Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes

Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking

Complete Study Notes — Most Important Questions

1. Transmission Media
Q1. What is Transmission Media?
Transmission media refers to the physical pathway or channel through which data signals travel from
one device to another in a network. It is the medium that carries electronic signals between the sender
and receiver. Transmission media can be classified into two types: Guided (Wired) Media and
Unguided (Wireless) Media.

Q2. Six Characteristics of Transmission Media

# Characteristic Description
1 Bandwidth The range of frequencies that the medium can carry. Higher
bandwidth means more data can be transmitted per second.
2 Attenuation The gradual weakening of the signal as it travels through the
medium over a distance. Measured in decibels (dB).
3 Noise / EMI Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) from external sources that
distorts or degrades the signal quality.
4 Installation Difficulty The ease or difficulty in installing and maintaining the medium
(e.g., fiber optic is harder to install than UTP).
5 Cost The price per unit length of the cable including installation and
maintenance expenses.
6 Security The degree to which the medium is protected from unauthorized
tapping or interception of data.

Q3. Explain the Following Characteristics in Detail

(i) Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the range of frequencies available for transmission in a medium. It determines how
much data can be sent per unit of time. A medium with higher bandwidth can carry more information
simultaneously. For example, fiber optic cables have much higher bandwidth than copper cables.
Bandwidth is measured in Hertz (Hz) or in bits per second (bps).

(ii) Attenuation
Attenuation is the loss of signal strength as it travels along the transmission medium. As the signal
moves through a cable, it gradually becomes weaker due to resistance and absorption. Attenuation
increases with distance and frequency. To overcome attenuation, repeaters or amplifiers are used at
regular intervals to boost the signal strength. Coaxial cable has lower attenuation than twisted pair
cable.
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes

(iii) EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)

EMI stands for Electromagnetic Interference. It is caused by external electromagnetic sources such as
electric motors, fluorescent lights, radio transmitters, and other cables. EMI can distort the data signal
and cause transmission errors. Shielded cables (like STP) are designed to reduce EMI. Fiber optic
cables are immune to EMI because they transmit light instead of electrical signals.

(iv) Installation Difficulties

Installation difficulty refers to how easy or hard it is to lay, connect, and maintain the transmission
medium. UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable is the easiest to install due to its flexibility and light
weight. Coaxial cable is moderately difficult to install. Fiber optic cable requires specialized equipment
and trained technicians, making it the most difficult to install. Underground installation and bending
restrictions also add to installation challenges.

2. Twisted Pair Cable vs. Coaxial Cable

Q4. Compare Twisted Pair Cable with Coaxial Cable (3 Points)
Point Twisted Pair Cable Coaxial Cable
Cost Cheaper and more economical to More expensive than twisted pair
install cable
Bandwidth Lower bandwidth, suitable for short Higher bandwidth, supports longer
distances distances
EMI Immunity More susceptible to EMI (UTP has Less susceptible to EMI due to
no shielding) outer metallic shield
Speed Lower data transmission speed (up Higher speed, suitable for
to 1 Gbps for Cat6) broadband and cable TV
Installation Easier and flexible to install Harder to install due to rigid
structure

3. Coaxial Cable
Q5. Explain Coaxial Cable in Detail
A coaxial cable (commonly called 'coax') is a type of electrical cable that has a central copper
conductor surrounded by layers of insulation, shielding, and an outer jacket. It is widely used for cable
television (CATV), internet connections, and older Ethernet networks.

Structure of Coaxial Cable:

• Inner Conductor: A solid or stranded copper wire at the center that carries the signal.
• Dielectric Insulator: A non-conducting insulating material surrounding the inner conductor to
maintain spacing.
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes
• Metallic Shield: A braided wire mesh or foil that surrounds the insulator to block EMI.
• Outer Jacket (Sheath): The outermost plastic covering that protects the cable from physical
damage.

Types of Coaxial Cable:

• Thinnet (10Base2): Thin coaxial cable, approximately 5mm in diameter, used for short-distance
networking.
• Thicknet (10Base5): Thick coaxial cable, approximately 10mm in diameter, used for longer
distances.

Advantages:
• Good bandwidth and can carry signals over longer distances than twisted pair.
• Good shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI).
• Supports high-frequency transmissions.

Disadvantages:
• More expensive than twisted pair cable.
• Rigid and difficult to install in tight spaces.
• Has largely been replaced by fiber optic cables in modern networks.

Applications:
• Cable television (CATV) systems
• Early Ethernet networks (10Base2 and 10Base5)
• Broadband internet connections

4. Thinnet vs. Thicknet Coaxial Cable

Q6. Compare Thinnet and Thicknet Coaxial Cable
Feature Thinnet (10Base2) Thicknet (10Base5)
Diameter Approximately 5 mm (thin) Approximately 10 mm (thick)
Maximum Segment 185 meters 500 meters
Length
Data Rate 10 Mbps 10 Mbps
Cost Less expensive More expensive
Flexibility More flexible and easier to install Less flexible, harder to bend and
install
Connector Used BNC connector Vampire tap / AUI connector
Nickname Cheapernet Yellow Cable / Frozen Yellow
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes

Feature Thinnet (10Base2) Thicknet (10Base5)

Garden Hose
Use Small office/room-level networks Backbone (main trunk) of large
networks

5. Coaxial Cable vs. Fiber Optic Cable

Q7. Differentiate Between Coaxial Cable and Fiber Optic Cable
Feature Coaxial Cable Fiber Optic Cable
Signal Type Carries electrical signals Carries light signals (pulses of
light)
Bandwidth Moderate bandwidth Very high bandwidth
Speed Up to 10 Mbps (for Ethernet) Up to several Tbps (Terabits per
second)
Distance Up to 500 meters per segment Several kilometers without
repeaters
EMI Immunity Has shielding, but still susceptible Completely immune to EMI and
to some EMI radio interference
Cost Relatively less expensive More expensive to install and
maintain
Weight Heavy and bulky Light and thin
Security Signals can be tapped Very secure, difficult to tap
Installation Moderate difficulty Requires skilled technicians and
special tools

6. UTP Cable vs. Fiber Optic Cable

Q8. Compare UTP and Fiber Optic Cable (4 Attributes)
Attribute UTP Cable Fiber Optic Cable
Cost Inexpensive and widely available Expensive in terms of cable and
installation cost
Bandwidth Limited (up to 10 Gbps for Cat6a) Extremely high bandwidth (Tbps
range)
EMI Susceptibility Highly susceptible to EMI Completely immune to EMI
Distance Up to 100 meters without repeater Several kilometers without signal
loss
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Attribute UTP Cable Fiber Optic Cable

Connector Type RJ-45 connector LC, SC, ST connectors
Signal Type Electrical signal Light signal (photons)

7. STP vs. UTP Cable

Q9. Distinguish Between STP and UTP Cables (3 Points)
Point STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Shielding Has a metallic foil or braided shield Has no metallic shield
around the pairs
EMI Protection Better protection against EMI More susceptible to EMI
Cost More expensive due to extra Less expensive
shielding
Installation Harder to install due to extra Easier to install and lighter weight
shielding and grounding required
Usage Used in environments with high Used in homes, offices, LANs
interference (factories, industrial
areas)
Flexibility Less flexible More flexible

8. Fiber Optic Cable

Q10. Explain Fiber Optic Cable in Detail
Fiber optic cable is a type of transmission medium that uses light to carry data. It consists of thin
strands of glass or plastic (called optical fibers) through which pulses of light travel to transmit
information. Fiber optic cables are used for high-speed, long-distance communications.

Structure of Fiber Optic Cable:

• Core: The central part, made of very pure glass or plastic, through which light travels.
• Cladding: A layer of glass or plastic surrounding the core with a lower refractive index, which
keeps light within the core by total internal reflection.
• Buffer Coating: A protective plastic coating that protects the fiber from moisture and damage.
• Outer Jacket: The outermost protective covering of the cable.

Types of Fiber Optic Cable:

• Single-Mode Fiber (SMF): Has a very small core (8–10 microns); allows only one mode of light;
used for long-distance communication.
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes
• Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF): Has a larger core (50–62.5 microns); allows multiple modes of light;
used for shorter distances (within buildings).

Advantages:
• Very high bandwidth and data transmission speed
• Completely immune to EMI and electrical interference
• Signals can travel very long distances with minimal attenuation
• Very secure — difficult to tap without detection

Disadvantages:
• More expensive than copper cables
• Fragile — glass fibers can break easily
• Requires highly skilled technicians and special tools for installation and splicing
• Difficult to repair once damaged

[Diagram: Core (light travels) → surrounded by Cladding → Buffer Coating → Outer Jacket]

9. Wireless Media
Q11. What is Wireless Media? Write Two Advantages.
Wireless media (also called unguided media) refers to the transmission of data through the air (or
space) without using any physical cable or wire. Data is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic
waves such as radio waves, microwaves, and infrared signals.

Two Advantages of Wireless Media:

• Mobility: Users can connect to the network from anywhere within the coverage area without
being tied to a physical cable.
• Easy Installation: No cables need to be laid, which reduces installation time and cost, especially
in hard-to-wire areas.

Q12. Three Advantages and Three Disadvantages of Wireless Media

Advantages:
• Mobility and Flexibility: Users can move freely within the network range while remaining
connected.
• Ease of Installation: No physical cabling required; easy to set up, especially in old buildings
where wiring is difficult.
• Wide Coverage Area: Wireless signals (especially radio waves and satellite) can cover large
geographical areas.

Disadvantages:
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes
• Security Risks: Wireless signals can be intercepted by unauthorized users, making them less
secure than wired media.
• Interference: Subject to EMI and physical obstacles (walls, buildings) that can degrade signal
quality.
• Lower Bandwidth: Generally provides lower and less consistent bandwidth compared to wired
media.

10. Networking: LAN vs. WAN

Q13. What is Networking? Differentiate Between LAN and WAN.
Networking is the practice of connecting two or more computers or devices so they can communicate
with each other, share resources (like files, printers, and internet), and exchange data.

Feature LAN (Local Area Network) WAN (Wide Area Network)

Coverage Area Small area — one building, office, Large area — cities, countries,
campus worldwide
Speed High speed (100 Mbps to 10 Slower compared to LAN
Gbps) (variable)
Ownership Owned by a single organization Owned by multiple organizations
or telecom providers
Cost Less expensive to set up and More expensive to implement and
maintain maintain
Error Rate Low error rate due to short Higher error rate due to long
distances distances
Example Computers connected in a school The Internet; connecting offices
lab across countries
Transmission Twisted pair, coaxial, fiber, Wi-Fi Leased lines, satellite, fiber optic
Media backbone

11. Network Topologies

Q14. Define Topology. Explain Physical and Logical Topology.
Network topology refers to the arrangement or layout of computers, cables, and other components in a
network. It describes how devices are connected and how data flows between them.

• Physical Topology: Refers to the actual physical layout of the cables and devices — how they
are physically arranged and connected in the real world.
• Logical Topology: Refers to the way data actually flows through the network, regardless of the
physical design. The logical topology may differ from the physical topology.
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Q15. Star Topology

Explanation:
In a Star topology, all computers and devices are connected to a central device called a Hub or Switch.
Each device has its own direct cable connection to the hub. Data from one computer passes through
the hub before reaching its destination.

[Diagram: Central Hub/Switch at center → individual lines radiating out to PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, PC5]

Advantages:
• Easy to install and manage.
• Failure of one cable/device does not affect others.

Disadvantages:
• If the central hub fails, the entire network goes down.
• Requires more cable than bus topology.

Q16. Ring Topology

Explanation:
In a Ring topology, all computers are connected in a circular loop. Each computer is connected to
exactly two other computers — one on either side. Data travels in one direction (or both in dual-ring)
around the ring until it reaches its destination. Token Passing is commonly used in ring networks.

[Diagram: PC1 → PC2 → PC3 → PC4 → PC5 → back to PC1, forming a closed ring]

Advantages:
• Equal access for all computers; no collisions (Token Passing).
• Performs well under heavy network load.

Disadvantages:
• Failure of one computer/cable can break the entire network.
• Difficult to add or remove devices without disrupting the network.

12. Network Access Methods

Q17. Explain Contention, Token Passing, and Polling
(i) Contention
In the Contention method, all devices on the network compete (contend) for access to the transmission
medium. A device transmits data whenever it believes the medium is free. If two devices transmit
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes
simultaneously, a collision occurs and they both wait a random time before retransmitting. This is also
called CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) and is used in Ethernet (Bus
topology).

(ii) Token Passing

In Token Passing, a special signal called a Token circulates around the network. A device can only
transmit data when it holds the token. After transmitting, it releases the token for the next device. This
prevents collisions and ensures orderly access. Token Passing is used in Ring topology (Token Ring
networks) and FDDI.

(iii) Polling
In the Polling method, a central controller (called the primary device) queries each device (called
secondary devices) one by one to check if they have data to send. Only the device that is polled can
transmit at that time. This eliminates collisions but can be slow if many devices are present. It is used in
mainframe computer networks.

13. Connectivity Devices

Q18. Explain Repeater and Router
(i) Repeater
A Repeater is a network device that operates at the Physical Layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model. Its
primary function is to amplify or regenerate a weak signal so that it can travel longer distances without
degradation due to attenuation. A repeater does not filter or interpret data; it simply boosts the signal.

Key Features of Repeater:

• Operates at Layer 1 (Physical Layer)
• Extends the maximum cable distance of a network segment
• Does not reduce network traffic or filter data
• Used in Ethernet (especially with coaxial cable)

(ii) Router
A Router is a network device that operates at the Network Layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. It connects
multiple networks (e.g., LAN to WAN) and determines the best path for data packets to travel from
source to destination using routing tables and protocols (e.g., RIP, OSPF). Routers make intelligent
decisions about where to forward packets.

Key Features of Router:

• Operates at Layer 3 (Network Layer)
• Connects different networks and routes packets between them
• Uses IP addresses to make routing decisions
• Reduces network traffic by filtering and directing packets
• Used to connect a LAN to the Internet
 Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes

14. Modem
Q19. What is a Modem? Explain Its Types.
A Modem (Modulator-Demodulator) is a device that converts digital signals from a computer into analog
signals for transmission over telephone lines (modulation), and converts incoming analog signals back
into digital signals (demodulation). It allows computers to communicate over the public telephone
network (PSTN).

Types of Modem:
• Internal Modem: Installed inside the computer on the motherboard or as an expansion card. It is
cheaper and does not require a separate power supply.
• External Modem: A standalone device connected to the computer via USB or serial port. It is
portable and easier to troubleshoot.
• Cable Modem: Uses coaxial cable (cable TV network) to provide high-speed broadband internet
access.
• DSL Modem: Uses Digital Subscriber Line technology over telephone lines to provide high-
speed internet. DSL and voice can share the same line.
• Dial-Up Modem: The oldest type; uses standard telephone lines. Very slow (max 56 Kbps).
Rarely used today.

15. Hub
Q20. What is a Hub? Explain Active and Passive Hub.
A Hub is a network device that connects multiple computers or devices in a Star topology network. It
receives data from one device and broadcasts it to all other connected devices. A Hub operates at the
Physical Layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model and cannot filter or direct traffic intelligently.

Types of Hubs:
• Active Hub: Also called a Multiport Repeater. It amplifies and regenerates the incoming signal
before sending it to all ports. Requires external power supply. Can extend the network over
longer distances.
• Passive Hub: Simply splits the signal and forwards it to all connected ports without any
amplification. Does NOT require power. Limited to short distances. Acts as a wiring concentrator
only.
• Intelligent (Smart) Hub: An advanced hub with management software. Allows administrators to
monitor network traffic, detect problems, and configure ports. Also called a Manageable Hub.

Functions of Hub:
• Connects multiple devices in a network at a central point
• Receives and retransmits signals to all connected ports
• Active hub regenerates signals to extend network range
Chapter 5: Transmission Media & Networking — Study Notes

— End of Chapter 5 Notes —