Write some advantages and disadvantages of the following (i) optical fibers (ii) coaxial cables (iii) twisted pair cables (iv) radio waves

Q. Write some advantages and disadvantages of the following:

(i) optical fibers

(ii) coaxial cables

(iii) twisted pair cables

(iv) radio waves

(v) micro waves

(vi) satellites.

Answer =

(i) optical fibers:-

Advantages:-

• It is immune to electrical and magnetic interference i.e., noise in any form because the information is traveling on a modulated light beam.
• It is highly suitable for harsh industrial environments.
• it guarantees secure transmission and has a very high transmission capacity.
• Fiber optic cables can be used for broadband transmission where several channels (i.e., bands of frequency) are handled in parallel and where it is also possible to mix data transmission channels with channels for telescope, graphics, TV and sound.

Disadvantages:-

• Installation problem. Fiber optic cables are quite fragile and may need special care to make them sufficiently robust for an office environment.
• Connecting either two fibers together or a light source to a fiber is a difficult process.
• Because of noise immunity, optical fibers are virtually impossible to tap. In order to incept the signal, the fiber must be cut and a detector inserted.
• Light can reach the receiver out of phase.
• Connection losses are common problems.
• Fiber optic cables are more difficult to solder.
• They are the most expensive of all the cables.

(ii) Coaxial cables:-

Advantages:-

• The data transmission characteristics of coaxial cables are considerably better than those of twisted-pair cables.
• The coaxial cables can be used as the basis for a shared cable network.
• The coaxial cables can be used for broadband transmission i.e., several channels can be transmitted simultaneously (as with cable TV).
• Offer higher bandwidths-up to 400 MBPS.

Disadvantages:-

• Expensive compared to twisted pair cables.
• The coaxial cables are not compatible with twisted pair cables.

(iii) Twisted pair cables:-

Advantages:-

• It is simple.
• It is easy to install and maintain.
• It is physically flexible.
• It has a low weight.
• It can be easily connected.
• It is very inexpensive.

Disadvantages:-

• Because of high attenuation, it is incapable carrying a signal over long distances without the use of repeaters.
• Its low bandwidth capabilities make it unsuitable for broadband applications.
• It supports maximum data rates 1 Mbps without conditioning and 10 Mbps with conditioning.

(iv) Radio waves:-

Advantages:-

• Radio-wave transmission offers mobility.
• It proves cheaper than digging trenches for laying cables and maintaining repeaters and cables if cables get broken by a variety of causes.
• It offers freedom from land acquisition rights that are required for laying, repairing the cables.
• It offers ease of communication over difficult terrain.

Disadvantages:-

• Radio-wave communication is an insecure communication.
• Radio-wave propagation is susceptible to weather effects like rains, thunder storms etc.

(v) Micro waves:-

Advantages:-

• It proves cheaper than digging trenches for laying cables and maintaining repeaters and cables if cables get broken by a variety of causes.
• It offers freedom from land acquisition rights that are required for laying, repairing the cables.
• It offers ease of communication over difficult terrain.
• Microwaves have the ability to communicate over oceans.

Disadvantages:-

• Microwave communication is an insecure communication.
• Signals from a single antenna may split up and propagate by slightly different paths to the receiving antenna. When these out-of-phase signals recombine, they interfere, reducing the signal strength.
• Microwave propagation is susceptable to weather effects like rains, thunder storms etc.
• Bandwidth allocation is extremely limited in case of microwaves.
• The cost of design, implementation, and maintenance of microwave links is high.

(vi) Satellites:-

Advantages:-

• The area coverage through satellite transmission is quite large.
• The laying and maintenance of intercontinental cable is difficult and expensive and this is where the satellite proves to be the best alternative.
• The heavy usage of intercontinental traffic makes the satellite commercial attractive.
• Satellites can cover large areas of the Earth. This is particularly useful for sparsely populated areas.

Disadvantages:-

• Technological limitations preventing the deployment of large, high gain antennas on the satellite platform.
• Over-crowding of available bandwidths due to low antenna gains.
• The high investment cost and insurance cost associated with significant probability of failure.
• High atmospheric losses above 30 GHz limit carrier frequencies.