The physical path over which communication takes place is called the physical transmission medium.
Types of Cables Used as Transmission Media
Twisted Pair Cable
One of the oldest and still in use transmission mediums.
Consists of pairs of insulated copper wires twisted together.
Types:
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable:
Includes a protective shield.
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable:
Lacks a protective shield.
Advantages:
Cheaper than other types.
Flexible.
Light in weight.
Easy to install.
Coaxial Cable
An insulated copper cable used to carry high-frequency data signals (voice, images, videos, text).
Structure:
Central conductor.
Surrounded by multiple protective shields.
Outer jacket for noise and distortion-free transmission.
Advantages:
Transmits data faster than twisted pair cables.
Less prone to noise.
Can control multiple frequencies.
Fiber Optic Cable
Comprises hair-like strands of glass or transparent material to pass light at high quality.
Components:
Transmitter: Converts electrical signals into light waves.
Fiber Optic Cable: Medium for carrying light waves.
Receiver: Converts light signals back to electrical signals.
Advantages:
Minimizes sparking risk.
Provides high bandwidth over long distances.
Conclusion
Different types of cables have distinct advantages that make them suitable for various applications depending on the required data transmission speed, distance, and quality.
Additional Information
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