Chapter 11
Data Communication
Question 1
What is data communication? What are the main components of data communication?
Answer
Data communication refers to the exchange of data between two or more networked or
connected devices. The main components of data communication are sender, receiver,
communication medium, the message to be communicated, and certain rules called
protocols to be followed during communication.
Question 2
Which communication mode allows communication in both directions simultaneously?
Answer
Full-duplex communication mode allows communication in both directions
simultaneously.
Question 3
Among LAN, MAN, and WAN, which has the highest speed and which one can cover
the largest area?
Answer
LAN (Local Area Network) offers the highest speed and WAN (Wide Area Network)
covers the largest area.
Question 4
What are three categories of wired media ? Explain them.
Answer
The three categories of wired media are as follows :
1. Twisted Pair Cable — A twisted-pair cable consists of two copper wires twisted
like a DNA helical structure. Both the copper wires are insulated with plastic
covers. Usually, a number of such pairs are combined together and covered with
a protective outer wrapping. Each of the twisted pairs act as a single
communication link. The use of twisted configuration minimizes the effect of
electrical interference from similar pairs close by. Twisted pairs are less
expensive and most commonly used in telephone lines and LANs. These cables
are of two types: Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) and Shielded twisted-pair (STP).
2. Co-axial Cable — Coaxial cable has a copper wire at the core of the cable which
is surrounded with insulating material. The insulator is further surrounded with an
outer conductor (usually a copper mesh). This outer conductor is wrapped in a
plastic cover. The key to success of coaxial cable is its shielded design that
allows the cable's copper core to transmit data quickly, without interference of
environmental factors. These types of cables are used to carry signals of higher
frequencies to a longer distance.
3. Fiber-Optic Cable — The optical fiber cable carries data as light, which travels
inside a thin fiber of glass. Optic fiber uses refraction to direct the light through
the media. A thin transparent strand of glass at the centre is covered with a layer
of less dense glass called cladding. This whole arrangement is covered with an
outer jacket made of PVC or Teflon. Such types of cables are usually used in
backbone networks. These cables are of light weight and have higher bandwidth
which means higher data transfer rate. Signals can travel longer distances and
electromagnetic noise cannot affect the cable. However, optic fibers are
expensive and unidirectional. Two cables are required for full duplex
communication.
Question 5
Compare wired and wireless media.
Answer
Wired Media Wireless Media
Wired Media is also called as Guided Wireless Media is also called as
transmission media. Unguided transmission media.
In guided transmission, there is a physical In unguided transmission, data
link made of wire/cable through which data travels in air in terms of
in terms of signals are propagated electromagnetic waves using an
between the nodes. antenna.
The types of wireless media are
The types of wired media are twisted pair
radio waves, micro waves, infrared
cable, co-axial cable, fiber-optic cable.
waves.
Question 6
Which transmission media carries signals in the form of light?
Answer
Optical Fiber transmission media carries signals in the form of light.
Question 7
List out the advantages and disadvantages of optical fiber cable.
Answer
The advantages of optical fiber cable are as follows :
1. It is immune to electrical and magnetic interference.
2. It is highly suitable for harsh industrial environment.
3. It guarantees secure transmission and has a very high transmission capacity.
4. Fiber optic cables can be used for broadband transmission.
The disadvantages of optical fiber cable are as follows :
1. Connecting either two fibers together or a light source to a fiber is a difficult
process.
2. In order to incept the signal, the fiber must be cut and a detector inserted.
3. Light can reach the receiver out of phase.
4. Connection losses are common problems.
5. Fiber optics cables are more difficult to solder.
6. They are the most expensive of all the cables.
Question 8
What is the range of frequency for radio waves?
Answer
The range of frequency for radio waves is between 3 KHz to 1 GHz.
Question 9
18 Gbps is equal to how many Bits per second?
Answer
1 Gbps is equal to 1000000000 bits per second. Therefore, to convert 18 Gbps to bits
per second:
18 Gbps = 18 * 1000000000 = 18000000000 bits per second
So, 18 Gbps is equal to 18,000,000,000 bits per second.
Question 10
HTTP stands for?
Answer
HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.
Question 11
Write short note on the following:
(a) HTTP
(b) Bandwidth
(c) Bluetooth
(d) DNS
(e) Data transfer rate
Answer
(a) HTTP — HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, which is the primary
protocol used to access the World Wide Web. It is a request-response protocol (also
called client-server) that runs over TCP. HTTP facilitates access to hypertext from the
World Wide Web by defining how information is formatted and transmitted, and how
web servers and browsers should respond to various commands.
For example, whenever we enter the URL http://www.ncert.nic.in in a browser, it
sends an HTTP request to the web server where ncert.nic.in is hosted. The HTTP
response from the web server fetches and sends the requested web page, which is
then displayed on the browser.
(b) Bandwidth — Bandwidth of a channel is the range of frequencies available for the
transmission of data through that channel. The higher the bandwidth, the higher the
data transfer rate. Bandwidth is calculated as the difference between the maximum
and minimum frequencies contained in the composite signals, and it is measured in
Hertz (Hz).
(c) Bluetooth — Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology used to connect
devices like mobile phones, mouse, headphones, keyboards, and computers wirelessly
over short distances. It enables tasks such as printing documents with Bluetooth-
enabled printers without the need for physical connections. These devices utilize a
low-cost transceiver chip that operates within the unlicensed frequency band of 2.4
GHz for data transmission and reception. Bluetooth devices can communicate within a
range of 10 meters, achieving speeds of 1-2 Mbps. The technology allows up to 255
devices to form a network, with 8 devices capable of simultaneous communication
while others remain inactive until prompted by the master device.
(d) DNS — DNS, known as the Domain Name System, serves as the phonebook of the
Internet. It provides a character-based naming system for servers, allowing users to
access websites using easy-to-remember domain names like google.com instead of
numeric IP addresses such as 8.8.8.8. DNS is essential for internet navigation as it
translates domain names into IP addresses, enabling seamless communication and
resource access across the web.
(e) Data transfer rate — Data transfer rate is the number of bits transmitted between
source and destination in one second. It is also known as bit rate. It is measured in
terms of bits per second (bps). The higher units for data transfer rates are:
1 Kbps = 210 bps = 1024 bps
1 Mbps = 220 bps = 1024 Kbps
1 Gbps = 230 bps = 1024 Mbps
1 Tbps = 240 bps = 1024 Gbps
Question 12
What is protocol in data communication? Explain with an example.
Answer
In data communication, protocol is a set of standard rules that the communicating
parties — the sender, the receiver, and all other intermediate devices need to follow in
order to have successful and reliable data communication.
For example, let's consider the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) suite, which is widely used for communication over the Internet. TCP/IP
defines a set of protocols that govern how data is transmitted over networks. TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) ensures reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery
of data packets between devices. IP (Internet Protocol), on the other hand, handles the
routing and addressing of data packets across networks.
When a user sends an email using a client like Outlook or Gmail, TCP/IP protocols
come into play. TCP breaks the email message into packets, adds sequence numbers
for reassembly, and ensures each packet arrives without errors. IP handles the routing
of these packets over the Internet to reach the recipient's email server, where the
packets are reassembled and the email is delivered to the recipient. This entire
process relies on adherence to the TCP/IP protocol suite, demonstrating the role of
protocols in data communication.
Question 13
A composite signal contains frequencies between 500 MHz and 1GHz. What is the
bandwidth of a signal?
Answer
Bandwidth is the difference of maximum and minimum frequency contained in the
composite signals.
Bandwidth = Maximum Frequency - Minimum Frequency
Bandwidth = 1000000000 Hz - 500000000 Hz
Bandwidth = 500000000 Hz
Therefore, the bandwidth of the composite signal is 500 MHz.
