Throughput most significant factor in choosing

Throughput
•
Most significant factor in choosing
transmission method
•
Causes of throughput limitations
–
Laws of physics
–
Signaling and multiplexing techniques
–
Noise
–
Devices connected to transmission medium
•
Fiber-optic cables allow faster throughput
–
Compared to copper or wireless connections
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
39

Cost
•
Precise costs difficult to pinpoint
•
Media cost dependencies
–
Existing hardware, network size, labor costs
•
Variables influencing final cost
–
Installation cost
–
New infrastructure cost versus reuse
–
Maintenance and support costs
–
Cost of lower transmission rate affecting
productivity
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
40

Noise Immunity
•
Noise distorts data signals
–
Distortion rate dependent upon transmission
media
•
Fiber-optic: least susceptible to noise
•
Limit noise impact on network
–
Cable installation
•
Far away from powerful electromagnetic forces
–
Select media protecting signal from noise
–
Antinoise algorithms
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
41

Size and Scalability
•
Three specifications
–
Maximum nodes per segment
–
Maximum segment length
–
Maximum network length
•
Maximum nodes per segment dependency
–
Attenuation and latency
•
Maximum segment length dependency
–
Attenuation and latency plus segment type
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
42

Size and Scalability (cont’d.)
•
Segment types
–
Populated: contains end nodes
–
Unpopulated: no end nodes
•
Also called link segment
•
Segment length limitation
–
After certain distance, signal loses strength
•
Cannot be accurately interpreted
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
43

Connectors and Media
Converters
•
Connectors
–
Hardware connecting wire to network device
–
Specific to particular media type
–
Affect costs
•
Installing and maintaining network
•
Ease of adding new segments or nodes
•
Technical expertise required to maintain network
•
Media converter
–
Hardware enabling networks or segments
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
44

N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
45
Courtesy of Omnitron Systems Technology
Figure 3-15 Copper wire-to-fiber media converter

Coaxial Cable
•
Central metal core (often copper)
surrounded by:
–
Insulator
–
Braided metal shielding (braiding or shield)
–
Outer cover (sheath or jacket)
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
46
Figure 3-16 Coaxial cable
Courtesy Course
Technology/Cengage
Learning

Coaxial Cable (cont’d.)
•
High noise resistance
•
Advantage over twisted pair cabling
–
Carry signals farther before amplifier required
•
Disadvantage over twisted pair cabling
–
More expensive
•
Hundreds of specifications
–
RG specification number
–
Differences: shielding and conducting cores
•
Transmission characteristics
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
47

Coaxial Cable (cont’d.)
•
Conducting core
–
American Wire Gauge (AWG) size
–
Larger AWG size, smaller wire diameter
•
Data networks usage
–
RG-6
–
RG-8
–
RG-58
–
RG-59
N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
48

N
e
w
o
k
+
G
ui
d
e
o
s,
6
h
E
49
Courtesy of MCM Electronics, Inc.