6.4 - Types of Transmission

Physical data can be transmitted in different ways, analog or digital. It can also use different schemes for synchronization, synchronous or asynchronous. Additionally, physical data can use either one sole channel over a baseband transmission medium or broadband via several different channels over a transmission medium. Transmission can takes place as electrical voltage, radiowaves, microwaves, and infrared signals.




Analog and Digital

Signals are ways of moving information in a physical format from one point to another point. In technology, there specific carrier signals that move data from one system to another system. The carrier signal transports data from one place to another. This data can be transmitted through analog or digital signaling formats.

Data moved through analog transmission technology (e.g., radio), is represented by characteristics of the waves that are carrying it. “For example, a radio station uses a transmitter to put its data (music) onto a wave that will extend all the way to your antenna. The information is stripped off by the receiver in your radio and presented to you in its original format—a song. The data is encoded onto the carrier signal and is represented by various amplitude and frequency values.” This is shown above.

Asynchronous and Synchronous

Asynchronous and synchronous networking technologies create synchronization rules that are used to govern how systems communicate with each other.

Broadband and Baseband

Broadband technology separates communication channels into independent sub-channels which different types of data can be transmitted into simultaneously. Baseband technology uses the entire communication channel for its transmission.