COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

DISCLAIMER This presentation is meant for educational purposes only. It is based on the book: Principles of Electronic Communication Systems, 3rd Ed. 2007, by Louis E. Frenzel, Jr. McGraw-Hill.

LESSON 1
Introduction to Communication Systems

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Summary in Lesson 1
1-1: What is communication?

1-2: Communication Systems

1-3: Types of Electronic Communication 1-4: Modulation and Multiplexing

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Summary in Lesson 1 (continued)

1-5: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

1-6: Bandwidth
1-7: A Survey of Communication Applications 1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

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1-1: What is communication?

Process of exchanging information.
Messages vs. Information vs. Data vs. Metadata (Electronic) Communication Systems:

accumulation, packaging, and exchange of information.

Telecommunication systems.

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1-2: History of Telecommunications (I)

Visual, auditory and ancillary methods (non-electrical): Prehistoric: Fires, Beacons, Smoke signals, Communication drums, Horns 6th century BCE: Mail 5th century BCE: Pigeon post 4th century BCE: Hydraulic semaphores ca. 490 BCE: Heliographs (shield signals) 15th century CE: Maritime flag semaphores 1672: First experimental acoustic (mechanical) telephone 1790: Semaphore lines (optical telegraphs) 1867: Signal lamps 1877: Acoustic phonograph
Source: [Wikipedia]

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1-2: History of Telecommunications (II)

Basic electrical signals: 1838: Electrical telegraph. 1858: First trans-Atlantic telegraph cable 1876: Telephone. 1880: Telephony via lightbeam photophones

Source: [Wikipedia]

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1-2: History of Telecommunications (III)

Advanced electrical and electronic signals: 1893: Wireless telegraphy 1896: Radio. 1914: First North American transcontinental telephone calling 1927: Television. 1930: First experimental videophones 1936: World's first public videophone network 1946: Limited capacity Mobile Telephone Service for automobiles 1956: Transatlantic telephone cable 1962: Commercial telecommunications satellite 1964: Fiber optical telecommunications 1965: First North American public videophone network 1969: Computer networking 1973: First modern-era mobile (cellular) phone 1979: INMARSAT ship-to-shore satellite communications 1981: First mobile (cellular) phone network 1982: SMTP email 1983: Internet. 1998: Mobile satellite hand-held phones 2003: VoIP Internet Telephony 2007: iPhone (1st generation)

Source: [Wikipedia]

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1-2: History of Telecommunications (IV)

Source: [Wikipedia]

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1-3: Communication Systems

Analog Signals
An analog signal is a smoothly and continuously varying voltage

or current. Examples are:

Sine wave Voice Video (TV)

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1-3: Communication Systems

Figure 1-5: Analog signals (a) Sine wave tone. (b) Voice. (c) Video (TV) signal. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-3: Communication Systems

Digital Signals
Digital signals change in steps or in discrete increments.
Most digital signals use binary or two-state codes. Examples are:
Telegraph (Morse code) Continuous wave (CW) code Serial binary code (used in computers)

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1-3: Communication Systems

Figure 1-6: Digital signals (a) Telegraph (Morse code). (b) Continuous-wave (CW) code. (c) Serial binary code. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-3: Communication Systems

Digital Signals
Many transmissions are of signals that originate in digital form but

must be converted to analog form to match the transmission medium.

Digital data over the telephone network. Analog signals.

They are first digitized with an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The data can then be transmitted and processed by computers and other digital circuits.

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1-3: Communication Systems

Analog vs Digital
Basic components:
Transmitter (signal processing, carrier circuits) Channel or medium Receiver (carrier circuits, signal processing)

Noise degrades or interferes with transmitted information.

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1-3: Communication Systems

Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-3: Communication Systems

Transmitter
The transmitter is a collection of electronic components and

circuits that converts the electrical signal into a signal suitable for transmission over a given medium.
Transmitters are made up of oscillators, amplifiers, tuned circuits

and filters, modulators, frequency mixers, frequency synthesizers, and other circuits.

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1-3: Communication Systems

Communication Channel
The communication channel is the medium by which the

electronic signal is sent from one place to another. Types of media include:
Wired: Electrical conductors Optical media Wireless: Free space System-specific media (e.g., water is the medium for sonar).

Attenuation.

Bandwidth.
Noise is random, undesirable energy that enters the

communication system via the communicating medium and degrades or interferes with the transmitted message.

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1-3: Communication Systems

Receivers
A receiver is a collection of electronic components and circuits that

accepts the transmitted message from the channel and converts it back into a form understandable by humans. Receivers contain amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, tuned circuits and filters, and a demodulator or detector that recovers the original intelligence signal from the modulated carrier.

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1-3: Communication Systems

Transceivers
A transceiver is an electronic unit that incorporates circuits that

both send and receive signals. Examples are:

Telephones Fax machines Handheld CB radios Cell phones Computer modems

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Channel
Wired Wireless

Bandwidth

Narrowband Wideband (Spread spectrum)

Number of sources/targets
One-to-One (Unicast, Anycast) One-to-Many (Broadcast, Multicast) Many-to-One Many-to-Many

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Source of information
Analog Digital

Flow of information

One-way (simplex) Two-way (full duplex or half duplex) transmissions

Type of Carrier
Baseband transmission. Broadband transmission.

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Baseband Transmission
Baseband information can be sent directly and unmodified over

the medium or can be used to modulate a carrier for transmission over the medium. In telephone or intercom systems, the voice is placed on

the wires and transmitted. In some computer networks, the digital signals are applied directly to coaxial or twisted-pair cables for transmission.

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Broadband Transmission
A carrier is a high frequency signal that is modulated by audio,

video, or data. A radio-frequency (RF) wave is an electromagnetic signal that is able to travel long distances through space.

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Broadband Transmission
A broadband transmission takes place when a carrier signal is

modulated, amplified, and sent to the antenna for transmission. The two most common methods of modulation are:
Amplitude Modulation (AM) Frequency Modulation (FM)

Another method is called phase modulation (PM), in which the

phase angle of the sine wave is varied.

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1-4: Types of Communication Systems

Broadband Transmission
Frequency-shift keying (FSK) takes place when data is converted

to frequency-varying tones.
Devices called modems (modulator-demodulator) translate the

data from digital to analog and back again.

Demodulation or detection takes place in the receiver when the

original baseband (e.g. audio) signal is extracted.

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1-5: Modulation, Multiplexing and Multiaccess

Modulation, multiplexing and multiaccess are

techniques for transmitting information efficiently from one place to another. Modulation makes the information signal more compatible with the medium. Multiplexing allows more than one signal from a single source to be transmitted concurrently over a single medium. Multiaccess allows more than one signal from different sources to be transmitted concurrently over a single medium.

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1-5-1: Modulation

Figure 1-7: Modulation at the transmitter. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-5-1: Modulation

Figure 1-8: Types of modulation. (a) Amplitude modulation. (b) Frequency modulation. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-5-2: Multiplexing
Multiplexing
Multiplexing is the process of allowing two or more signals from a

single source to share the same medium or channel. The four basic types of multiplexing are:
Space division Frequency division (Wavelength division) Time division Code division

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1-5-2: Multiplexing

Figure 1-11: Multiplexing at the transmitter. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-5-3: Multiaccess
Multiaccess
Multiaccess is the process of allowing two or more signals from

different sources to share the same medium or channel. The four basic types of multiaccess mechanism are:
Space division Frequency division Time division Code division

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of electromagnetic signals encompassing all

frequencies is referred to as the electromagnetic spectrum. It is a limited natural resource. Spectrum management is provided by agencies set up by each country to control spectrum use. Standards are specifications and guidelines necessary to ensure compatibility between transmitting and receiving equipment.

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

International regulatory body (193 members) [Wikipedia]: International Telecommunication Union
Radiocommunication (ITU-R) Managing the international radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources is at the heart of the work of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).

Standardization (ITU-T) ITU's standards-making efforts are its best-known and oldest activity; known prior to 1992 as the International Telephone and Telegraph Consultative Committee or CCITT (from its French name "Comit consultatif international tlphonique et tlgraphique")
Development (ITU-D) Established to help spread equitable, sustainable and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICT).

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Other telecommunications regulatory bodies:
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - USA
Die Bundesnetzagentur fr Elektrizitt, Gas, Telekommunikation,

Post und Eisenbahnen (Bundesnetzagentur BNetzA) Germany Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) as a component of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) Communications Regulatory Comission (CRC), MinTIC - Colombia

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Figure 1-13: The electromagnetic spectrum. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Frequency and Wavelength: Frequency
A signal is located on the frequency spectrum according to its

frequency and wavelength. Frequency is the number of cycles of a repetitive wave that occur in a given period of time. A cycle consists of two voltage polarity reversals, current reversals, or electromagnetic field oscillations. Frequency is measured in cycles per second (cps). The unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz).

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Frequency and Wavelength: Wavelength
Wavelength is the distance occupied by one cycle of a wave and is

usually expressed in meters. Wavelength is also the distance traveled by an electromagnetic wave during the time of one cycle. The wavelength of a signal is represented by the Greek letter lambda ().

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Figure 1-15: Frequency and wavelength. (a) One cycle. (b) One wavelength. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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1-6: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Frequency and Wavelength: Wavelength
Wavelength () = speed of light frequency Speed of light = 3 108 meters/second Therefore: = 3 108 / f Example: What is the wavelength if the frequency is 4MHz? = 3 108 / 4 MHz = 75 meters (m)

1-6-1: The Radio Spectrum

Frequency Ranges from 30 Hz to 300 GHz
The radio spectrum is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum and it is

divided into segments:

Extremely Low Frequencies (ELF) Voice Frequencies (VF) Very Low Frequencies (VLF)

30300 Hz. 3003000 Hz. include the higher end of the human hearing range up to about 20 kHz. 30300 kHz. 3003000 kHz AM radio 5351605 kHz.

Low Frequencies (LF) Medium Frequencies (MF)

1-6-1: The Radio Spectrum

Frequency Ranges from 30 Hz to 300 GHz
High Frequencies (HF)
(short waves; VOA, BBC broadcasts; government and military two-way communication; amateur radio, CB.

330 MHz

Very High Frequencies (VHF)

FM radio broadcasting (88108 MHz), television channels 213.

30300 MHz

Ultra High Frequencies (UHF)

TV channels 1467, cellular phones, military communication.

3003000 MHz

1-6-1: The Radio Spectrum

Frequency Ranges from 30 Hz to 300 GHz
Microwaves and Super High Frequencies (SHF)
Satellite communication, radar, wireless LANs, microwave ovens

130 GHz

Extremely High Frequencies (EHF)

Satellite communication, computer data, radar

30300 GHz

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1-6-2: The Optical Spectrum

Optical Spectrum
The optical spectrum exists directly above the millimeter wave

region. Three types of light waves are:

Infrared Visible spectrum Ultraviolet

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1-6-2: The Optical Spectrum

Optical Spectrum: Infrared
Infrared radiation is produced by any physical equipment that

generates heat, including our bodies. Infrared is used: In astronomy, to detect stars and other physical bodies in the universe, For guidance in weapons systems, where the heat radiated from airplanes or missiles can be detected and used to guide missiles to targets. In most new TV remote-control units, where special coded signals are transmitted by an infrared LED to the TV receiver to change channels, set the volume, and perform other functions. In some of the newer wireless LANs and all fiber-optic communication.

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1-6-2: The Optical Spectrum

Optical Spectrum: The Visible Spectrum
Just above the infrared region is the visible spectrum we refer to

as light. Red is low-frequency or long-wavelength light Violet is high-frequency or short-wavelength light. Light waves very high frequency enables them to handle a tremendous amount of information (the bandwidth of the baseband signals can be very wide).

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1-6: The Optical Spectrum

Optical Spectrum: Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet is not used for communication
Its primary use is medical.

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1-6-3: Bandwidth
Bandwidth (BW) is that portion of the electromagnetic

spectrum occupied by a signal.

Channel bandwidth refers to the range of frequencies

required to transmit the desired information.

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1-6-3: Bandwidth
More Room at the Top
Today, virtually the entire frequency spectrum between

approximately 30 kHz and 300 MHz has been spoken for. There is tremendous competition for these frequencies, between companies, individuals, and government services in individual carriers and between the different nations of the world. The electromagnetic spectrum is one of our most precious natural resources.

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1-6-3: Bandwidth
More Room at the Top
Communication engineering is devoted to making the best use of

that finite spectrum. Great effort goes into developing communication techniques that minimize the bandwidth required to transmit given information and thus conserve spectrum space. This provides more room for additional communication channels and gives other services or users an opportunity to take advantage of it.

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1-7: A Survey of Communications Applications

Simplex
AM and FM

broadcasting Digital radio TV broadcasting Digital television (DTV) Cable television Facsimile Wireless remote control

Paging services Navigation and direction-finding services Telemetry Radio astronomy Surveillance Music services Internet radio and video

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1-7: A Survey of Communications Applications

Duplex

Telephones Two-way radio Radar Sonar Amateur radio Citizens radio

Family Radio service The Internet Wide-area networks (WANs) Metropolitan-area networks (MANs) Local area networks (LANs)

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1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

The electronics industry is roughly divided into four major specializations:

1. Communications (largest in terms of people

employed and the dollar value of equipment purchased) 2. Computers (second largest). 3. Industrial controls. 4. Instrumentation.

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1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

Types of Jobs
Engineers design communication equipment and systems.
Technicians install, troubleshoot, repair, calibrate, and maintain

equipment.
Engineering Technicians assist in equipment design, testing, and

assembly.

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1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

Types of Jobs
Technical sales representatives determine customer needs and

related specifications, write proposals and sell equipment.

Technical writers generate technical documentation for equipment

and systems.
Trainers develop programs, generate training and presentation

materials, and conduct classroom training.

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1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

Major Employers
The communication electronics industry is made up of the following

segments:
Manufacturers Resellers Service Organizations End users

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1-8: Jobs and Careers in the Communication Industry

Figure 1-18: Structure of the communication electronics industry. Source: [Frenzel, 2007]

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References
[Frenzel, 2007] Frenzel, Louis E. Principles of Electronic Communication Systems, 3rd Ed. McGraw-Hill, 2007. [Wikipedia] Wikipedia in English, the free Encyclopedia. Visited on Nov. 2013.