethernet: Ethernet developed by Xerox Corporation is a famous example of WAN.
This network uses coaxial cables for data transmission. Special integrated circuit chips
called controllers are used to connect equipment to the cable.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

Arpanet: The Arpanet is another example of WAN. It was developed at Advanced

Research Projects Agency of U. S. Department. This Network connects more than 40
universities and institutions throughout USA and Europe.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

A MAN is almost similar to a WAN except that a MAN only encompasses an area that is
within a city.
Usually, MAN connects more than one LANs in a city or town and covers a smaller
geographical area than a WAN. The cable television, telephone companies or local
corporations use the MAN.
Difference between LAN & WAN

Local area network (LAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
1. Covers small geographical area.
Covers large or wide geographical area.
2. Normally computers are directly connected

through physical cable for data transmission.
Normally no physical cable or wire is used

and data is sent and received through
microwave system or satellite.
3. LAN card is used for data transmission.
Modem is used for data transmission
4. Data transmission speed is very high.
Data transmission speed is slow.
5. The error rate on a LAN is considerably The error rate is not better as compare to
better.
LAN.
6. Normally, its installation is easy.
Its installation is difficult.
7. Its installation and configuration cost is Its installation and configuration cost is more
less than WAN.
than LAN.
8. Cost of data transmission in LAN is less In case of WAN the cost of data transmission
because the transmission medium is owned is very high because the transmission
by a single organisation.
mediums used are hired.
9. The LAN channel is typically owned by
In WAN, companies usually are not involved
the organization.
in channel ownership or management.
10. In LAN, problems normally occur due to

cable disturbance by end user.
11. The connection in LAN is permanent
using wires.
In WAN, problem normally occurs due to

communication problems in medium like
telephone lines etc.
The connection in WAN is not permanent.
Organizational Point of View

From organizational point of view, networks are divided into two types
Peer-to-Peer
Server based
Malik Faisal Ayaz

Peer-to-Peer:
In a peer-to-peer network, there are no dedicated servers or hierarchy among the computers.
All of the computers are equal and therefore are known as peers. Normally, each computer
functions as both a client and a server, and there is no one assigned to be an administrator
responsible for the entire network.
Size:
Peer-to-peer networks are also called workgroups. In a peer-to-peer network, there are
typically fewer than 10 computers in the network.
Cost:
Peer-to-peer networks are relatively simple. Because each computer functions as a client
and a server, there is no need for a powerful central server, or for the other components
needed for a high-capacity network. Peer-to-peer networks can be less expensive than serverbased networks.
Peer-to-Peer Operating Systems:
Windows NT Workstation, Microsoft Windows for workgroups, Windows 95 etc. are
used in peer-to-peer networking. No additional software is required to set up a peer-to-peer
network.
Where Peer-to-Peer is Appropriate:
Peer-to-peer networks are good choices for environments where:
There are 10 users or fewer.
The users are all located in the same general area.
Security is not an issue.
The organization and the network will have limited growth within the
foreseeable future.
Server-Based Networks:
They are sometimes referred to as Domains. This is a centralized model of networking
with resources placed on a dedicated machine called Server. Server-based networks have
become the standard model for networking.
Size:
There is no user limit as such, as it depends directly on your hardware resources and
capacity to support users.
Cost:
Server-based network can be expensive as compare to peer-to-peer network.
Server-Based Operating Systems:
Windows NT Server, Linux etc. operating systems are used in server-based network.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

Server-Based Network Advantages:
Sharing Resources
Server-based network provide access to many files and printers while maintaining
performance and security to the user. Server-based sharing of data can be centrally
administered and controlled, so easier to locate.
Security
Server-based network provide any type of security. Server manages all these things.
Backup
Because crucial data is centralized on one or a few servers, it is easier to make sure that
the data is backed up on a regular schedule.
Redundancy
Through redundancy systems, the data on any server can be duplicated and kept online.
Number of Users
A Server-based network can support thousands of users.
Hardware Considerations
Client computer hardware can be limited to the needs of the user because clients do not
need the additional RAM and disk storage needed to provide server services.
Computing Point of View

Networks are divided into two types from the point of view of computing.
Centralized Networks
Client-Server Networks
Centralized Networks:
The centralized networks rely totally on one dedicated machine called server for all the
processing and computing and the clients or the terminals act as dumb entities.
If the client requires a certain set of data, whole of the data set is transferred at the client
end, which also is wastage of the network bandwidth.
Client-Server Networks:
In this model of networking, only the required set of data is returned to the client while
both the server and the client take part in the processing or computing of the queries.
This is a more efficient way of processing and is hence applied generally more than the
centralized method, nowadays.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

10
NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
Topology is the branch of mathematics that examines the characteristics of geometric
shapes. Networks have shapes, and the shape a network takes has much to do with the way it
functions.
A Network Topology is the physical layout of the computers, servers,
cables and other devices.
In general there are five basic topologies possible:
Bus Network Topology
Ring Network Topology
Star Network Topology
Tree/ hierarchical Network Topology
Bus Network Topology:

In bus topologies, all computers are connected to a single cable bus or "trunk or
backbone", by a transceiver either directly or by using a short drop cable.
All ends of the cable must be terminated, that is plugged into a device such as a computer
or terminator.
A device wanting to communicate with another device on the network sends a broadcast
message onto the wire that all other devices see, but only the intended recipient actually
accepts and processes the message. This is called passive topology.
Terminating
Resistance
absorbs
signals
Network
Bus cable
Drop cable
Terminating
Resistance
absorbs
signals
Hardware Requirements:
NIC (Network Interface Card)
Cable (Most bus topologies use coaxial cables.)
Connectors (BNC Connectors)
Advantages:
Easy to implement and extend
Well suited for temporary networks (quick setup)
Malik Faisal Ayaz

11
Typically the cheapest topology to implement
Failure of one station does not affect others
One virus in the network will affect all of them (but not as badly as a star or ring
network)
Low Cost
Disadvantages:
Limited cable length and number of stations
A cable fault affects all workstations
Maintenance costs may be higher in the long run
Performance degrades as additional computers are added
Low security (all computers on the bus can see all data transmissions on the bus)
One virus in the network will affect all of them (but not as badly as a star or ring
network)
Proper termination is required.(loop must be in closed path)
this system is now out of date.
Terminators are required at both ends of the backbone cable
Ring Network Topology:

In a ring topology network computers are connected by a single loop of cable, the
data signals travel around the loop in one direction, passing through each computer.
Ring topology is an active topology because each computer repeats (boosts) the signal
before passing it on to the next computer.
One method of transmitting data around a ring is called token passing. The token is
passed from computer to computer until it gets to a computer that has data to send.

Cable (Most Ring topologies use Twisted-pair cables.)
Connectors (RJ-45 Connectors)
Advantages:
A central server is not required for the management of this topology.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

12
Equal access for all users
Each workstation has full access speed to the ring
As workstation numbers increase performance reduces slightly
Disadvantages:
Costly Wiring
Difficult Connections
Expensive Adaptor Cards
If there is a line break, or if you are adding or removing a device anywhere in the
ring this will bring down the network
Because the signal passes through each computer, the failure of one computer can
impact the entire network.
Star Network Topology:

Computers in a star topology are connected by cables to a hub/switch.
In this topology management of the network is made much easier (such as adding and
removing devices), because of the central point. However because it is centralized more cable
is required.
If one computer fails the network will continue to function, but if a hub fails all
computers connected to it will also be affected.
Cable (most star topologies use twisted-pair cables.)
Connectors (RJ-45 Connectors)
Hubs/Switch
Advantages:
Easy to install and wire.
No disruptions to the network then connecting or removing devices.
Easy to detect faults and to remove parts.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

13
Disadvantages:
Requires more cable length than a linear topology.
If the hub or concentrator fails, nodes attached are disabled.
More expensive than linear bus topologies because of the cost of the
concentrators.
Tree/hierarchical Network Topology:

A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. It consists of
groups of star-configured workstations connected to a linear bus backbone cable. Tree
topologies allow for the expansion of an existing network.
Cable (most star topologies use twisted-pair cables.)
Connectors (BNC, RJ-45 Connectors)
Hubs/Switch
Advantages:
Point-to-point wiring for individual segments.
Supported by several hardware and software venders.
Less expensive than a mesh.
Disadvantages:
If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down.
More difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.

A mesh topology is one which has all of the workstations connected to each other. This
topology is typically only used when high availability is a requirement. A fully connected
mesh network has n(n-1)/2 physical channels to n devices. Every device must have n-1 I/O
ports. It is expensive to maintain and troubleshoot.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

14
Cable
Connectors
The number of I/O ports required
ADVANTAGES:
Less traffic on each link.
Very robust.. if a link becomes unusable, there are other links available to
transport traffic.
Very private and secure because of the dedicated line.
Easy to troubleshootyou know exactly which link is broken allowing

you to bypass that link until it is operational again.
DISADVANTAGES:
Very expensive
The number of I/O ports required
Installation and configuration is difficult.
Dedicated lines are expensive.
Heavy wiring requires extra support in ceilings, walls, and support.
TRANSMISSION MEDIA
A transmission medium is any material substance which can propagate
waves or energy.
Transmission media can be classified into two major categories:
GUIDED MEDIA
UN-GUIDED MEDIA
An important characteristic of these different media is the bandwidth or simply the range
of frequencies each can transmit. In general, the greater the bandwidth of a given media, the
more it can carry.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

15
Transmission Media
Guided Media
Twisted-Pair
Coaxial
UTP
Thinnet
STP
Thicknet
Un-guided Media
Fiber-Optic
Microwave
Satellite
Infrared
Bluetooth
GUIDED MEDIA
(Bounded Media /Physical Media /Hardware Systems)
Guided media may constrain and guide the communication signal. Most common media
employed for data transmission are defined as guided -- the data signal is confined in a
specific transmission pathway. Cable TV uses bounded media.
Examples of guided transmission media are:
Twisted-pair Cable
Coaxial Cable
Fiber Optic
Twisted Pair Cable:

In its simplest form, twisted-pair cable consists of two insulated strands of copper wire
twisted around each other. A number of twisted-pair wires are often grouped together and
enclosed in a protective sheath to form a cable. The actual number of pairs in a cable varies.
TYPES OF TWISTED PAIR:

Twisted pair cabling comes in two varieties: unshielded and shielded.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable:

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most popular and is generally the best option for
school networks.
Jacket
Insulating
Jackets
Conductors
Shield
Two
Twisted Pairs
Type 1
Unshielded twisted pair
Malik Faisal Ayaz

16
The quality of UTP may vary from telephone-grade wire to extremely high-speed cable.
The cable has four pairs of wires inside the jacket. Each pair is twisted with a different
number of twists per inch to help eliminate interference from adjacent pairs and other
electrical devices. The tighter the twisting, the higher the supported transmission rate and the
greater the cost per foot. The EIA/TIA (Electronic Industry Association/Telecommunication
Industry Association) has established standards of UTP and rated five categories of wire.
Categories of Unshielded Twisted Pair

Category 1
Used for telephone communications. Not suitable for transmitting data.
Category 2
Capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
Category 3
Used in 10BASE-T networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 10 Mbps.
Category 4
Used in Token Ring networks. Can transmit data at speeds up to 16Mbps.
Category 5
Can transmit data at speeds up to 100 Mbps.

Typically, Category 6 cable consists of four pairs of 24 American Wire
Gauge (AWG) copper wires. Category 6 cable is currently the fastest
Category 6
standard for UTP. Can transmit data at speeds up to 10,000 Mbps.

Advantages:
o
Low cost media.
Large installed base (Type 3).
Familiarity.
Small dimensions.
Disadvantages:
o
Short ranges.
High attenuation (4Mbps - 45 dB/km ; 16Mbps - 120 dB/km).
Requires media filter for FCC and impedance matching.
High jitter factor - fewer nodes.
Future high bandwidth requirements???
Unshielded Twisted Pair Connector:

The standard connector for unshielded twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector. This is a
plastic connector that looks like a large telephone-style connector. A slot allows the RJ-45 to
be inserted only one way. RJ stands for Registered Jack, implying that the connector follows
a standard borrowed from the telephone industry. This standard designates which wire goes
with each pin inside the connector.
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable:

STP (also called data-grade media) uses a woven copper braid jacket which is a higherquality, more protective jacket than UTP has. Shielded twisted pair (STP) is suitable for
Malik Faisal Ayaz

17
environments with electrical interference; however, the extra shielding can make the cables
quite bulky. Shielded twisted pair is often used on
networks using Token Ring topology.
Features:
Speed and throughput10 to 100 Mbps
Average cost per nodeModerately expensive
Media and connector sizeMedium to large
Maximum cable length100 m (short)
Coaxial Cable:
Coaxial cabling (Coax) has a single copper conductor at its center. A plastic layer
provides insulation between the center conductor and a braided metal shield. The metal shield
helps to block any outside interference from fluorescent lights, motors, and other computers.
Insulator
Jacket
Outer
Conductor
(Sheild)
Center
Conductor
Coaxial cable
Types of Coaxial Cable:

The two types of coaxial cabling are:
Thinnet (10 Base 2)
Thicknet (10 Base 5)
Thinnet:
Thin coaxial cable is also referred to as thinnet about .25 inches thick. 10Base2 refers to the
specifications for thin coaxial cable carrying Ethernet signals. The 2 refers to the approximate
maximum segment length being 200 meters. In actual fact the maximum segment length is
185 meters. Thin coaxial cable is popular in school networks, especially linear bus networks.
Features:
Transmission Rate - 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
Maximum Length 185 (about 607 feet) meters per segment.
Impedance - 50 ohm RG58, conductor diameter - 0.9 mm.
BNC connections.
0.5 meter between consecutive connections.
Up to 30 nodes per segment.
Advantages:
o
Simplicity
Malik Faisal Ayaz

18
Low cost
Flexible
Ease of installation and maintenance
Inexpensive
Disadvantages:
o
Limited distances
Limited application
Thicknet:
Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as thicknet. 10Base5 refers to the specifications for
thick coaxial cable carrying Ethernet signals. The 5 refer to the maximum segment length
being 500 meters. Thick coaxial cable has an extra protective plastic cover that helps keep
moisture away from the center conductor. This makes thick coaxial a great choice when
running longer lengths in a linear bus network.
Features:
Transmission Rate - 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
Maximum Length 500 (about 1,640 feet) meters per segment.
Impedance - 50 ohm, conductor diameter - 2.17 mm.
Uses transceivers and AUI (Attachment Unit Interface) cable.
Up to 100 nodes per segment.
Total Maximum Extended Length (by Repeaters) - 1500 meters.
Advantages:
o
Low cost (W.R to Fiber optic)
Ease of installation and maintenance (in some cases)
High rates
Can carry signal long distance
Disadvantages:
o Does not bend easily
o Harder to install
o Expensive (Thin cable)
Coaxial Cable Connectors:
The most common type of connector used with coaxial cables is the BNC connector.
Different types of adapters are available for BNC connectors (short for British Naval
Connector or Bayonet Neill Concelman, connectors), including a T-connector, barrel
connector, and terminator. Connectors on the cable are the weakest points in any network. To
help avoid problems with your network, always use the BNC connectors that crimp, rather
than screw, onto the cable.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

19
Fiber Optic Cable:

Fiber optic (100BaseFX or 1000BaseFX) cabling consists of a center glass core
surrounded by several layers of protective materials. It transmits light rather than electronic
signals eliminating the problem of electrical interference. This makes it ideal for certain
environments that contain a large amount of electrical interference. It has also made it the
standard for connecting networks between buildings, due to its immunity to the effects of
moisture and lighting.
Fiber optic cable has the ability to transmit signals over much longer distances than
coaxial and twisted pair. It also has the capability to carry information at vastly greater
speeds.
Jacket
(Sheath)
Cladding
Fiber Core
Fiber optic cable

Facts about fiber optic cables:
Outer insulating jacket is made of Teflon or PVC.
Kevlar fiber helps to strengthen the cable and prevent breakage.
A plastic coating is used to cushion the fiber center
CLADDING - made of glass.
Center (core) is made of glass or plastic fibers.
Carry digital data signals in the form of modulated pulses of light
Greater capacity (bandwidth of up to 2 Gbps)
Fiber Optic Connector:

The most common connector used with fiber optic cable is an ST connector. It is barrel
shaped, similar to a BNC connector. A newer connector, the SC, is becoming more popular.
It has a squared face and is easier to connect in a confined space.
Advantages of Optical Fibers:
o No electrical ground loop or short circuit problems.
o Small size and light-weight.
o Large bandwidth for size and weight.
o Safe in combustible areas (no arching).
o Immunity to lightning and electrical discharges.
o Longer cable runs between repeaters.
o Flexibility and high strength.
o Potential high temperature operation.
o Resistant to nuclear radiation.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

20
o Secure against signal leakage and interference.

o No electrical hazard when cut or damaged.
o Security: cannot tap into cable.
o Faster transmission rate
Disadvantages of Optical Fiber:
o Physical vibration will show up as signal noise!
o Limited physical arc of cable. Bend it too much & it will break!
o Difficult to splice
o Requires highly skilled installers
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.
UN-GUIDED MEDIA
(Un-bounded Media/ Wireless Media/ Software Systems)
Unguided media permits signal to be transmitted but not guide them. Transmissions and
receptions are achieved by means of an antenna.
Examples of Un-guided media are:
Microwave
Satellite
Infrared
Blue tooth
Microwave:
Microwave system uses very high frequency radio signals to transmit data through space.
The transmitter and receiver of a microwave system should be in line-of-sight because the
radio signal cannot bend. With microwave very long distance transmission is not possible. In
order to overcome the problem of line of sight and power amplification of weak signal,
repeaters are used at intervals of 25 to 30 kilometers between the transmitting and receiving
end.
Malik Faisal Ayaz
Receiving
Antennas
In between
Repeaters
Receiving
Station
Transmitting
Station
Transmitting
Antennas

21
Properties:
Difficult to generate
Can travel long distance
Cant go in to obstacles
Travel in straight line
License is needed to generate them
Relatively inexpensive
Frequency Range 108 1012 Hz.
Data transmission rate is 16 giga bits per second.
Effective distance of microwave antenna
d =7.14
KH
K=3/4-adjustment factor for curvature of earth; h-hight of antenna;d measured in

meters.
Uses:
Radar communication
Wideband communication systems
Quite common in the telephone system
Television transmission also utilizes microwave transmission
Advantages:
o They require no right of way acquisition between towers.
o They can carry high quantities of information due to their high operating
frequencies.
o Low cost land purchase: each tower occupies small area.
o High frequency/short wavelength signals require small antenna.
Disadvantages:
o Attenuation by solid objects: birds, rain, snow and fog.
o Reflected from flat surfaces like water and metal.
o Diffracted (split) around solid objects
o Refracted by atmosphere, thus causing beam to be projected away from
receiver.
Satellite:
A communication satellite is a microwave relay station placed in outer space. In satellite
Communication, microwave signal is transmitted from a transmitter on earth to the satellite at
Malik Faisal Ayaz

22
space. The satellite amplifies the weak signal and transmits it back to the receiver. The main
advantage of satellite communication is that it is a single microwave relay station visible
from any point of a very large area.
Satellite
22,300 miles
Dish
Dish
Communications Satellite rotates at almost exactly the same rate as the earth rotate. They
are used for both in the national network and in the international network.
There are only a few problems in the transmission characteristics of the satellite link. Due
to the long distance that the signals have to travel, resulted in a delay (echo), which have to
be counteracted by the echo suppressors.
The capacity of the telephone channels increase as time goes on as compared to the time
when the satellite was first launch into space. The Intelsat, which was first launch in 1965,
have 75 duplex telephone channel but today the basic version of the new Intelsat VI satellite
can handle 80000 telephone channel.
Most widely used data transmission media in modern days. They are mostly used to link
big metropolitan cities.
Uses:
Television distribution
Long-distance telephone transmission
Private business networks
Advantages:
o The laying and maintenance of intercontinental cable is difficult and expensive.
o The heavy usage of intercontinental traffic makes the satellite commercially
attractive.
o Satellites can cover large areas of the Earth. This is particularly useful for sparsely
populated areas.
Satellite communication is limited by four factors:
o Technological limitations preventing the deployment of large, high gain antennas
on the satellite platform.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

23
o Over-crowding of available bandwidths due to low antenna gains.

o The high investment cost and insurance cost associated with significant
probability of failure.
o High atmospheric losses above 30GHz limit carrier frequencies.
Infrared:
Infrared communication is now common as a means of wireless communication between
devices. The system is built around optical transceivers that transmit and receive at relatively
short distances.
Properties:
Difficult to generate
Red light not commonly visible to human eyes
Travel in straight line
Cant pass through obstacles
Rain will also cause a distortion
Used for short range communication
No license is required
Frequency ranges 1012 1014 Hz.
Uses:
Commonly used in television or videocassette remote control units
Some Mobile Telephone sets use Infrared for data transfer from one set to
another
Wireless security alarms
Remote car locking systems
Advantages:
o Low power requirements: therefore ideal for laptops, telephones, personal
digital assistants
o High noise immunity: not as likely to have interference from signals from
other devices
o Portable
Disadvantages
o Line of sight: transmitters and receivers must be almost directly aligned
o Blocked by common materials: people, walls, plants, etc. can block
transmission
o Short range: performance drops off with longer distances
Malik Faisal Ayaz

24
o Light, weather sensitive: direct sunlight, rain, fog, dust, pollution can affect
transmission
o Speed: data rate transmission is lower than typical wired transmission
Bluetooth:
A radio technology built around a new chip that makes it possible to
transmit signals over short distances between computers and hand-held devices
without the use of wires.
Or we can define as:
Bluetooth is wireless protocol for (data communication) sending audio and video data
between mobile computers - laptops, notebooks, Handheld Computers, PDA's and other blue
tooth enabled devices including print servers.
Bluetooth uses a technique called *spread-spectrum frequency hopping* that makes it
rare for more than one device to be transmitting on the same frequency at the same time.
Properties:
Can connect up to *eight devices* simultaneously.
Used for short range communication approximately 10 meters (32-feet)
No license is required
Frequency ranges 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz (U.S. and Europe)
Data rates of up to 1 megabit per second (Mbps) to 3 Mbps
Uses:
Computer system use for data transfer
Mobile Telephone sets use for data transfer from one set to another
Advantages:
o Inexpensive and automatic
o No line-of-sight
o Not blocked by common materials: can penetrate most solids and pass
through walls
o Longer range as compare to Infrared
o Not as sensitive to weather/environmental conditions
Disadvantages:
o And the greater range and radio frequency of Bluetooth make it more open to
interception and attack.
Network Communication devices

Hubs:
(Provides a common connection point for nodes)
Malik Faisal Ayaz

25
A Hub is a component that provides a common connection point for computers, printers,
and other network devices in a star topology network. Allowing them to be managed from a
central location. Also, hubs allow you to connect and disconnect an individual
computer/device without disrupting the network. Hubs operate at the physical layer of the
OSI Model.
Types of Hubs:
There are two basic types of hubs, passive and active.
Passive Hubs:
Passive hubs simply provide a junction point, to send the data signal on to other
devices on the network.
Active Hubs:
Active Hubs, regenerate and retransmit the data signal, because they repeat the signal
they can, increase the diameter of the network. You can tell if a hub is active because
it requires electricity.
Active hubs are sometimes called multiport repeaters because they act like repeaters.
Hybrid Hubs:
Advanced hubs that will accommodate several different types of cables are called
hybrid hubs.
Switches:
(Like Hub with additional layer of intelligence)
Switches are a special type of hub that offers an additional layer of intelligence to basic,
physical-layer, repeater hubs. A switch must be able to read the MAC address of each frame
it receives. This information allows switches to repeat incoming data frames only to the
computer or computers to which a frame is addressed. This speeds up the network and
reduces congestion. Switches operate at both the physical layer and the data link layer of the
OSI Model.
Repeaters:
(Regenerates the weak signals)
A repeater takes a weak signal from one segment, regenerates it, and passes it to the next
segment. so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation.
A repeater:
Connects two segments of similar or dissimilar media.
Regenerates the signal to increase the distance transmitted.
Passes all traffic in both directions.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

26
Bridges:
(Connect LANs of the same type)
A bridge is used to join two network segments together; it allows computers on either
segment to access resources on the other. They can also be used to divide large networks into
smaller segments. Bridges have all the features of repeaters, but can have more nodes.
Bridges can also connect networks that run at different speeds, different topologies, or
different protocols. But they cannot, join an Ethernet segment with a Token Ring segment,
because these use different networking standards.
Bridges operate at both the Physical Layer and the MAC sublayer of the Data Link layer.
Bridges read the MAC header of each frame to determine on which side of the bridge the
destination device is located, the bridge then repeats the transmission to the segment where
the device is located.
Routers:
(Connects LANs and WANs, route messages through the network)
A device used to connect networks of different types, such as those using different
topologies and protocols. They can operate at the first three layers of the OSI Model. This
means they can switch and route packets across multiple networks. Routers determine the
best path for sending data.
You can use routers, to segment a large network, and to connect local area segments to a
single network backbone that uses a different physical layer and data link layer standard.
They can also be used to connect LAN's to a WAN's.
Brouters are a combination bridge, and router in one device. Brouters are more cost
effective as both the bridge and router are combined together.
Gateways:
(Connect dissimilar networks)
A gateway is a device used to connect networks using different protocols. Gateways

operate at the network layer of the OSI model.
In order to communicate with a host on another network, an IP host must be configured
with a route to the destination network. If a configuration route is not found, the host uses the
gateway (default IP router) to transmit the traffic to the destination host. The default gateway
is where the IP sends packets that are destined for remote networks. If no default gateway is
specified, communication is limited to the local network.
A gateway receive data from a network using one type of protocol stack, removes that
protocol stack and repackages it with the protocol stack that the other network can use.
Malik Faisal Ayaz

27
Network interface cards:

(Provides one or more ports for the network cable)
Network Interface Card (NIC) is a hardware card installed in a computer so it can

communicate on a network. The network adapter provides one or more ports for the network
cable to connect to, and it transmits and receives data onto the network cable.
Every networked computer must also have a network adapter driver, which controls the
network adapter. Each network adapter driver is configured to run with a certain type of
network adapter.
Wireless access points:

(Act as wireless hubs to link multiple wireless NICs)
A wireless network adapter card with a transceiver sometimes called an access point,
broadcasts and receives signals to and from the surrounding computers and passes back and
forth between the wireless computers and the cabled network.
Access points act as wireless hubs to link multiple wireless NICs into a single subnet.
Access points also have at least one fixed Ethernet port to allow the wireless network to be
bridged to a traditional wired Ethernet network.
Modems:
(Convert digital signals into Analog and Vice-versa)
A modem is a device that makes it possible for computers to communicate over telephone
lines. The word modem comes from Modulate and Demodulate. Because standard telephone
lines use analog signals, and computers digital signals, a sending modem must modulate its
digital signals into analog signals. The computers modem on the receiving end must then
demodulate the analog signals into digital signals.
Modulation
Demodulation
There are 2 basic physical types of modems: Internal & External modems. External,
connected to the computers serial port by an RS-232 cable
Internal modems are a plug-in
circuit board that sits inside the computer. It
incorporates the serial port on-board. They are less expensive than external modems
because they do not require a case, power supply and serial cable. Modems connect to the
phone line using standard telephone RJ-11 connectors.
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
Malik Faisal Ayaz

28

Data Communication Network1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Data Communication Network1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DATA COMMUNICATION & NETWORK

Fiber Optic Cable

so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation.

Malik Faisal Ayaz

Data Transmission Modes

Ring Network Topology

Star Network Topology

Mesh Network Topology

Organizational Point of View

Network Communication Devices

Previous University Exams Questions From This Topic:

What is network Topology? Explain different types of network topologies?

Define network. Differentiate LAN and WAN

Write note on the following:

Repeaters are used to regenerate the weak signals in digital transmission.

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Digital weight machine

Amplifiers are used to regenerate the weak signals in analog transmission.

Basic Elements of Communication System

computer system is used as transmitter in data communication.

media or un-guided media.

plotter, or fax machine.

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Data Transmission Modes

Devices connected to such a circuit are either a send-only or a receive-only device.

Half-duplex: In half-duplex mode the communication channel is used in both

Full-duplex: In full duplex the communication channel is used in both directions at

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Cellular Phone system

Data sequencing: A long message to be transmitted is broken into smaller packets of

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Geographical Point of View

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Local Area Network (LAN):

The physical interface

high degree of interconnection between computers

easy physical connection of computers in a network

inexpensive medium of data transmission

high data transmission rate

File transfers and Access

Word and text processing

Electronic message handling

Remote database access

Digital voice transmission and storage

Wide Area Network (WAN):

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Wide Area Network

Malik Faisal Ayaz

*** E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/***

Arpanet: The Arpanet is another example of WAN. It was developed at Advanced

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):

Difference between LAN & WAN

Wide Area Network (WAN)

1. Covers small geographical area.

Covers large or wide geographical area.

2. Normally computers are directly connected

Normally no physical cable or wire is used

3. LAN card is used for data transmission.

Modem is used for data transmission

4. Data transmission speed is very high.

Data transmission speed is slow.

6. Normally, its installation is easy.

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*

* E-mail: faisal.manak@gmail.com/*