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Transmission methods are different ways of transmitting data or signals from the sender to the receiver. Different types of transmission methods include coaxial cables, optical fibers, unshielded twisted pairs, shielded twisted pairs, infrared, radio waves, micro waves and satellites. All of these are ways of sending information to a receiver.
Coaxial Cables - Coaxial cables are a type of cable used by cable television to transmit sound and picture to television systems in homes and businesses. Advantages of coaxial cables are that it can hold a lot of data and are less likely to encounter interference during transmission. A disadvantage of this form of transmission is that it is a lot more expensive than standard telephone wires. Compared to fiber optic transmission, coaxial cables can be better because although they cannot transmit as much data as fiber optic and cannot travel as far a distance, they are good for short distance transmission because they never lose connection. Coaxial cables are often cheaper than optical fiber transmission as well.
Optical Fibers - Optical fibers are used to carry computer and telephone data and convert them into electrical signals. They carry information coded in infrared or light signals. An optical fiber is a long thin rod of glass. Advantages of optical fibers are that they can carry more information than standard cables and the signal does not weaken as much over long distances, unlike other forms of transmission cables. Disadvantages are that this type of cable is very expensive, it is more fragile than other wires and it is not as easy to use and assemble as other cables, which means if a business is going to use them, they will need to provide their staff with specialist training in order to allow them to use this device, which involves time and money. This type of transmission would be more beneficial if it was being used over long distances and carrying much more data than what coaxial cables can carry. Optical fiber is used by a lot of broadband companies such as Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, Sky and PlusNet, because they can offer their customers super high-speed broadband, even when delivering an excessive amount of data.
Unshielded Twisted Pair - Unshielded twisted pair (or UTP) is a type of wire that uses two unshielded wires twisted around each other. It is mainly used for Local Area Networks (LANs) and telephones connections. One advantage of this type of wire is that it is low cost. Another reason to use this wire over another wire is that it is very easy to work with, making it a popular choice for many users. Disadvantages, however, include that it does not protect from interference as much as other cables such as coaxial or optical fiber cables. Because it is a lot cheaper than STPs, UTPs are much more popular when operating around a small area, which is why they are primarily used for LANs. It would be wiser to use a UTP for a LAN over an STP because the STP would not be suitable as they are able to operate over longer distances and are more expensive.
Shielded Twisted Pair - Shielded twisted pair (or STP) is a type of cable that uses two shielded wires that are twisted around each other. They are shielded because they are protected by an insulated cover. It is protected because it helps to prevent electromagnetic interference. It is used as a telephone wire. Advantages of STPs are that they are less likely to encounter electromagnetic interference and they can carry data at a faster speed. A disadvantage of STPs is that it is more expensive than an unshielded twisted pair. It is also much larger and more difficult to connect. I would use an STP cable for long distance transmission over a UTP because UTPs are more susceptible to interference whereas STPs have more protection and can travel much further.
Infrared - Infrared transmission is the use of infrared light to send a signal to the receiver, such as a remote control to a television box. Infrared transmission has many uses, including remote controls, motion detectors, fire detectors, wireless internet access, etc. Advantages of infrared are that it is cost-effective and works well over short distances. A disadvantage includes that it is easy for infrared systems to encounter interference, as objects can block the signal from the infrared sender to the infrared receiver. Infrared is the best form of signal transmission, especially in burglar alarms, because they can detect the heat from the human body, which means they can easily detect an intruder.
Radio Transmission - Radio transmission is the use of radio waves to transmit a signal over a large area, where radio antennas can pick up the signal and convert it into an electric current, which allows radios to broadcast channels from radio stations. If you are using a car radio and leave the area in which the radio signal you are using is operating, you will lose the signal and the radio antenna will pick up a signal from another transmitter in the new area. Advantages of radio transmission is that it works with or without line of sight and it can travel far for long periods of time. A disadvantage is that it has low frequency and therefore cannot send much data at one time. Radio waves would be a better form of signal transmission than microwaves because it can cover a larger area and does not need to be in the line of site with the receiver in order to work.
Microwaves - Microwave communication uses microwave towers to transmit signals via radio. Advantages are that it is very economical compared to other forms of transmission and there is no need to use cables, cutting costs significantly. A disadvantage of microwave communication is that it can only operate in line of sight, meaning there must be no obstructions. Microwaves would be a better choice of transmission if the area it is operating in is small because it is a lot more economical than other forms of transmission and it is much cheaper.
Satellite Transmission - Satellite transmission is the use of satellites in space to transmit a signal to any area of the Earth. Advantages are that it has different uses such as weather analysis, data communication and other scientific uses. A disadvantage is that satellites can only operate in line of sight, like microwaves. It needs to be within the line of sight of an Earth-based station in order to transmit the signal to Earth. Satellite transmission is a good method to use when predicting the weather because they are able to see what the weather is doing and can predict from this what is likely to happen up to a week after. By sending images to Earth, weather experts can provide the public with information about the weather. Satellites can analyse the weather in many different ways, including using heat radiation from the Earth, measuring the amount of water vapour there is in the Earth's atmosphere, measuring the temperature of the water (valuable information for fishermen), monitoring movement of cold air (information used to warn farmers in south America of possible cold temperatures), monitoring drought and deforestation areas and much more. Because satellites can do so much, they are a trusted way of retaining good quality information.
Coaxial Cables - Coaxial cables are a type of cable used by cable television to transmit sound and picture to television systems in homes and businesses. Advantages of coaxial cables are that it can hold a lot of data and are less likely to encounter interference during transmission. A disadvantage of this form of transmission is that it is a lot more expensive than standard telephone wires. Compared to fiber optic transmission, coaxial cables can be better because although they cannot transmit as much data as fiber optic and cannot travel as far a distance, they are good for short distance transmission because they never lose connection. Coaxial cables are often cheaper than optical fiber transmission as well.
Optical Fibers - Optical fibers are used to carry computer and telephone data and convert them into electrical signals. They carry information coded in infrared or light signals. An optical fiber is a long thin rod of glass. Advantages of optical fibers are that they can carry more information than standard cables and the signal does not weaken as much over long distances, unlike other forms of transmission cables. Disadvantages are that this type of cable is very expensive, it is more fragile than other wires and it is not as easy to use and assemble as other cables, which means if a business is going to use them, they will need to provide their staff with specialist training in order to allow them to use this device, which involves time and money. This type of transmission would be more beneficial if it was being used over long distances and carrying much more data than what coaxial cables can carry. Optical fiber is used by a lot of broadband companies such as Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, Sky and PlusNet, because they can offer their customers super high-speed broadband, even when delivering an excessive amount of data.
Unshielded Twisted Pair - Unshielded twisted pair (or UTP) is a type of wire that uses two unshielded wires twisted around each other. It is mainly used for Local Area Networks (LANs) and telephones connections. One advantage of this type of wire is that it is low cost. Another reason to use this wire over another wire is that it is very easy to work with, making it a popular choice for many users. Disadvantages, however, include that it does not protect from interference as much as other cables such as coaxial or optical fiber cables. Because it is a lot cheaper than STPs, UTPs are much more popular when operating around a small area, which is why they are primarily used for LANs. It would be wiser to use a UTP for a LAN over an STP because the STP would not be suitable as they are able to operate over longer distances and are more expensive.
Shielded Twisted Pair - Shielded twisted pair (or STP) is a type of cable that uses two shielded wires that are twisted around each other. They are shielded because they are protected by an insulated cover. It is protected because it helps to prevent electromagnetic interference. It is used as a telephone wire. Advantages of STPs are that they are less likely to encounter electromagnetic interference and they can carry data at a faster speed. A disadvantage of STPs is that it is more expensive than an unshielded twisted pair. It is also much larger and more difficult to connect. I would use an STP cable for long distance transmission over a UTP because UTPs are more susceptible to interference whereas STPs have more protection and can travel much further.
Infrared - Infrared transmission is the use of infrared light to send a signal to the receiver, such as a remote control to a television box. Infrared transmission has many uses, including remote controls, motion detectors, fire detectors, wireless internet access, etc. Advantages of infrared are that it is cost-effective and works well over short distances. A disadvantage includes that it is easy for infrared systems to encounter interference, as objects can block the signal from the infrared sender to the infrared receiver. Infrared is the best form of signal transmission, especially in burglar alarms, because they can detect the heat from the human body, which means they can easily detect an intruder.
Radio Transmission - Radio transmission is the use of radio waves to transmit a signal over a large area, where radio antennas can pick up the signal and convert it into an electric current, which allows radios to broadcast channels from radio stations. If you are using a car radio and leave the area in which the radio signal you are using is operating, you will lose the signal and the radio antenna will pick up a signal from another transmitter in the new area. Advantages of radio transmission is that it works with or without line of sight and it can travel far for long periods of time. A disadvantage is that it has low frequency and therefore cannot send much data at one time. Radio waves would be a better form of signal transmission than microwaves because it can cover a larger area and does not need to be in the line of site with the receiver in order to work.
Microwaves - Microwave communication uses microwave towers to transmit signals via radio. Advantages are that it is very economical compared to other forms of transmission and there is no need to use cables, cutting costs significantly. A disadvantage of microwave communication is that it can only operate in line of sight, meaning there must be no obstructions. Microwaves would be a better choice of transmission if the area it is operating in is small because it is a lot more economical than other forms of transmission and it is much cheaper.
Satellite Transmission - Satellite transmission is the use of satellites in space to transmit a signal to any area of the Earth. Advantages are that it has different uses such as weather analysis, data communication and other scientific uses. A disadvantage is that satellites can only operate in line of sight, like microwaves. It needs to be within the line of sight of an Earth-based station in order to transmit the signal to Earth. Satellite transmission is a good method to use when predicting the weather because they are able to see what the weather is doing and can predict from this what is likely to happen up to a week after. By sending images to Earth, weather experts can provide the public with information about the weather. Satellites can analyse the weather in many different ways, including using heat radiation from the Earth, measuring the amount of water vapour there is in the Earth's atmosphere, measuring the temperature of the water (valuable information for fishermen), monitoring movement of cold air (information used to warn farmers in south America of possible cold temperatures), monitoring drought and deforestation areas and much more. Because satellites can do so much, they are a trusted way of retaining good quality information.