Lecture Notes on Transmission Media

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about signal transmission media.

Transmission Media/Medium

Material or substance used to carry data from the source (sender) to the destination (receiver).

Guided Media (Wired)

Transmission media that use physical cables to transmit data.

Guided Media Types

Examples include coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, and twisted pair cable.

Unguided Media (Wireless)

Transmission media that transmit data by spreading signals wirelessly.

Unguided Media Types

Examples include radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves.

Guided media relevant to

Transmission relevant to physical media.

Unguided media relevant to

Transmission by spreading signals.

Twisted Pair Cables

Consists of copper wires covered with plastic, twisted around each other to minimize electrical effects.

Twisted Pair Cable Features

Low cost and low transmission speeds.

Twisted Pair Limitations

The length of the cable affects transmission; signals cannot travel long distances without repeaters; higher error rate.

UTP

Unshielded Twisted Pair: unprotected from electrical interferences.

STP

Shielded Twisted Pair: protected from electrical interference.

UTP Advantages/Disadvantages

More cheaper in cost and easier to install; likely to be disturbed by electrical interferences but for shorter distances.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Introduced by IBM; special covers to minimize damage caused by external electrical signals.

STP Construction/Advantages

Covered with special plastic covers; filters more external electrical noises compared to UTP.