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Physical Layer Issues - Transmission Media and
Network Cabling
Hitesh lad
What is Cable? Transmission Media
Transmission medium is the physical path between the transmitter and receiver.
It is the Transmission medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another.
In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types.
Understanding the characteristics of different types of transmission media and how they relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a successful network.
Factors to Select Transmission Media
Data Rate and Bandwidth (BPS and Hz) Distance and Attenuation (meters, dB/km) Interference Characteristics Number of receivers (broadcast vs. point to
point) Cost - Remember cabling is a long term
investment!
Transmission Impairments Impairments exist in all forms of data
transmission mediaAnalog signal impairments result in random
modifications that impair signal qualityDigital signal impairments result in bit errors (1s
and 0s transposed)
Types of Media Two major classes Conducted or guided media
use a conductor such as a wire or a fiber optic cable to move the signal from sender to receiver.
Energy is confined to the medium and guided by it Wireless or unguided media
use radio waves of different frequencies and do not need a wire or cable conductor to transmit signals
Energy spreads out and is not confined
Media Sub-types Guided Media
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable Coaxial Cable Fiber Optic Cable
Unguided MediaTerrestrial microwave transmissionSatellite transmissionBroadcast radioInfrared
Twisted Pair Wires Consists of two insulated copper wires arranged in a
regular spiral pattern to minimize the electromagnetic interference between adjacent pairs
Often used at customer facilities and also over distances to carry voice as well as data communications
Low frequency transmission medium Two varieties
STP (shielded twisted pair) the pair is wrapped with metallic foil or braid to insulate the pair
from electromagnetic interference UTP (unshielded twisted pair)
each wire is insulated with plastic wrap, but the pair is encased in an outer covering
Twisted Pair
One difference between the different categories of UTP is the tightness of the twisting of the copper pairs. The tighter the twisting, the higher the supported transmission rate and the greater the cost per foot.
Each pair is twisted with a different number of twists per inch to help eliminate interference from adjacent pairs and other electrical devices.
Categories of Unshielded Twisted Pair
Type Use Category 1 Voice Only (Telephone Wire) Category 2 Data to 4 Mbps (LocalTalk) Category 3 Data to 10 Mbps (Ethernet) Category 4 Data to 20 Mbps (16 Mbps Token Ring) Category 5 Data to 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) Category 5e Data to 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) Category 6 Data to 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) Category 7 ?
The EIA/TIA (Electronic Industry Association/Telecommunication Industry Association) has established standards of UTP and rated five categories of wire.
Benefits of UTPInexpensive and readily availableFlexible and light weight Easy to work with and install
Disadvantages of UTPSusceptibility to interference and noiseAttenuation problem
For analog, repeaters needed every 5-6km For digital, repeaters needed every 2-3km
Relatively low bandwidth (3000Hz)
Twisted Pair - Applications Telephone network
Between house and local exchange (subscriber loop/local loop)
Within buildingsTo private branch exchange (PBX)
For local area networks (LAN)10Mbps or 100Mbps or 1000 Mbps
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 (See figure).
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.
The RJ-45 Connector
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
A disadvantage of UTP is that it may be susceptible to radio and electrical frequency interference (RFI, EFI).
Shielded twisted pair (STP) is suitable for 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.
More expensive, harder to work with.
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
Coaxial Cable Coaxial cabling has a single copper conductor at its
center. A plastic layer provides insulation between the center conductor and a braided metal shield (See figure). The metal shield helps to block any outside interference from fluorescent lights, motors, and other computers.
Both conductors share a common center axis, hence the term “co-axial”
Coax Layers
copper or aluminum conductor
insulating material
shield(braided wire)
outer jacket(polyethylene)
Pros and Cons Coax Advantages
Higher bandwidth 400 to 600MHz up to 10,800 voice conversations
Can be tapped easily (pros and cons) Much less susceptible to interference than twisted pair Greater cable lengths between network devices than twisted
pair cable.
Coax Disadvantages High attenuation rate makes it expensive over long distance Bulky - coaxial cabling is difficult to install
Coaxial Cable Applications Most versatile medium Television distribution
Ariel to TVCable TV
Long distance telephone transmissionCan carry 10,000 voice calls simultaneouslyBeing replaced by fiber optic
Short distance computer systems links Local area networks
Types of Coaxial Cable Thin Coax
Thin coaxial cable is also referred to as thinnet. Thin coaxial cable is popular in linear bus networks.
Thick Coax Thick coaxial cable is also referred to as thicknet.
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.
One disadvantage of thick coaxial is that it does not bend easily and is difficult to install.
Coaxial Cable Connectors The most common type of
connector used with coaxial cables is the Bayone-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connector (See figure). Different types of adapters are available for BNC 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.
Fiber Optic Cable Relatively new transmission medium used by
telephone companies in place of long-distance trunk lines
Also used by private companies in implementing local data communications networks
Require a light source with injection laser diode (ILD) or light-emitting diodes (LED)
Fiber Optic Cable Fiber optic 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.
plastic jacket glass or plasticcladding
fiber core
Fiber Optic Layers consists of three concentric sections
Optical Fiber
Armored Cable
Facts About Fiber Optic Cables
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. Center (core) is made of glass or plastic fibers.
Fiber Optic Cable 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. This capacity broadens communication possibilities to include services such as video conferencing and interactive services.
The cost of fiber optic cabling is comparable to copper cabling; however, it is more difficult to install and modify.
Optical Fiber - Transmission Characteristics
Act as wave guide for 1014 to 1015 Hz Portions of infrared and visible spectrum
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Cheaper Wider operating temp range Last longer
Injection Laser Diode (ILD) More efficient Greater data rate
Wavelength Division Multiplexing
Fiber Optic Types Multimode step-index fiber
the reflective walls of the fiber move the light pulses to the receiver
Multimode graded-index fiberacts to refract the light toward the center of the fiber
by variations in the density
Single mode fiberthe light is guided down the center of an extremely
narrow core
Optical Fiber Transmission Modes
fiber optic multimodestep-index
fiber optic multimodegraded-index
fiber optic single mode
Fiber Optic Signals
Pros and Cons Fiber Optic Advantages
Greater capacity - data rates of hundreds of Gbps Smaller size and lighter weight Lower attenuation Electromagnetic isolation - immunity to environmental interference
and highly secure due to tap difficulty and lack of signal radiation Greater repeater spacing - 10s of km at least
Fiber Optic Disadvantages Expensive over short distance Requires highly skilled installers Adding additional nodes is difficult
Optical Fiber - Applications Long-haul trunks Metropolitan trunks Rural exchange trunks Subscriber loops (FTTH, FTTC) LANs (generally backbone connections)
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.
Comparison of the Three Guided Media Types
1000 THz1 THz1 GHz1 MHz
Optical Fiber
1 kHz0.1
3/8” Coaxial Cable
22-gauge Twisted Pair
Frequency
dB
/km
1
10
100
Wireless (Unguided Media) Transmission
Transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna
Directionaltransmitting antenna puts out focused beamtransmitter and receiver must be aligned
Omnidirectionalsignal spreads out in all directionscan be received by many antennas
Wireless (Unguided Media) Frequencies
Three general ranges of frequencies 30MHz to 1GHz
Broadcast radio Omnidirectional
2GHz to 40GHz microwave frequencies Microwave Highly directional Point to point Satellite
3 x 1011 to 2 x 1014
Infrared
Propagation of Radio Frequencies
Propagation of Radio Frequencies (continued)
Terrestrial Microwave Transmission
Uses the radio frequency spectrum, commonly from 2 to 40 GHz
Transmitter is a parabolic dish, mounted as high as possible
Used by common carriers as well as by private networks
Requires unobstructed line of sight between source and receiver
Curvature of the earth requires stations (called repeaters) to be ~30 miles apart
Terrestrial Microwave Transmission
Distance between antennas: d = 7.14 (Kh)1/2 , d = distance in km, h is
antenna height in meters, K = constant = 4/3
Terrestrial Microwave Applications
Long-haul telecommunications service for both voice and television transmission
Short point-to-point links between buildings for closed-circuit TV or a data link between LANs
Terrestrial Microwave Communications
Pros and Cons Microwave Transmission Advantages
No cabling needed between sites Wide bandwidth Multi-channel transmissions Used for long haul or high capacity short haul Requires fewer amplifiers and repeaters
Microwave Transmission Disadvantages Line of sight requirement Expensive towers and repeaters Subject to interference such as passing airplanes and rain Frequency bands are regulated
Satellite Microwave Transmission
Satellite is a microwave relay station in space Can relay signals over long distances Geostationary satellites
remain above the equator at a height of 22,300 miles (geosynchronous orbit)
travel around the earth in exactly the time the earth takes to rotate
Earth stations communicate by sending signals to the satellite on an uplink
The satellite then repeats those signals on a downlink The broadcast nature of the downlink makes it
attractive for services such as the distribution of television programming
dish dish
uplink station downlink station
satellitetransponder
22,300 miles
Satellite Transmission Process
Satellite Transmission Applications
Television distributiona network provides programming from a central
locationdirect broadcast satellite (DBS)
Long-distance telephone transmissionhigh-usage international trunks
Private business networks
Principal Satellite Transmission Bands
C band: 4(downlink) - 6(uplink) GHzthe first to be designated
Ku band: 12(downlink) -14(uplink) GHzrain interference is the major problem
Ka band: 19(downlink) - 29(uplink) GHzequipment needed to use the band is still very
expensive
Pros and Cons Satellite Advantages
Can reach a large geographical areaHigh bandwidthCheaper over long distances
Satellite DisadvantagesHigh initial costSusceptible to noise and interferencePropagation delay (0.25 sec) - requires
sophisticated flow control
Broadcast Radio Broadcast radio is omnidirectional Covers 30MHz to 1 GHz (FM, UHF, VHF) Need line of sight. Ionosphere is transparent
above 30MHz, hence no atmospheric reflection Advantages
Less sensitive to attenuation from rainfall
DisadvantagesMultipath interference is significant
Infrared Transceivers operate with line of sight or
reflection from light-colored surface Modulate noncoherent infrared light e.g. TV remote control, IRD port Advantages
Does not penetrate walls - enhanced securityNo licensing of frequencies
DisadvantagesOperate on limited distances
Summary
The RS-232 Serial Interface and Ethernet
10/100BaseT
DB-25 ConnectorsDB-25/DB-9 is an old standard family of connectors which are used for various interface standards such as RS-232 (Serial), Parallel and SCSI interfaces.
The DB-25 male and female connectors are shown in the figure. Please note the way the pins are numbered.
What is a Null Modem Cable?
A specially designed cable that allows you to connect two computers directly to each other via their communications ports (RS-232 ports).
Null modems are particularly useful with portable computers because they enable the portable computer to exchange data with a larger system.
What is a Null Modem Cable?
The purpose of a null-modem cable is to permit two RS-232 "DTE" devices to communicate with each other without modems or other communication devices (i.e., "DCE"s) between them.
To achieve this, the most obvious connection is that the TD signal of one device must be connected to the RD input of the other device (and vice versa).
Also, however, many DTE devices use other RS-232 pins for out-of-band (i.e., "hardware") flow control. One of the most common schemes is for the DTE (the PC) to assert the RTS signal if it is ready to receive data (yes, it DOES sound backwards, but that's how it works), and for the DCE (the modem) to assert CTS when it is able to accept data. By connecting the RTS pin of one DTE to the CTS pin of the other DTE, we can simulate this handshake.
Also, it is common convention for many DTE devices to assert the DTR signal when they are powered on, and for many DCE devices to assert the DSR signal when they are powered on, and to assert the CD signal when they are connected. By connecting the DTR signal of one DTE to both the CD and DSR inputs of the other DTE (and vice versa), we are able to trick each DTE into thinking that it is connected to a DCE that is powered up and online. As a general rule, the Ring Indicate (RI) signal is not passed through a null-modem connection
DB-25 and DB-9 male and female connectors, as viewed from the pin side
(not the solder side).
DB-9 connectors on both ends
DB-25 connectors on both ends
DB-9 connector on one end, DB-25 on the other end
DB-25 DCE DB-91 AA x Protective Ground2 TXD 3 BA I Transmitted Data3 RXD 2 BB O Received Data4 RTS 7 CA I Request To Send5 CTS 8 CB O Clear To Send6 DSR 6 CC O Data Set Ready7 GND 5 AB x Signal Ground8 CD 1 CF O Received Line Signal Detector9 -- x Reserved for data set testing
10 -- x Reserved for data set testing11 x Unassigned12 SCF O Secndry Rcvd Line Signl Detctr13 SCB O Secondary Clear to Send14 SBA I Secondary Transmitted Data15 DB O Transmisn Signl Elemnt Timng16 SBB O Secondary Received Data17 DD O Receiver Signal Element Timing18 x Unassigned19 SCA I Secondary Request to Send 20 DTR 4 CD I Data Terminal Ready21 CG O Signal Quality Detector22 9 CE O Ring Indicator23 CH/CI I/O Data Signal Rate Selector24 DA I Transmit Signal Element Timing25 x Unassigned
RS-232 Signals
25 Pin 9 Pin 9 Pin 25 Pin
FG (Frame Ground) 1 - X - 1 FG
TD (Transmit Data) 2 3 - 2 3 RD
RD (Receive Data) 3 2 - 3 2 TD
RTS (Request To Send) 4 7 - 8 5 CTS
CTS (Clear To Send) 5 8 - 7 4 RTS
SG (Signal Ground) 7 5 - 5 7 SG
DSR (Data Set Ready) 6 6 - 4 20 DTRDTR (Data Terminal
Ready)20 4 - 6 6 DSR
Common Null-Modem Connection
RJ-45 Connector
•The RJ-45 connector is commonly used for network cabling and for telephony applications. •It's also used for serial connections in special cases.
RJ-45 Connector for LANAlso, please note that it is very important that a single pair be used for pins 3 and 6. If one conductor from one pair is used for pin 3 and a conductor from another pair is used for pin 6, performance will degrade. See the following figure.
RJ-45 Connector in Non LAN Applications
The following chart shows the pinout for RJ-45 connectors used on certain ISDN S/T interfaces. For more info, see ANSI T1.605.
Pinouts for ISDNHere's an ISDN BRI U port pinout for a Cisco 750 series
router:
RJ-45 Pinout for RocketPort
The following chart shows the pinout for RJ-45 connectors used on certain RocketPort serial interface cards (manufactured by Comtrol).
Straight Through Cable vs. Crossover Cable
In general, the patch cords that you use with your Ethernet connections are "straight-through", which means that pin 1 of the plug on one end is connected to pin 1 of the plug on the other end. In this particular case it is not then important to wire them as above. Pin 1 is Pin 1 etc etc. However for the sake of uniformity it may be best to wire your cables with the same colour sequence. Cross-Over cables are "crossed" end to end data cables aren't. If you have a network hub that has an uplink port on it then you do not need to make (or purchase a cross-over cable). Just switch the port on the hub to the 'uplink' mode. If your hub does not have an 'uplink' port on it then the only way to cascade another hub or attach a cable modem is to use a cross-over cable. It helps for future reference to mark or attach a tag to the cross-over cable so that you do not attempt to use it as a 'normal' patch lead at some time in the future.
Straight Through Cable vs. Crossover Cable
Straight Through Cable vs. Crossover Cable
The Uses of RJ-45 Connector and Cat5 UTP Cable